The Execution of A Teenage Girl - Update!

In the early morning hours of a gloomy day in August of 2004, a 16 year old girl by the name of Atefeh Sahaaleh Rajabi, was executed in public. Imam Haji Rezai, the powerful head of the Islamic judiciary in the city of Neka, the same Muslim Cleric who had sentenced Atefeh to death, personally placed the noose around Atefeh's tiny neck, before she was hoisted on a crane to her death.

And that is how this so-called man of God proudly became the judge, the jury, and the executioner of a child, whose "crimes" were only described as "acts incompatible with chastity."

After her execution, the state-run newspaper accused Atefeh of adultery and described her as 22 years old.

Yet, Atefeh was not married - and she was just 16. The transcripts of Atefeh's court proceedings have never been released.

A group of brave journalists entered Iran in disguise to investigate Atefeh's death sentence after hearing rumors that she was only 16. The following video is the heart-wrenching documentary of Atefeh's story, compiled and produced by BBC.

- Lily Mazahery

Ms. Lily Mazahery is a Iranian-American attorney, and the founder and president of the Washington, D.C. based Legal Rights Institute.

Comments from our readers!

There are no such things as proven criminals in any justice system in place today so there is no way to prove that someone is guilty of a crime completely. Along with that fact looming over your head you also have the idea of which is the greater punishment, a quick semi-painful death, or a lifetime of cages. My uncle was tortured and murdered and the killer is now in a max security prison. I don't want to give him the luxury of death until many years from now. I don't see why people still think a practice like the death penalty is neccesary in the liberal and understanding society America was founded as.

By Dante Smiriglio, student at Stevens Institute of Technology and member of SADP Facebook group!

Photo: SCP Journal "When the State becomes God" by Lee Penn

mtvU Spring Break 06'

MTV feaure of the 2006 Anti-Death Penalty Alternative Spring Break.

Audrey Lamm: Audry is a senior at the University of Oregon. When Audrey was two years old her mother and her mothers friend were murdered in Nebraska, and Audrey was in the building when the killing took place. The killer was apprehended, tried, convicted and sentenced to death. Several years ago, as the date of execution for her mom's killer approached, Audrey and her father, Gus, became involved in an effort to prevent the killer's execution. The Killer, Randy Reeves, had his life spared and is now serving life in prison instead of facing execution.

Breaking News: Indonesia executions put on hold

Indonesian officials have delayed the execution of three Christians sentenced to death for attacking Muslims.

The three were due to executed by firing squad early on Saturday, but were given a last-minute reprieve after an appeal by Pope Benedict XVI. They were sentenced for inciting attacks during religious rioting in Central Sulawesi in 2000. read more...

John Hallinan: Death penalty forecloses our chances to be human

By John Hallinan

The Capitol Times

A decade ago my sister Claire and her husband Bernie died in a hotel fire. Their three sons were with them, but managed to survive. Two others also died in the fire. This tragedy brought more grief and despair on our families than I would have thought bearable.

Five months later the tragedy was made worse, when we found out the hotel owner had been arrested for arson as part of an insurance scam. How could the lives of four people be worth a few pieces of silver? How could the pain and suffering ever be repaid?

Bernie's family and ours had scheduled a meeting to discuss taking care of the boys, and some of the other details regarding the estate. Bernie's father, Abe, although in poor health, was at the meeting. His daughter encouraged him to tell the story of his concentration camp being liberated at the end of World War II.

Abe described how, when Allied soldiers liberated his concentration camp, the camp guards donned the rags of the prisoners, and tried to blend into the background. The soldiers knew this was going on, but didn't know how to tell the guards from the prisoners. An officer asked Abe, "Which are the Germans?" To which Abe replied, "Look at their shoes."

The guards had changed their clothes, but failed to change their shoes. After the guards were rounded up, an officer handed Abe his gun. Abe looked at the officer, and the officer told him to go ahead and shoot. Abe told the officer he couldn't, because it would make him no better than them, and he handed the gun back.

For a second time in his life, Abe was faced with a decision: Should those who killed his children be put to death? This is a decision no one should have to face a single time in his life now he was being asked the question a second time.

Abe was still able to say that putting a man to death made us no better than the murderer, and we would be "less than human."

The hotel owner, whose name is Kumar, was convicted and sentenced to life in prison. Some make the claim that a life sentence is more punishment than the death penalty. I no longer buy this argument. Unfortunately, no punishment will bring justice. There is nothing you can do to murderers that will ever make up for the pain and suffering they have caused. The death penalty is revenge, and nothing more.

Society is perfectly justified in putting these people away for life, so they can no longer inflict pain and suffering on others. Allowing them to live opens up the possibilities of what it truly means to be human. Perhaps someday Kumar will repent his crimes, and try to do something useful with the rest of his life. Perhaps one day I will find the strength to forgive him. Perhaps some other relative, or one of Bernie and Claire's sons, will find the strength to forgive.

