Death Penalty Events on-line This Week and Next Week! Participate!
Taking a look at the calendar, we decided that there are so many amazing opportunities to hear vital Voices of Experience on the Death Penalty this week and next that we’re forgoing our own weekly program to instead share with you the following opportunities. Note that the ABA series starting today is free and for the lawyers among us, offers CLE credits and may also be viewed for credit later!
But first, please make sure you have signed and shared the Death Penalty Action petition to stop federal executions, here: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/tell-congress-abolish-the-federal-death-penalty
And now, the events:
Today (August 18, 2020): Valuing Black Lives: A Case for Ending the Death Penalty
Join over 500 people in watching the American Bar Association Death Penalty Due Process Review Project’s three-part FREE CLE webinar series on fundamental issues in using the death penalty, starting with Tuesday’s program: Valuing Black Lives: A Case for Ending the Death Penalty, 3–4:30 pm ET, with these superb speakers: Alexis Hoag, Ngozi Ndulue, & Mark Pickett, moderated by the great Henderson Hill. Register HERE.
Wednesday (August 19, 2020): Valuing Speed: The Costs in Fairness, Accuracy & Money in Trying to Accelerate Executions. From 3–4:30 pm ET, features renowned speakers Marge Koosed, Jeff Fagan, and Steve Potolsky, with acclaimed Alabama Judge Tracie A. Todd moderating. Register HERE.
Wednesday (August 19, 2020): Death Penalty Action Director Abraham Bonowitz will participate in a panel discussion on race relations, politics and what’s going on in America, live starting at 10am Pacific/1pm Eastern time on the Ask Sharifa program in Long Beach, California.
Thursday (August 20 and each day/evening until August 28): Death Penalty Action is a co-sponsor of “WalkTheWalk2020.US,” a faith pilgrimage of Racial Reckoning, Resolve and Love, starting August 20th in Charlottesville, Virginia. If you live in the area, come join us or just stop by to say hello to Abe, Shane and Doug. The 108 mile walk will connect to the National Action Network’s Commitment March: Get Your Knee Off Our Necks on August 28th in Washington, DC followed by the federal execution protest at the Department of Justice in Washington, DC during the scheduled 4pm execution that day. DPA Director Abraham Bonowitz will be a part of first few days of this event, along with DPA Advisory Board Members Shane Claiborne and Doug Pagitt who are among those leading this event. The WalkTheWalk2020.US and the Commitment March have broader agendas which include stopping state violence, racial justice and reform of the criminal legal system. Watch Death Penalty Action’s Facebook Page for details on live programs each evening.
Thursday (August 20, 2020): A Tale of Two Trends: Decreasing Support and Accelerating Federal Executions from 3:30–5 pm ET, and features two pathbreaking speakers, Rob Dunham and Brandon Garrett, moderated by the new co-chair of the ABA civil rights section’s Death penalty committee, J. Wyndal Gordon. Register HERE.
Friday (August 21, 2020): The People’s Forum in NYC will host a diverse group of artists, activists, and community leaders spearheading an online art exhibition and panel discussion titled, #FreeBillieAllen | The Art of Innocence. A panel discussion featuring friends and family of those impacted by the death penalty, musical performances, poets and an art exhibition will begin at 6pm on August 21. It will showcase 23 years’ worth of powerful, thought-provoking, yet, diverse body of work by Billie Allen. who has been fighting a continuous battle to prove his innocence through the use of art by not only raising awareness about his case, but exposing the truth of the unjust and dehumanizing criminal justice system Watch HERE. Also,
PLEASE SIGN THE DEATH PENALTY ACTION PETITION FOR Billie Allen HERE.
Saturday (August 22): Starting at 3pm ET, check out Death Penalty Advisory Board Member Jerry Givens (of blessed memory) in the Socially Relevant Film Festival for Black Voices virtual screening event of “In the Executioner’s Shadow”, a film about justice, injustice and the death penalty. All details of the SR for Black Voices program, including ticket link to get the film links, can be found here: Facebook Event NOTE: Registration is imperative otherwise film links cannot be sent to you. More information is at www.ratedsrfilms.org. SRFF is based in New York City but all events are virtual.
Monday (August 24) at 11am: Death Penalty Action press conference to call on congress to stop federal executions will be live on our Facebook page. Save the date. Details forthcoming.
Wednesday, (August 26 and Friday, August 28): Starting about 3:30pm (Time subject to shift, and hopefully these will be canceled): Join the facebook live broadcast of execution vigils at the federal prison in Terre Haute on the Death Penalty Action Facebook page.
Friday (August 28): Federal execution protest at the Department of Justice in Washington, DC during the scheduled 4pm execution.
And one more thing: We Appreciate YOU!
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