[CUADPUpdate] A Bit of This & That....

Tue Mar 7 01:47:38 EST 2006

To the Recipients of CUADPUpdate and FADPUpdate
Feel Free to Forward

Greetings All,

Sunday afternoon was spent among the teaming masses at the opening of the 
Philadelphia Flower Show at the Philadelphia Convention Center, which was 
actually quite fascinating.  I was wearing t-shirt #3 (see 
http://www.cuadp.org/abolitionwear.html ), and over the course of the day 
my message was read and comprehended by hundreds of people, and seen by 
thousands more.  So remember, if YOU are not wearing the message, you are 
MISSING an opportunity to educate....  http://www.cuadp.org/abolitionwear.html

CONTENTS
"The Exonerated" DVD Ships Today!
Florida Exonerated Prisoner Relief Fund
Bonowitz Sabbatical - FADP Press Release
Witness to Innocence Projects seeks venues
Anti-DP Alternative Spring Break
DPIC's "What's New" page...
International Women's Day

**********

"THE EXONERATED" DVD SHIPS TODAY!

"The Exonerated" play was made into a film starring Susan Sarandon and 
others.  Pre-release sales have been ongoing on www.CUADP.org, but as of 
today the DVD is released for general consumption in the open market.  But 
don't go to the video store!  Go to www.CUADP.org to order your copies 
today!  (By ordering at CUADP.org, HALF of your purchase price supports 
CUADP's ongoing efforts to educate and activate new abolitionists.... )

************

FLORIDA EXONERATED PRISONER RELIEF FUND

REMINDER:  Just two weeks ago, John Ballard became the 26th prisoner 
exonerated and released from Florida's death row.  A new news item on the 
case is at http://www.fadp.org/news/spt-20060305.htm

Upon his release, John received $100 and no apology from the state.  Please 
contribute TODAY to FADP's Exonerated Prisoner Relief Fund.  Thus far 
nearly $1,000 has been pledged or received.  Let's try to double that - 
please contribute NOW at http://www.fadp.org/relief_fund.html

*****************

BONOWITZ SABBATICAL - FADP PRESS RELEASE

>Sender: fadpmedia at yahoogroups.com
>Date: Mon, 06 Mar 2006 12:27:10 -0500
>Subject: [NEWS FROM FADP] Bonowitz Takes Sabbatical to Assist New Jersey Group
>
>
>Dear Media Friends,
>
>The following announces my departure from Florida and introduces Mark
>Elliott as the primary spokesperson for FADP.  I expect to return to
>Florida at some point in 2007.  For now, please contact Mark for
>Florida-related media needs.  Also, expect to hear from Mark via this
>list with new media alerts and press releases.
>
>Thanks!
>
>--abe
>
>
>*******
>
>6 March 2006
>
>MEDIA ADVISORY
>
>From:  Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty
>
>CONTACT:        Abe Bonowitz - 561-371-5204
>                          Mark Elliott:  727-215-9646
>
>FADP DIRECTOR BONOWITZ TAKES SABBATICAL TO ASSIST NJ GROUP
>
>(ALSO - FADP Press Conference in Tallahassee THIS Thursday - see below)
>
>
>Effective immediately, Abraham J. Bonowitz, co-founder and director
>of Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (FADP), is on
>Sabbatical from FADP.  Bonowitz has been hired as the Field Manager
>for New Jerseyans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (NJADP), the
>New Jersey group whose work resulted earlier this year in an
>overwhelming bi-partisan vote by the New Jersey Legislature to place
>a moratorium on executions in that state and to establish a
>commission to study the issue and report back to the NJ legislature
>in November.  Bonowitz had served as a consultant with NJADP but has
>now been hired as part of its full time staff for a position that is
>expected last about a year.
>
>"I'm honored and excited to be working with NJADP, where my job will
>be to help mobilize constituents in key legislative districts," said
>Bonowitz.  "As difficult as it is to leave the work in Florida, I
>look forward to the break, and I look forward to returning to Florida
>to help impose the same sort of legislative strategy that is working
>in New Jersey.  This is also a good opportunity for new leadership to
>emerge in Florida."
>
>ELLIOTT TO TAKE OVER
>
>Mark Elliott, from Clearwater, has for several years served as the
>State Death Penalty Abolition Coordinator for Amnesty International
>USA.  Elliott will continue in that role, but will also become the
>lead coordinator and spokesperson for FADP.  Mark may be reached at
>
>Mark Elliott, FADP
>Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty
>727-215-9646
>melliott3 at aol.com
>
>***********************
>
>PRESS CONFERENCE THIS THURSDAY - MARK YOUR CALENDAR
>
>Re:       Florida Capitol Press Conference
>              "Update on the Death Penalty"
>               March 9, 1PM
>               Florida Press Center
>               336 E. College Avenue
>               Tallahassee
>
>The start of our annual legislative session on March 8 and the latest
>developments here (26th exoneration off Florida's Death row, lethal
>injection in the courts, DNA exonerations) make this an extremely
>critical opportunity.
>
>Participants include:
>
>FADP - Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty
>MVFR - Murder Victims Families for Reconcilliation
>NAACP
>Florida Catholic Conference
>ACLU Florida
>TCADP - Tallahassee Citizens Against the Death Penalty
>Florida Innocence Initiative
>Amnesty International State Death Penalty Abolitionist
>LULAC - League of United Latin American Citizens (awaiting confirmation)
>
>Thank you,
>
>Mark Elliott, FADP
>Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty
>727-215-9646
>melliott3 at aol.com
>
>************
>
>SENT BY:
>
>Abraham J. Bonowitz
>Director
>
>            Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (FADP)
>            800-973-6548    <http://www.fadp.org>http://www.fadp.org
><<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/fadpmedia/post?postID=4J0lo8Env7fJRlHQFcxr641T1OVz0Yt-fOTlvQsd9ycVIhRBFJm3xSKQpoPMVbwcBSGlA4A>fadp at fadp.org>
>               PMB 335,  2603 NW 13th St, Gainesville, FL  32609
>
>Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty works for restorative
>justice in the form of effective alternatives to the death penalty.  It
>does so by
>      # supporting and coordinating the work of organizations and individuals
>      # educating and energizing the general public and state legislators
>      # supporting the many persons affected by capital crime and punishment
>      # advocating specific legislative improvements
***********************