Do I think any of these scenarios are likely? No, none of these things are likely to happen, but to put Kumar to death rules out all these possibilities. It rules out the chance to show our humanity, and even if that chance is slim, it is important to hold onto that slim chance. Putting someone to death rules out the chance to be as human as Abe.

The following New Year's holiday, Bernie's sister took the boys to Florida to see their grandparents. Abe was in very poor health. They saw him one last time on a Friday, and flew back to Chicago on Saturday morning. Abe died Saturday night. It was exactly one year since Claire and Bernie died.

Abe was buried in a cemetery on the west side of Chicago. A portion of the cemetery had been set aside for people from his village in Poland who had survived the Holocaust. He was buried next to a childhood friend, 4,000 miles from where they had grown up. Abe was a simple man, but he taught a profound lesson about what it means to be human.

John Hallinan lives in Stoughton.
Published: August 9, 2006

Quote of the day!

"The major public housing project in this country is building prison cells."

-- Ralph Nader

Breaking News: Execution date set for Hasan Shakur

Hasan Shakur (aka Derrick Frazier)
Execution date set for August 31, 2006

On June 28, 2006, the Court of Criminal Appeals dismissed Hasan Shakur’s claims concerning juror misconduct. Because of this denial a new execution date has been set for August 31, 2006. The court did not believe that the statement from a witness, ‘saying she overheard a female juror saying “he (Mr. Shakur) is dead”, while making a slashing gesture across her neck in the courtroom,’ was true.

The facts and the claims in this case have not changed in any way. The most serious claims are:
-Incompetent trial attorney(s)
-All-white jury
-Forced confession
-Lack of physical evidence
-Questionable indictment
-No mitigation evidence presented in punishment phase
-Jurors and victims' family had contact during the trial

To sign the petition go to hasanshakur.com

Death Penalty: 20,000 on death row across the world

In a new report on the use of the death penalty, Amnesty International has revealed that there are over 20,000 people on death row across the world waiting to be killed by their own governments.

In its latest annual analysis on the use of the death penalty worldwide, Amnesty International also disclosed that at least 2,148 people were executed during 2005 in 22 countries -- 94 percent in China, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the USA alone. 5,186 people were sentenced to death in 53 countries during 2005.

Amnesty International’s report also highlights the deadly consequences of unfair trials.

In Japan, a number of people have been sentenced to death after ill-treatment and the extraction of forced "confessions" for crimes they did not commit.

The flawed criminal justice systems in Uzbekistan and Belarus provides a fertile ground for judicial error. Executions in Uzbekistan often follow credible allegations of unfair trials, torture and ill-treatment, often to extract “confessions”.

“The momentum against the death penalty has become unstoppable. In 1977, only 16 countries had abolished the death penalty for all crimes. By 2005, that figure had risen to 86. Amnesty International's campaign will continue until every death sentence is commuted and capital punishment abolished,” declared Irene Khan, Amnesty International's Secretary General.

"Human rights are for the guilty as well as the innocent, the best of us and the worst of us. That is why the death penalty must be abolished worldwide."

STOP THE EXECUTION OF JUSTIN FULLER

STOP THE EXECUTION

OF JUSTIN FULLER:

A MOCKERY OF

DUE PROCESS!

Justin Fuller has been on Texas death row since 1998. He was convicted with two other suspects in the murder of Donald Whittington in Tyler, Texas in 1997. Justin has always maintained that he innocent of shooting Mr. Whittington. However, the biggest tragedy in Justin’s case is the way it exposes the corrupt defense system in the state of Texas. Justin was failed at almost every level by unqualified and inept defense attorney’s. It is a certainty that had Justin been provided with competent representation he would not be on death row today. Consider these facts:

• Donald Killingsworth was appointed to represent Justin at trial. Mr. Killingsworth had not paid his bar dues or attorney taxes and was facing disbarment. He requested that Wes Voldbering, be appointed co-counsel, despite the fact that Mr. Voldbering had no experience in capital cases. During the discovery phase of the trial, Mr. Killingsworth was suspended from practice. This left the inexperienced Mr. Voldbering as Justin’s only defense during a critical portion of the trial.

• Prior to trial the prosecutor offered a plea bargain, which would have allowed Justin to receive a life sentence. Justin’s attorney’s did not tell Justin of the plea offer, although Justin has indicated that he would have accepted it.

• There were many errors throughout the trial. During jury selection, the prosecution was able to strike all but one black juror, with no attempt by Justin’s attorney’s to challenge the racial prejudice to the court. In addition Mr. Voldbering told the jury that Justin would testify, when Justin did not intend to testify.

• Toby Wilkinson was appointed to carry out Justin’s state habeas and he demonstrated one of the grossest displays of negligence and incompetence in this case so far. Mr. Wilkinson submitted to the court a previous habeas pleading he filed on behalf of Henry Earl Dunn, copying it page for page, often without changing names, dates or facts of the other case. Although the court noted that the habeas was a copy of Dunn’s pleading, they let the case go forward.

