The First 100 Days: Not That Far Away!
Death Penalty Action is building a campaign to end the federal death penalty in the first 100 days of the new congress, assuming control of the Senate and the presidency shifts.
Last week was heavy, with two federal executions and so much more.
Because of you, and with your support, Death Penalty Action was in Washington, DC and Terre Haute, Indiana, shining the spotlight on the injustices of the federal death penalty.
Click to watch this short and powerful video of our events in Washington, DC.
Much attention was on other pressing issues. As we mourn the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, she being Jewish we say “May her memory be for a blessing.” That is not to say we have to remember Justice Ginsburg, the person so much as it is an acknowledgement of a calling that we work to continue her legacy. In Justice Ginburg’s case, that includes a legacy of opposition to the death penalty.
It is also worth noting that Justice Ginsburg is remembered for her strong personal friendship with Justice Scalia. Their politics and legal theories were often at strong odds, and yet their families vacationed together. As to our issue, Justice Scalia once famously said that those who are protesting at the court are barking up the wrong tree. If you want to change the law, go across the street to the legislature. And so…
What’s next?
Representative Adriano Espaillat and Representative Ayanna Pressley (click for videos of their full remarks at our recent events) have both asked Death Penalty Action to build the coalition of support they will need to pass legislation to abolish the federal death penalty in the next congress. With no more state executions scheduled or expected in 2020, that is where we are turning our attention.
Death Penalty Action is building a campaign to end the federal death penalty in the first 100 days of the new congress, assuming control of the Senate and the presidency shifts. This is NOT a partisan issue, but the democratic party and Joe Biden’s campaign actually have platform positions calling for abolition of the death penalty.
We have a lot of work to do over the next six weeks to be ready to roll right after the election, and that is why there is no better time then right now to invest in this work.
DONATE NOW!
More opportunities for action.
- Please help spread the word by inviting people you know to sign the petition for individuals and organizations to add their names to the organizational sign-on letter, calling on Congress to take action to end the federal death penalty.
- If you have an actual relationship with your member(s) of Congress, please reply to this message to tell me about it.
- Watch the presidential debate with us on Tuesday night. Follow our live tweets as we wait to see if the president touts his execution credentials and challenges Joe Biden on the issue. I wrote about that on Thursday — click here to read about the “bear trap” that Trump has set for Biden by using his power to execute. Will Trump finally talk about his execution spree? Will Biden pivot well on that challenge? We all get to watch and see!
More soon! Please visit our Facebook, Twitter and/or Instagram pages to “like” or “follow” and share from there.
One thing we do know is this. Together, with your support, Death Penalty Action is making the difference.
I know this issue matters to you. Please give generously right now.
Yours in the Struggle,
— Abe
Abraham J. Bonowitz
Director, Death Penalty Action
P.S. Thank YOU.
