[CUADPUpdate] TX 100 Update & This & That

[Abraham J. Bonowitz]

Sent *ONLY* to the recipients of CUADPUpdate
Feel Free to Forward


Greetings All,

Just a quick note to say they killed Grayson in Alabama, and thanks 
to each of you who took the action.  When I called in the 
mid-afternoon, the guy answering the phone indicated that they had 
received "many many" calls.  Thanks to all who took action - 
especially those in Alabama who pulled out all of the stops.  See 
articles below.

(Please note that I'm away from e-mail until Monday night, so no 
further updates will be posted until then.)

Thanks also to those participating in the TX 100 project.  It's slow 
going, but this is summer.  I *know* there are 100 people on this 
list alone with $100 that they can send to Texas anti-death penalty 
efforts.  Perhaps it seems like a band-aid on a gaping wound.  I 
assure you it is not.  The folks in Texas are working very hard to 
enact a plan they have developed to move legislation in the next 
Texas legislature.  But because Texas is Texas, and for unrelated 
reasons, Foundation money for direct abolitionist efforts is slow to 
come and that situation and will probably continue to be the case for 
a while.  This is why a donation of $100 or 100 quarters ($25) or 
even 100 dimes ($10) may seem like a pittance to the sender when 
considering the need, but it is a huge boon to those on the receiving 
end.  Every bit helps.

THUS FAR, of those who have told me they are sending something:  26 
DONORS, 13 OF THEM AT $100.

That puts us at 13% of the goal of injecting (pardon the term) 
$10,000 into Texas via 100 gifts of $100 - and the many generous 
gifts of less than $100 are icing on the cake!

SO AGAIN, HERE'S THE ORIGINAL CHALLENGE:  In the wake of the 100th 
execution out of Harris County, please join CUADP in going to 
http://www.tcadp.org/donate.php to use your credit card to send $100 
to the Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty.  If you prefer 
to give by check, send it to TCADP at 2709 South Lamar 
Blvd.,  Austin, TX 78704.

I'd like to see 100 gifts of $100 to TCADP (or another Texas 
Abolitionist Group) by July 31st, if not sooner, just from people 
(and organizations) on this list.  Can't swing $100?  How about 100 
quarters ($25)?  Or 100 dimes ($10)?

I should note that it's Saturday night as I send this.  I have not 
spoken to anyone in Texas or anywhere else about this idea.  I'm just 
doing it.  I can't imagine they will complain.... Obviously, because 
I don't see TCADP's information and in fact because I have no formal 
relationship with TCADP other than being a supporter/donor, the only 
way I can track how this campaign is going is if you send me an 
e-mail confirming your participation.  I'm not listing names, but I 
will follow up this message several times between now and July 31 to 
update our progress.  Just send me a note saying you made a gift to 
TCADP (or another Texas Abolitionist group) and tell me the amount 
you have sent.

I gave CUADP's $100 to TCADP and noted it should be considered "general funds."

A few alternative groups to give to - let me know if I am missing any!:

Texas Death Penalty Abolition Movement - checks only, to s.h.a.p.e. 
center, 3903 almeda road, houston, tx  77004

Texas Moratorium Network - http://www.texasmoratorium.org/ - and 
click on DONATE

Texas Defender Service - http://www.texasdefender.org/contribute.asp

Gulf Region Advocacy Center - http://www.gracelaw.org/support.html

Texas Students Against the Death Penalty - 
http://www.texasabolition.org/ - and click on DONATE

The upcoming Texas Journey of Hope ...From Violence to Healing - 
http://www.journeyofhope.org/pages/support.htm - be sure to indicate 
that your gift is for the Texas Journey!

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

100 gifts of $100 on the occasion of the 100th Harris County 
killing.  It's both symbolic and meaningful.  We can do this.  Please 
join me.  Thank you.

--abe


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

And a bit of This & That:

***********

  Walk to Stop Executions

   <http://walktostopexecutions.blogspot.com/>http://walktostopexecutions.blogspot.com/

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



The ACLU Freedom Files series has a new addition about the death
  penalty.

  Clips of Freedom To Live: The Death Penalty can be seen on aclu.tv or
  YouTube.

  Click on the link to go directly to the aclu.tv site

<http://aclu.tv/deathpenalty?PHPSESSID=6290330cb744689feecc1f548cfb7e58>

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


Subject: New Scholarship: Innocence & DP

Jeffrey L. Kirchmeier, Dead Innocent: The Death Penalty Abolitionist 
Search for a Wrongful Execution,
42 Tulsa L. Rev. 403 (2006)

available at:
http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1002103 by 
clicking on go to Download Document,
in the upper left side of the page.

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


NOW SHE WALKS THE WALK
http://blogs.amnestyusa.org/death-penalty/archive/2007/07/24/now-she-walks-the-walk.htm

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


July 26

ALABAMA----execution

Ala. death row inmate Grayson executed Thursday


Darrell Grayson was executed Thursday evening by lethal injection for the
1980 killing of an 86-year-old widow in her Montevallo home.

Grayson, 46, made a peace sign with both hands and waved them at
witnesses. He did not make a lengthy final statement. He just smiled and
nodded at witnesses he recognized and said, "Peace."

He was pronounced dead at 6:16 p.m. at Holman prison near Atmore. He was
executed for the death of Annie Laura Orr, who was robbed and raped before
she was killed.

The victim's granddaughter, Lee Rawlings Binion, wiped away tears as she
witnessed the execution and in a statement said, "The Orr family has seen
the final chapter of a 27-year struggle."

"We are grateful that justice has finally been served," Binion said.

A single death penalty protester kept vigil outside the prison during the
execution.

More than 50 supporters of the 46-year-old Grayson, who was 19 at the time
of the crime, rallied in Montgomery on Wednesday, urging Riley to
intervene in order for DNA tests to determine if Grayson raped the elderly
woman.

Grayson's capital murder conviction did not include the rape accusation.
But his supporters say it was an aggravating factor cited by prosecutors
to get the death sentence and that DNA testing is warranted.

Riley, in a statement Thursday, refused requests to intervene. He said the
elderly victim died a "horrifying death" and that Grayson's own testimony
and "the overwhelming physical evidence left a jury no doubt he
perpetrated a cruel and monstrous crime upon a helpless elderly woman."

The U.S. Supreme Court in a two-sentence order Thursday afternoon denied a
request for a stay of execution. The Alabama Supreme Court on Wednesday
denied a request to postpone the execution.

Grayson becomes the 2nd condemned inmate to be put to death this year in
Alabama and the 37th overall since the state resumed capital punishment in
1983.

Grayson becomes the 32nd condemned inmate to be put to death this year in
the USA and the 1089th overall since the nation resumed executions on
January 17, 1977.

(sources: Associated Press & Rick Halperin)


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

Yoshe sent this:

>Subject: (: Alternative Aromas
>
>Look Skyward,
>For blue that sings,
>Hear small voice,
>That leads Away,
> From killing
> From killing.
>Know that when
>We execute
>A fellow human,
>Being,
>We get stuck
>in blackness.
>
>Peace,
>Yoshe :)

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

Have a lovely weekend....  I'll be in the great ABOLITIONIST state of 
Wisconsin.

paz!

--abe