Justin’s current lawyer, Don Bailey, has filed numerous claims about the incompetence of Justin’s previous representation, only to be rejected by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. The law states that every defendant has a right to a competent attorney. Without adequate representation, defendants have little to no chance to prove their innocence or to receive lesser sentences. In the state of Texas, higher courts like the CCA have let stand capital convictions in which defense attorney’s were sleeping or on drugs at the time of trial! With Texas executions occurring at a record pace, it is time to recognize the serious problems in our justice system. Justin’s case is a travesty of justice, and it is not the only one! We must stop the assembly line of death in the state of Texas!

Recently the 5^th Circuit denied Justin a rehearing, and an

execution date has been set for August 24^th of this year.

Please find out how you can help!

Call Lily Hughes at (512) 494-0667 or email lilymae30@hotmail.com for more information.

Or contact Don Bailey at (903) 892-9185 or email donbailey46@hotmail.com.

Justice for All? Death Penalty Art Show

The following artists were selected by the jury for the exhibition at Gallery Lombardi. Many of the artists have recorded audio statements, which you can listen at deathpenaltyartshow.org If a piece of art has a price listed and you are interested in purchasing the artwork, please contact the artist directly.

San Antonio Express-News editorials

Editorial: Innocence commission needed for Texas justice

State lawmakers should give serious consideration to creating an innocence commission when they convene in January ... State Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, twice has unsuccessfully attempted to get legislation on an innocence commission passed. The bills met with heavy political resistance and never made it out of committee ... Texans need a criminal justice system they can trust. Establishing a mechanism for reviewing questionable cases would be a worthwhile and important step.

read more...

Editorial: Cantu Case Merits Independent Probe

Bexar County District Attorney Susan Reed made the right move when she opened an investigation into allegations that a San Antonio man may have been wrongfully executed… However, she now needs to step away from the probe into the Ruben Cantu case and allow an independent investigator to take over…Reed can erase questions about the objectivity of the probe by removing her office from the proceedings and asking an independent law enforcement agency to do it. It's the right thing to do. The public must be confident that the investigation is conducted without preconceived notions about the result.

Read more...

Facebook group and prizes!

We are planning to double the members of our facebook group by end of August. Therefore we are giving away a prize named after Patrick Williams. The grand prize is one new iPod loaded with anti-death penalty music. Other awards include anti-death penalty T-shirts, DVDs, bumper stickers, books and etc.

Patrick Williams is the successful Managing Editor of Dallas Observer. In his latest article Mr. William’s gave us the idea of offering prizes. You can read about Mr. William’s by reading our July 20 post.

In order to be eligible to participate in this raffle you need to invite your facebook friends to join the SADP group. After you invite them send a facebook message to Hooman Hedayati and we will include your name in the raffle.

The winners will be selected in around three weeks during an execution vigil in front of Governor Rick Perry’s mansion in Austin by one of the protesters. The video coverage of the Patrick Williams Award will be available the same night in Google videos, Youtube and this blog. We will provide the names of the winners to the Dallas Observer and local media for possible news article.

Remember that you need to inform us after your invitation in order to include your name in the raffle.

Good night and good luck!

Moldova abolishes death penalty

Moldova abolished the death penalty completely, radio station Echo of Moscow informs. The law was adopted recently by the country’s parliament and today it was signed by President Vladimir Voronin. Thus Moldova joins the 13th protocol of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and is obliged to abstain from implementing the death penalty in any case. Up to now the law in Moldova allowed the passing and execution of death sentences in special cases at wartime, the radio station reminds.

Source: Focus English News

Students against the Death Penalty

Dear friends,

Due to the growing success of Texas Students Against the Death Penalty, we are planning to create a national organization called Students Against the Death Penalty. We are in the process of filing the articles of incorporation and other paper work. SADP will be the first national student run anti-death penalty group with chapters in major colleges and high schools across the country. SADP will work closely with other local and national anti-death penalty groups. If you are interested to apply and join SADP’s board please send an email to hooman(at)texasabolition.org or send a facebook message to Hooman Hedayati.

Picture: Pin of the Birmingham Movement (Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights), 1963.

Comments from our readers!

TSADP will publish a selection of comments and emails we have received both in favor and against the death penalty. This one is from Verie Sandborg!

I've been following the Chicago Tribune articles. Thank you to the students and their mentors for their diligent efforts on behalf of social justice and repealing the death penalty.

Excerpt from a letter I wrote to the editor of the Chicago Tribune Magazine that was published October 14, 1990:

"Though I empathize with the families of victims of murders, killing the alleged criminal does little to further justice or provide protection. Killing--even lawful killing--engenders the habit of killing and a fearful brutalizing mentality within the culture. Future generations will look back at our resistance to cultural enlightenment with repugnance."
-Verie Sandborg

The Great Dictator - Wal-Mart And the Death Penalty

Last February Washington Post had an interesting article titled "Wal-Mart And the Death Penalty" which compared the parallels between California physicians who refused to participate in the execution of a convicted killer and the growing numbers of pharmacists around the country who refuse to dispense morning-after pills.

