[CUADPUpdate] Good News/Bad News /and/ Fast & Vigil Update

Tue May 16 20:30:33 EDT 2006

Sent to All Abolitionists
Please excuse cross-posts
Please Forward

Greetings All,

Below find the latest updates of speakers and sponsors of the 13th 
Annual Fast & Vigil to Abolish the Death Penalty.  These updates will 
soon be reflected at http://www.abolition.org

BUT FIRST, good news and bad news...

First the good news.  In the past few weeks, no fewer than four 
different states had executions stayed pending the SCOTUS decision in 
the Hill case, which once procedural issues are dealt with *may* 
present a real challenge to lethal injection as a means of 
execution.  The Tennesee stay was overturned by a higher court, but 
Sedley Alley won a reprieve this evening from the TN Governor just 
eight hours before he was scheduled to be killed.  One of those stays 
was in Texas.  We are looking at a very real, if only temporary, 
slowdown in exterminations.

Now the bad news, which may eventually be good news, but for now it 
is a disappointment that the legislature in Wisconsin this evening 
approved a non-binding referendum on the state-wide ballot in 
November.  It's a ploy to draw out conservative voters to try to win 
statewide offices, and it is a distraction that we all must respond 
to.  Here's the announcement from the National Coalition to Abolish 
the Death Penalty:

>From: "David Elliot" <delliot at ncadp.org>
>Date: Tue, 16 May 2006 18:33:01 -0400
>Subject: Final Wisconsin vote
>
>Colleagues:
>
>Please excuse cross-posts.
>
>After a quickly assembled, hard-fought campaign, we lost the 
>Wisconsin Senate vote 18 to 15. We managed to flip two Republican 
>senators from the earlier 20 to 13 vote, but in a highly charged 
>partisan environment we simply could not find the other two votes we 
>needed. A nonbinding referendum on the death penalty will now appear 
>on Wisconsin's November election ballot.
>
>So many people came together to help out. ACLU of Wisconsin, 
>national ACLU, and ACLU of Northern California all came together. So 
>did Amnesty International USA, Equal Justice USA and dozens of 
>allies on the ground in Wisconsin. Both Murder Victims' Families for 
>Reconciliation and Murder Victims' Families for Human Rights 
>provided tangible, on-the-ground assistance. NCADP state affiliates 
>from as far away as California, New Jersey and Oklahoma offered help 
>with phone banking. Earl Bender and Lori Baux, serving as NCADP 
>consultants, helped lead the charge (and now, finally, Earl gets to come home!)
>
>Although there is no denying that this vote was a disappointment, 
>the news is not all bad. The outcome of the November ballot 
>notwithstanding, we believe Wisconsin will remain death penalty free 
>when legislators convene in 2007.
>
>Thanks to all who joined this effort.
>
>David Elliot
>NCADP Communications

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

AND NOW, the FAST & VIGIL UPDATE

UPDATING & INVITING YOU TO PARTICIPATE IN
The ABOLITIONIST ACTION COMMITTEE'S

STARVIN ' FOR JUSTICE 2006
13th Annual Fast & Vigil to Abolish the Death Penalty at the U.S. Supreme Court

June 29 - July 2, 2006

Read the who, what, when, where, why and how of this important annual 
abolitionist event by visiting http://www.abolition.org

CONTENTS
Housing
New Speakers
New Sponsors
30th Anniversary of Gregg Resource Guide

HOUSING
We're scrambling, because the low cost activist housing we have used 
for years is suddenly unavailable to us due to unanticipated 
renovations.  We are looking at a number of housing options, 
including home hospitality.  If YOU are an abolitionist in the DC 
area and would welcome a few Fast & Vigil participants into your 
home, please e-mail <aac at abolition.org>.  Thanks!

DON'T LET THIS DISSUADE YOU FROM COMING - WE WILL HAVE LOW COST 
HOUSING FOR THOSE WHO NEED IT.

***

NEWLY CONFIRMED SPEAKERS!

Joining the speakers list for our series of evening teach-ins are 
murder victim family member/family member of the executed CHRISTINA 
LAWSON, coordinator of "Victims of Texas: Supporting the Forgotten 
Survivors" and New Mexico death row survivor RON KEINE!   See the 
(still in development) list of confirmed evening speakers at 
http://www.abolition.org/starvin13.html

***

NEW SPONSORS!

See the full list of F&V Co-Sponsors to-date (May 16) and get 
co-sponsorship information at 
http://www.abolition.org/starvin13.sponsors06.html

Since the last update the following groups and individuals have 
become co-sponsors of the 13th Annual Fast & Vigil to Abolish the 
Death Penalty:

Catholics Against Capital Punishment
Lifespark (A swedish death row support group)
Maryland Citizens Against State Executions
Pax Christi USA
Amy Jo Smith
Unitarian Universalists for Alternatives to the Death Penalty

***

30TH ANNIVERSARY OF GREGG RESOURCE GUIDE!

Stand by for the announcement that the 30th Anniversary of the Gregg 
Decision Resource Guide is ready.  Coordinated by Amnesty 
International USA, this guide collects input from DPIC, CEDP, EJUSA, 
CUADP, the AAC, AIUSA and others to create all the info and tools you 
need to take action around this important anniversary.....

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

The Fast & Vigil takes place on the sidewalk in front of the U.S. 
Supreme Court, considered by many to be the heart of the legalized 
killing machines in this country. In addition to the strong public 
witness, this is an excellent opportunity to meet other abolitionists 
and to "recharge your batteries" while engaging in public outreach 
and maintaining a physical presence at the Court. ***FASTING IS OPTIONAL***

BOTTOM LINE, this is a great experience and training ground for 
people who want to learn more about this issue and to become very 
adept at talking about the dp.

Prisoners, activists from other countries, and abolitionists who are 
unable to come to Washington, D.C. have fasted or held events in 
solidarity with the action at the Court. This tradition continues to 
grow as well - those who participate in solidarity are asked to 
communicate details of their actions and contact information to the 
Fast & Vigil organizers. E-mail aac at abolition.org or write to the 
address below.

TO BECOME A CO-SPONSOR, please 
visit:  http://www.abolition.org/starvin13.sponsors06.html

The Abolitionist Actionn Committee (AAC) is an ad-hoc group of 
individuals committed to highly visible and effective public 
education for alternatives to the death penalty through non-violent 
direct action.

Learn more at http://www.abolition.org/starvin13.html or by calling 
800-973-6548

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

SENT BY:

The Abolitionist Action Committee
www.abolition.org
800-973-6548