New Books to Hunker Down With While Riding Out The Pandemic
We want to acknowledge that things are very different right now. We urge everyone to find ways to circumvent the natural stresses that we all must be feeling in one way or another.
- Please read, sign and share the petitions for the next several scheduled executions, which we’d love to see join the list of canceled events!
- BREAKING: We have learned that SB20–100, the bill abolishing the death penalty in Colorado, has been sent to the governor for his signature! This will make Colorado the 22nd state to abandon the death penalty!
If, like us, your situation has you hunkered down for at least the next three weeks, it’s a good time to catch up on a few things. We wanted to share three new books by friends of ours which you can order and read.
Crimson Letters: Voices from Death Row, by Tessie Castillo & four men on North Carolina’s death row. On March 4th, Tessie posted on her Facebook page:
BREAKING: Just an hour ago, officials at Central Prison barged into my co-authors’ prison cells and confiscated their copies of Crimson Letters: Voices from Death Row.
Guess we wrote something that really pissed them off. I’m kinda proud of that and kinda scared for my co-authors. We had discussed the possibility of them facing threats, harassment, loss of privileges or even solitary confinement for being brave enough to write this book. Every one of them said they would face the consequences if it meant getting the truth out about people on Death Row.
That’s courage right there…
Official Publish Date is March 12, so it doesn’t get newer than this. Read more and order Crimson Letters, here.
Grace from the Rubble: Two Fathers’ Road to Reconciliation after the Oklahoma City Bombing, by Jeanne Bishop
If you have ever heard Bud Welch speak about the murder of his daughter and the journey he took from hatred to healing, you know a piece of this story. This new book is available April 14 (pre-order now) and goes much deeper.
The heart-stirring story of how the father of a young woman killed in the Oklahoma City bombing and the father of her killer, Timothy McVeigh, forged an unlikely friendship and found forgiveness. In what was to become the deadliest attack on American soil since Pearl Harbor, the Oklahoma City bombing was one in a long line of violent attacks that have left communities across the nation searching for healing and hope. With the soaring message of the power of love to conquer evil, Grace from the Rubble tells the intertwining stories of four captivating individuals: Julie Welch, a young professional full of promise, and Tim McVeigh, the troubled mind behind the horrific event; Bud Welch, a father whose only daughter (Julie) was murdered, and Bill McVeigh, the father of her killer.
How Now, Butterfly? By Charity Lee
Losing a young daughter to murder is the worst nightmare that a mother could possibly imagine, but what if the killer was her son? Charity Lee was thrust into this unimaginable situation when her 13-year-old son Paris murdered her beloved 4-year-old daughter, Ella.
Charity goes through intense grief at the loss of her daughter,while at the same time trying to understand why her son would have done something as horrific as this, and how she could have missed the signs that Paris was a true psychopath.
While barely holding herself together throughout her intense grief, Charity is still a mother and feels a need to advocate for her son to receive appropriate treatment while incarcerated, while at the same time trying to ensure he stays in prison so he can never hurt someone again. Charity still loves her son and craves a connection with him despite all he has done. Because of her experiences, she rebuilds her life and starts a non-profit to help other families of victims, as well as offenders.
This book is a meditation on grief, loss, and forgiveness unlike any other. It’s also an inspirational story of a true survivor. Well-written and haunting HOW NOW, BUTTERFLY? is a book that no reader will soon forget.
Death Penalty Action is exploring ways we can continue to help stop executions and end the death penalty as we all endure the realities of the COVID-19 pandemic. Please e-mail (info — at — DeathPenaltyAction.org with your thoughts, feedback and suggestions.
Many thanks and big hugs!
Abe & Scott,
Co-Directors, Death Penalty Action
PS: Both Abe & Scott often take on other work to help make ends meet for our families as we continue to build the capacity of this still-new new organization. Opportunities for us individually and as Death Penalty Action have been postponed or canceled for at least the next 30 days. Now more than ever before, please click here to help sustain us in this important work with your generous support. Thank you.