Physicians and pharmacists who refuse to participate in what they deem to be killing have more in common than many of us might like to admit. But the most important distinction between them has to do with their differing relationship with patients. The law recognizes that doctors' special relationship with their patients warrants a legal privilege: Their discussions are kept secret. You may like and trust your pharmacist. You may even trust him with intimate details about your yeast infection. But your pharmacist has neither the tools nor the right to probe details about rape and abuse, incest and health risks. Which is why pharmacists who interpose between decisions made by a doctor and her patient are overstepping not just moral but legal boundaries -- and undermining another professional relationship that is fundamentally different from their own.

In the meanwhile, Wal-Mart is embroiled in a legal dispute over the smiley face image which it wants to trademark in the US. For the first time, the smiley face speaks!

European Union statement on death penalty in the USA

July 27, 2006

Finnish Presidency of the Council of the European Union---Permanent Council No. 622

EU Statement on Death Penalty in the USA

The EU reiterates its longstanding and firm opposition to the death penalty in all circumstances. The EU considers that abolition of the death penalty contributes to the enhancement of human dignity and the progressive development of human rights.

While aiming for the universal abolition of the death penalty, we seek a moratorium in all countries which retain capital punishment as a 1st step towards this end.

The EU is therefore concerned about imminent breaches of de-facto moratoria in the States of South Dakota and Montana. The EU has learned that Mr. Elijah Page is to be executed in the week of 28 August. This would break a 60 year de-facto moratorium in South Dakota. The EU has equally learned that Mr. David Dawson is to be executed on 11 August. This would break an 8 year de-facto moratorium in Montana.

The EU would like to make an urgent appeal to the competent authorities in the States of South Dakota and Montana to continue the moratoria on the death penalty and urges them to grant clemency to Mr. Page and Mr. Dawson.

The EU trusts that the federal authorities will ensure that the competent State authorities will be informed of this statement.

The Acceding Countries Bulgaria and Romania, the Candidate Countries Turkey, Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia, EFTA country Norway, member of the European Economic Area, as well as Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova align themselves with this statement.

Source: European Union

Innocence Claims of Executed Inmates

Since the reinstatement of the death penalty by the US Supreme Court, Texas has executed 368 people. According to the last statements published on the Texas Department of Criminal Justice website[1], at least 28 out of 368 executed inmates claimed that they were innocent at the time of execution. (Please note, however, that about half of the inmates did not state their last words or TDCJ does not have a record of their statement, therefore it is not possible to know the exact number of inmates claiming to be innocent.)
Also many inmates such as Ruben Cantu and Carlos De Luna did not state their innocence in their last statement!

The following people are known to have claimed innocence in their last statement:

Name	Date of Execution
Johnny R Anderson	May 17, 1990
James Smith	June 26, 1990
Leonel Torres Herrera	May 12, 1993
Jesse Dewayne Jacobs	January 4, 1995
Carl Johnson	September 19, 1999
David Wayne Spence	April 3, 1997
Anthony Ray Westley	May 13, 1997
Robert Anthony Madden	May 28, 1997
Eddie James Johnson	June 17, 1997
Frank Basil McFarlan	April 29, 1998
Pedro Cruz Muniz	May 18, 1998
Martin Sauceda Vega	January 26, 1999
Charles Anthony Boyd	August 5, 1999
Billy George Hughes	January 24, 2000
Paul Selso Nuncio	June 15, 2000
Joiner, Orien Cecil	July, 12 2000
Jones, Richard	August 22, 2000
Mack Hill	August 8, 2001
Gerald Tigner	March 7, 2002
Robert Coulson	June 25, 2002
Richard Kutzner	August 7, 2002
Craig Ogan	November 19, 2002
William Chappell	November 20, 2002
Willingham, Cameron Todd	February 17, 2004
Patterson, Kelsey	May 18, 2004
Ramirez, Luis	October 20, 2005

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[1] http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/stat/executedoffenders.htm
[2] Texas Death Row

Rally for Rodney Reed

Tomorrow, Saturday (7/29), the Austin chapter of Campaign to End the Death Penalty is holding a rally for justice on behalf of Rodney Reed, an innocent man on Texas' Death Row.

You've been hearing about his case now for several years: stories about him have appeard in the "Austin Chronicle"; two local filmmakers produced "State vs. Reed," a documentary that delves into the details of the case;

Right now, Rodney's case sits before the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals (CCA). The CCA will rule in the coming weeks on whether or not Rodney should get a new trial.We ask you to join us, along with Sandra Reed (Rodney's mother) and the entire Reed family, to let the state of Texas know that we will not stand for this injustice--Rodney Reed deserves a new trial. Unlike so many other tragic cases of injustice, there is a good chance that Rodney will actually get a new trial, and will eventually comehome. But the courts aren't just going to give it to him. We have to fight for it.

JOIN US THIS SATURDAY (7/29) AT 5:30PM IN FRONT OF THE CAPITOL AT 11TH
AND CONGRESS as we rally for justice.

Nelson Linder of the NAACP will be in attendance as well

Quote of the day

"There's no doubt in my mind that each person who's
been executed in our state was guilty of the crime committed."

