Urgent Federal Action

Dear Friends,

Senator Sessions is expected to offer an amendment to the Mathew Shepherd Hate Crimes Prevention Act which would authorize the penalty for hate crimes offenses. The Sessions amendment will introduce constitutional issues concerning the use of capital punishment for non homicidal crimes. Moreover, even if the death penalty is limited to hate crimes that resulted in the victim’s death, the Sessions amendment would create serious issues concerning the risk of arbitrariness and discrimination in the administration of the death penalty under this legislation.

The National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty asks YOU to call your U. S. Senators' offices and express your opposition to the Sessions Death Penalty Amendment to the Mathew Sheperd Hate Crimes Act.

Reach the US Capitol switchboard at 202.224.3121 and ask for your Senator's office. If you do not know who your two U.S. Senators are, or for their direct office phone numbers and e-mail addresses, go here: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

AFTER YOU CALL, forward this message to your friends, family, etc. and ask them to call, and then please also send an e-mail to each of your two Senators. The vote is expected Monday afternoon by 3pm (you can watch on CSPAN), so please make your calls right now, and definitely before 3pm EDT TODAY!