WITNESS TO INNOCENCE PROJECT SEEKS VENUES

"It's difficult to describe what it is like to serve time on death row 
knowing you are innocent.  All you know is that what seems like an awful 
nightmare is now reality, a reality beyond comprehension. "

- Ray Krone, released from prison April 8, 2002

DEATH ROW SURVIVORS AVAILABLE TO SPEAKER TO YOUR GROUP

Is your group interested in expanding its efforts against the death penalty 
or simply helping to raise awareness about this critical human rights 
issue?  Consider organizing an event featuring someone who has personal 
experience with our fatally flawed criminal justice system.

Witness to Innocence 
(<http://www.witnesstoinnocence.org>www.witnesstoinnocence.org) challenges 
the public to grapple with the crisis of wrongful convictions in death 
sentencing.  It does this by exposing citizens to the incredibly powerful 
stories and compelling testimony of individuals who were sentenced to death 
and lived to tell about it.  The project maintains a speakers bureau of 
exonerated former death row prisoners who bring to the public a unique 
firsthand account of an innocent person's experience with the justice 
system.  Experienced speakers are available to give presentations to 
colleges, religious communities, organizations and community groups.

Witness to Innocence is spearheaded by former death row prisoners who have 
been exonerated and released from death rows across the United States and 
who are now actively engaged in the struggle to end the death penalty.  No 
one can describe the horror of the death penalty and the reality of life on 
death row better than someone who has experienced it.  Regardless of a 
person's position on capital punishment, he or she will learn a great deal 
from hearing one of these courageous individuals speak.  Their stories 
invariably have a transformative impact on audiences.  To learn more about 
how Witness to Innocence can help you organize an inspiring educational 
event featuring an exonerated former death row prisoner, contact:

Witness to Innocence
P.O. Box 34725
Philadelphia, PA 19101
215-387-1831
<mailto:witnesstoinnocence at gmail.com>witnesstoinnocence at gmail.com
www.witnesstoinnocence.org

We appreciate the work that you and your group do to help bring issues of 
injustice to the center of our nation's attention and look forward to 
working with you to help you achieve your goals!

*****************

ANTI-DEATH PENALTY ALTERNATIVE SPRING BREAK

Last year's event resulted in the formation of Texas Students Against the 
Death Penalty!  See a report at http://www.cuadp.org/altspringbreak.html

What will this year's event yield?  It starts NEXT WEEK!  Go and be a part 
of it:  Details are at http://www.texasmoratorium.org/

*****************

DEATH PENALTY INFO CENTER'S "WHAT'S NEW? PAGE

This is always useful....  http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/

*******************

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

In my book, *every day* in women's day, but March 8th has been singled out 
by the United Nations.  Check out 
http://www.un.org/ecosocdev/geninfo/women/womday97.htm  for details, and 
make it a point this March 8th to thank the women in your life, and to do 
something to benefit the women of the world.....

***************

Yours in the Struggle,

--abe

Abraham J. Bonowitz
www.CUADP.org
800-9873-6548  