- George W. Bush

Execution of a teenage girl

A television documentary team has pieced together details surrounding the case of a 16-year-old girl, executed two years ago in Iran.

On 15 August, 2004, Atefah Sahaaleh was hanged in a public square in the Iranian city of Neka. Her death sentence was imposed for "crimes against chastity". The state-run newspaper accused her of adultery and described her as 22 years old. But she was not married - and she was just 16.

Read more...

STARVIN' FOR JUSTICE 2006 - Annual fast and vigil to ABOLISH the death penalty

STARVIN' FOR JUSTICE 2006 - Texas The 1st Annual Fast & Vigil to Abolish the Death Penalty at the Texas Capitol July 1st - July 2nd, 2006 The purpose of this event is to maintain a presence at the Texas Capitol between the dates of the anniversaries of when the death penalty was ruled unconstitutional in practice in 1972, and when new laws were upheld in 1976. Some of the participants fast during this time, but fasting is not required. We encounter thousands of visitors to the Capitol and share our message that no matter how you slice it, the death penalty is BAD PUBLIC POLICY. Much of the time is spent talking to individuals and creating visibility.

Stay of execution for Allen Bridgers

Texas Court of Criminal Appeals on Friday ordered his case back to Smith County for the trial court to consider whether he is mentally handicapped.

There will be no execution vigil today in front of Governor's mansion!

According to Associated Press, "Bridgers would have been the 17th condemned prisoner to receive lethal injection this year in Texas, the nation's most active capital punishment state, and the third over the past seven days. Three more inmates are scheduled to die next month.

He initially was scheduled to die May 16, 2001, the same day Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh also was to be executed. Both received reprieves, although McVeigh was put to death a few weeks later."

2006 Anti Death Penalty Spring Break - Death Penalty Organizing Workshop

Death Penalty Organizing Workshop presented by Campaign to End the Death Penalty and including a showing of the 12 minute film "A Voice from Death Row" produced this year by Austin filmmaker Nathan Christ. The film features Shugaa Graham speaking at a forum CEDP held at UT, as well as scenes from the "6th Annual March to Stop Executions" held on Oct 29, 2005. Speakers: Bryan McCann, Jonathan Hunter, Scott Cobb

Dog survives lethal injection, is nearly burned alive

According to Salt Lake Tribune, "- A dog thought to be dead from a lethal injection started to wake up after being put into the crematorium at the Ogden Animal Shelter. "

If you don't believe me, you can read it for youreself in Salt Lake Tribune's website!

Activismo Primaveral en Univision!

Does death row offer door prizes?

Patrick Williams of DallasObserver published a story titled Does death row offer door prizes? about the growing support for a moratorium on execution and the news of new voices calling for a moratorium!

Here is part of the story...

That last one comes from the Texas Moratorium Network, a statewide anti-death penalty group that says "an important new voice is about to be raised in support of a moratorium in Texas." Whose voice? That's a secret until around the end of the month, but the network is soliciting guesses on its blog about who the new supporter will be. "After the news breaks, we will post the names on our blog of the people who correctly predicted the name of the new voice. Maybe we will also post the incorrect guesses just for fun," the group writes in its newsletter.

Fun and Texas' Death Row. Yee-haw.

"We can't have a little fun?" TMN President Scott Cobb asked when Buzz gave him a ring
in Austin to see if we could get a hint and the big new name. "I don't think it detracts from anything." Hopefully, Cobb says, building a little suspense will drive a few people to the group's Web site and stir up some of the flagging interest in stopping executions in a state that has put to death 369 people since 1982 and is on track to kill four more just this month. This is despite recent news reports that at least one and maybe three innocent persons were part of that tally, and despite a growing chorus among editorialists for a moratorium at least until the Texas death machine is given a thorough review.

The response to Mr. William's question is YES! TSADP is offering one free registration for the 2007 Anti-Death Penalty Alternative Spring Break (housing included) to the first person who correctly guesses who the new voice will be. The winner can also bring a friend to spring break for free too.

Please send your guesses to hooman (at) texasabolition.org ASAP!

When Law and Ethics Collide!

Three major medical groups condemn most forms of participation in the execution process!
source: PBS NOW with David Brancaccio

American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA)
Doctors should not help put inmates to death by lethal injection, the president of the ASA wrote in a message to colleagues last month. "The legal system has painted itself into a corner and it is not our obligation to get it out," Dr. Orin F. Guidry wrote on the organization's website. Guidry told AP that he posted the statement in response to a federal judge's order last week halting executions in Missouri until the state takes certain actions, such as finding board-certified anesthesiologists to oversee lethal injections.

Although the group does not have an official policy on the issue, the ASA recognizes the American Medical Association's ethical principles about physician participation in lethal injections, in particular that physicians should not participate in executions.

The president's message on lethal injection is available on the website of the American Society of Anesthesiologists.

American Medical Association (AMA)

The AMA's ethics council has guidelines stating that it is unethical for physicians to engage in most aspects of lethal injection because a physician is "dedicated to preserving life." For example, physicians may not select fatal injection sites or start intravenous lines, prescribe or administer drugs used in the process, or consult with or supervise lethal injection personnel. Some actions, such as evaluating a prisoner psychiatrically to determine if the execution can proceed, are approved.

"Do we adhere to the patient's wishes if there's hope of prolonging life or preserving health, or do we simply participate in an execution?... and our position is that's not what doctors are supposed to do; we are healers, we are not killers," Dr. Priscilla Ray of the American Medical Association's ethics council told NPR in February 2006.

The full AMA guidelines on capital punishment are available at the website of the American Medial Association.

American Nurses Association (ANA)

The ANA says it is strongly opposed to nurse involvement in capital punishment. In its position statement, the association states that "participation in executions is considered contrary to the fundamental goals and ethical traditions of the profession." It cites "The Code for Nurses", nursing's ethical code of conduct, which stipulates that "the nurse does not act deliberately to terminate the life of any person." The ANA goes on to say that the nurses' obligation to refrain from causing death should not be breached, even when sanctioned by the law.

The full statement is available from The American Nurses Association

New voice calling for a moratorium in Texas?

As reported by TMN blog, we will soon be announcing a major development in our campaign to convince policymakers to support a moratorium on executions in Texas. An important new voice is about to be raised in support of a moratorium in Texas. The announcement could come next week.

Two Executions in Texas this Week

Take action against the execution of Mauriceo Brown on July 19 by sending an email to Governor Perry. When writing Governor Perry to express your opposition to the execution, please remember to ask him to express your sympathies to the friends and family of the victim - Michael LaHood.

Take action against the execution of Robert Anderson on July 20 by sending an email to Governor Perry. When writing Governor Perry to express your opposition to the execution, please remember to ask him to express your sympathies to the friends and family of the victim - Audra Anne Reeves.

Statewide Execution Vigils

Huntsville - Corner of 12th Street and Avenue I (in front of the Walls Unit) at 5:00 p.m.

Austin - At the Governor's Mansion on the Lavaca St. side between 10th and 11th St. from 5:30 to 6:30 PM.

Beaumont - Diocese of Beaumont, Diocesan Pastoral Office, 703 Archie St. @ 4:00 p.m. on the day of an execution.

College Station - 5:30 to 6 PM, east of Texas A &M campus at the corner of Walton and Texas Ave. across the street from the main entrance.

Corpus Christi - at 6 PM in front of Incarnate Word Convent at 2910 Alameda Street

Dallas - 5:30 pm, at the SMU Women's Center, 3116 Fondren Drive

Houston - St. Paul's United Methodist Church, 5501 Main Street (corner of Binz). Parking is available in the church parking lot on Fannin.

Lewisville - St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church, 1897 W. Main Street. Peace & Justice Ministry conducts Vigils of Witness Against Capital Punishment at 6:00 pm on the day executions are scheduled in Texas.

McKinney - St. Gabriel the Archangel Catholic Community located at 110 St. Gabriel Way @ 6:00 p.m. on the day of an execution.

San Antonio (Site 1) - Archdiocese of San Antonio, in the St. Joseph Chapel at the Chancery, 2718 W. Woodlawn Ave. (1 mile east of Bandera Rd.) at 11:30 a.m. on the day of execution. Broadcast on Catholic Television of San Antonio (Time-Warner cable channel 15) at 12:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on the day of execution.

San Antonio (Site 2) - Main Plaza across from Bexar County Courthouse and San Fernando Cathedral - Noon

Austin - At the Governor's Mansion on the Lavaca St. side between 10th and 11th St. from 5:30 to 6:30 PM.

News 8 Austin

News8Austin's coverage of 2006 Anti-Death penalty Alternative Spring Break!

Former chair of the TDC calls for Moratorium!

Charles Terrell, the former Chair of the Texas Department of Corrections (as the Texas Department of Criminal Justice was formerly named), in a letter to Dallas Morning News has called for a review of cases following the Chicago Tribune's series on Carlos DeLuna.

-------

Re: "Justice Without Doubt – Questionable death cases call for review," Sunday Editorials.

This editorial about the death penalty and three questionable executions is a reasonable approach to a difficult subject. I had enough concerns about flaws in the system to have my name taken off the death row prison a few years ago.

Mistakes can occur, but the system is not willing to admit them.

Your recommendation for a commission to review the entire subject is a good one. A moratorium on the death penalty during that process won't do any harm. The inmates aren't going anywhere.

Charles T. Terrell, Dallas

Texas wakes up to student spring breakers

During the past spring break season, students from high schools and colleges came to Austin March 13-17 for a week of activism and
education against the death penalty as part of the 2006 Anti-Death Penalty Alternative Spring Break. The students were not only from
Texas, but from several other states, including as far away as Oregon and Kansas. Austin is an appropriate location for this annual alternative spring break program because Texas is the number one execution state in the United States. More than 365 people have been executed in Texas since 1982.

The 2006 Anti-Death Penalty Alternative Spring Break, which was sponsored by Texas Students Against the Death Penalty and co-sponsored by other organizations such as Campus Progress, was designed to give students something more meaningful to do during their week off, rather than just spending time at the beach. The participants were provided with
workshops where they learned skills they could put to good use back home setting up new anti-death penalty student organizations or improving already existing ones. Activities included a death penalty issues lobby day and a trip to Huntsville to protest outside the prison during an
execution. The week was a great opportunity for students to gain valuable training and experience in grassroots organizing, lobbying, preparing a direct action and media relations.

Alan Clary of mtvU filming at the Wall's Unit!

This year's alternative spring break was covered by many local and national media, including National Public Radio. MTVU sent a crew to Austin for the whole week to shoot the event for their program "mtvU Spring Break '06." Annie Gillies, MTVU-Spring Break Coordinator,
explained MTV's interest in an email to TSADP, "When people think of Spring Break the vision of beaches, night clubs and drinking until you drop usually comes to mind. MTVU wants to put a
new spin on the typical Spring Break stereotypes by showcasing college students from around the country with alternative plans. The new Spring Break trend has students using their time away from school for more meaningful purposes -- whether volunteering with Habitat for
Humanity, helping restore properties affected by Hurricane Katrina or protesting a cause they believe in."

KAKW (Univision) - Austin

The bus trip to Huntsville to protest the execution of Tommie Hughes was probably the most memorable activity of the week for most of the students. During the trip to Huntsville, the students also visited the Texas Prison Museum and attended a lecture by Rev.Caroll Pickett, the former death house chaplain who is now an anti-death penalty activist. He is author of "Within these Walls: Memoirs of a Death House Chaplain". During his 16 years as a death house chaplain, Rev. Pickett ministered to 95 people on the final day of their lives and was present in the chamber during their executions. By the end of the talk most of the students were in tears hearing the awful stories about the final minutes of many of the people Pickett had witnessed
being executed.

After Rev. Pickett's talk, the students headed to the Walls Unit, where they were joined by many other students that had driven on their own to Huntsville for the protest. This was the first protest of any kind for many of the students, including Angela Martellaro, a high
school student who drove from Shawnee, Kansas with two of her friends to attend. Many of these first-time protesters said the experience was one of the most emotional and haunting experiences of their lives so far.

Shari Silberstein of Equal Justice USA during a workshop
at the Texas State Board of Education

Gloria Rubac of the Texas Death Penalty Abolition Movement said, "the young folks energized everyone with their continuous chants and optimistic enthusiasm for the abolition of the death penalty. While other students were heading to South Padre and other beaches, these young people were showing all of us the best of their generation." According to many of the local people this was one of the biggest protests in Huntsville in a long time. The student protesters were very respectful of the families who had come to witness the execution. During the bus trip, the students had decided they would end their chanting right before 6:00 PM with a request that
the crowd remain silent during the execution.

The Huntsville Item, which rarely covers execution protests, published a front page story on the anti-death penalty alternative spring break protest. Everybody felt satisfied knowing that people in Huntsville woke up and read about our group of young protesters in their morning papers. In 1964, students came down to the South during Freedom Summer to fight for civil and human rights and to build a more just nation. Now, the people of Huntsville could read in the morning papers that some of today's generation of young people had come back to finish the
job.

Back in Austin, one of the week's events was a panel discussion with family members of murder victims that was held in the Texas capitol building. Audrey Lamm, a student from the University of Oregon, told the story of how she was two years old when her mother and her mother's friend were murdered in Nebraska. Audrey had been in the building when the killing took place. The killer was sentenced to death. Several years ago, as the date of the execution of her mom's killer approached, Audrey and her father, Gus, became involved in an effort to prevent the killer's execution. Due to their efforts, the killer, Randy Reeves, had his life spared and is now serving life inprison instead of facing execution.

During the lobby day, students visited legislative offices at the Texas capitol (Ralph Nader style!) going door to door and lobbying for a moratorium on executions and other death penalty reforms. Our presence at the capitol made many of the pro-death penalty representatives and
Senators very uncomfortable. We heard reports that after hearing our plans on NPR some Republicans had sent instructions to their offices on how to respond to our questions in case we showed up.

Murder Victim Families hearing at Texas Capitol!

The annual anti-death penalty alternative spring break is an important training ground for the next generation of human rights leaders. This year's students made an enormous impact on the people of Huntsville and impressed the entire anti-death penalty community with their passionate commitment to human rights. Student engagement in contemporary movements for civil and human rights does not start at colleges, high school students are also participating. The 2006 Anti-Death Penalty Alternative Spring Break and the national immigration protests are clear examples of students making a difference.

Texas Students Against the Death Penalty will hold next year's Anti-Death Penalty Alternative Spring Break March 12-16, 2007. Everyone is welcome. Visit www.springbreakalternative.org or email
hooman(at)texasabolition.org if you would like to sponsor or attend next year's event.

2006 ADP Spring Break News Articles:

Texas Matters show 270 listen here (Story two) (Texas Public Radio)

Students take stand against death penalty (Item Online - Huntsville)

Unas vacaciones contra la pena de muerte (Rumbo Austin)

Students work against death penalty (News 8 Austin)

MtvU wants to turn Spring Breakers into action-makers (University Star News Reporter)

MTV Attempting to make Austin the most boring (Pink Dome Blog)
city in America

Party! (Sort of) Page 1 - Page 2 (Houston Press)

Videos:
2006 Anti Death Penalty Spring Break - Murder Victim Families at the TX Capitol google videos

2005 Anti Death Penalty Spring Break Alternative - Austin, Texas google videos

Bus Trip to huntsville and Lecture by Rev. Carol Pickett google videos

Students fast in death penalty protest - The Daily Texan

Anniversary of 1976 Supreme Court decision reinstating capital punishment brings students, activists together to speak out, educate public

7/3/06

By Behnaz Abolmaali

A small group of anti-death penalty activists convened at the front of the state Capitol Saturday for a day of fasting in observance of the 30th anniversary of the reinstatement of capital punishment in the United States.

The event drew fewer than a dozen people Hooman Hedayati, president of Texas Students Against the Death Penalty, said the organization hopes to draw more activists next year and hoped an Oct. 12 anti-execution march will draw a sizeable crowd from around the state. The organization passed out more than 500 leaflets over several hours throughout the day Saturday.

The July 2, 1976 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Gregg v. Georgia lifted a moratorium on executions around the country. In an earlier 1972 ruling, Furman v. Georgia, the court ruled that the death penalty is arbitrary and capricious.

Texas has led the nation in the number of executions since the 1976 ruling.

Speakers Saturday included Sandra Reed, mother of Texas death-row inmate Rodney Reed, family members of murder victims and UT students volunteering for anti-death penalty causes. They discussed broader issues of racism and poverty in the legal justice system in Texas and around the country, and many called for a moratorium of executions, under all circumstances.

Organizers said the fasting at the event was a symbolic gesture of compassion for the 399 inmates currently on death row in Texas. The group did not seek to attract the attention of lawmakers or Gov. Rick Perry, as government offices were closed for the weekend.

Reed, who said she has taken her message to talks at college campuses around the country in the last few years, said her son was innocent Saturday, alleging that an all-white jury convicted her son and said that new evidence could acquit him.

"It's very important to open their eyes and educate them about corruption with the system," she said. "The justice system has deceived us. They want us to think it's all about justice."

Rodney Reed, 38, was convicted in 1998 of two counts of capital murder in the abduction, rape and killing of Bastrop woman Stacey Stites. Earlier this month, he faced a legal setback when a Bastrop judge ruled that new evidence introduced by Reed's lawyers would not have changed the outcome of the original trial. Reed's lawyers claimed that key witnesses were withheld from the jury during his original trial.

The case is back before the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.

About half of the passers-by at the Capitol Saturday refused to take the leaflets, and commented about the validity of capital punishment. Other drivers who saw banners for the event honked and gave a thumbs-up as they drove by.

"One of the problems we had was that said Hedayati, a computer science sophomore.

Starvin' For Justice 2006 -- Texas Capitol

Robert Hoelscher, Murder Victim Families for Reconciliation

Robert Hoelscher's father, a convenience store manager, was murdered during a robbery in 1961 when Robert was seven years old. Just two days after the murder, Robert's mother called the parents of the offender, a 17 year-old teenager with mental health problems. The offender's father was the real estate agent that had recently participated in the transaction of the new Hoelscher family home. During that call, Robert's mother told the parents of the person that killed her husband and left six children fatherless, "I understand and I forgive. I know that your son is very, very sick. I am a mother. I have sons, too. Hatred will not bring my husband back." That courageous expression of compassion has followed Robert throughout his life. He has never associated healing or closure with the fate of his father's killer. Professionally, Robert worked on policy issues as Deputy Director of the Texas Innocence Network, part of the Barry Scheck inspired innocence movement that investigates wrongful convictions and seeks freedom for individuals convicted of crimes they did not commit.

Sandra Reed, mother of Texas death row inmate Rodney Reed

In May of 1998, a Bastrop County jury convicted Bastrop resident Rodney Reed of the murder of a young Giddings woman, Stacey Stites. Stites was murdered in April of 1996, and Reed was arrested a year later, based on a match of his DNA to semen found in Stites' body. On the basis of that DNA match alone, the prosecution argued that Reed had assaulted, raped, sodomized, and strangled Stites -- although there was no other physical evidence connecting Reed to the brutal crime.

Read Who Killed Stacey Stites? by Austin Chronicle.





Yes, we had live music! Our volunteers passed out about 1000 brochures to the Capitol visitors during the 1st annual fast and vigil in Texas.

For more information about the SCOTUS fast and vigil please visit Fast and Vigil blog or abolition.org





2006 Starvin' For Justice - Texas was sponsored by:
Texas Students Against the Death Penalty
Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty
Texas Moratorium Network
Campaign to End the Death Penalty - Austin
First United Methodist Church

Media Coverage: Fox 7 Austin, CBS42 Key Eye, TSN Radio (CBS Radio Nes texas)