[CUADPUpdate] Support the Journey - June 28, 2007

[Abraham J. Bonowitz]

Dear Friends,

As a long-time supporter and former member of the 
board of directors of the Journey of Hope ...From 
Violence to Healing, Inc., I sincerely hope you 
will join me at this event, if not in person than with your financial support.

Yours in the Struggle,

--abe

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


Friends of the 
Journey, 
June 17, 2007

You are invited to Journey of Hope
from Violence 
to Healing’s Birthday Party for Reverend Moreese 
“Pops” Bickham on Thursday June 28, 2007, at the 
National Press Club in Washington DC.

"Back From the Dead: One Woman's Search for the 
Men Who Walked off America's Death Row", by Joan 
Cheever, tells a story in Chapter Nine about Moreese "Pops" Bickham.

On June 29, 1972, the US Supreme Court handed 
down a ruling called Furman v. Georgia. The 
Furman decision declared the death penalty 
unconstitutional in its application and death 
rows were emptied throughout America.  It was law 
of our land until Greg v. Georgia, July 2, 1976 
allowed for resumption of executions.

Joan refers to those taken off of death row 
through Furman as the “Class of 72”.  Pops 
Bickham is the oldest living survivor of that 
class and the Journey of Hope will be honoring 
Pops ninetieth birthday on June 28th 5:30 PM ­ 
7:30 PM at the National Press Club, Holeman 
Lounge, 13th Floor  529 14th Street  N.W.  Washington, DC

As president of the Journey "Advisory Committee" 
Joan has worked tirelessly in preparation for 
this tremendous event.  Through her research she 
gathered a spectacular list of people from the 
Furman era and they have been invited to join 
Pops celebration as special guests. The heroes of 
Furman have been invited. For those no longer 
living, a family member has been invited.

The Journey of Hope is grateful to Joan for all 
of her hard work, to Pops for joining the 
Journey, and to all those responsible for helping 
the US Supreme Court to make its historic decision.

Joan wants Pops to have a great 90th party.  When 
you read Joan’s book you will see why Pops means 
the world to her.  You will see that the Furman 
decision is what caused her to write the 
book.  And you will see why the Journey of Hope also means a lot to Joan.

It was on the 2005 Texas Journey of Hope that 
Sister Helen Prejean and Marietta Jaeger Lane’s 
powerful ministries helped bring Joan the closure 
on “Back from the Dead” that she was looking for.

Pops participated in the Virginia Journey of Hope 
last year and plans on participating on the 
October 12-28 Journey in Texas this year. In fact 
at the start of the year Pops told some folks he 
was coming to the Texas journey even if he had to 
walk or crawl.  He calls us the “people of 
Hope.”  We lovingly call him Pops.  We don’t want 
Pops to walk or crawl.  We want Pops to come to 
Texas as our honored guest as we travel around 
the state working for abolition.  This fundraiser 
is designed to help make this happen.

Five of the six Journey of Hope board members 
will be in DC on the 28th when we honor 
Pops.  Leading abolitionists from DC and around 
the country are coming.  We would like for you to come too.

There is only one catch.  You must RSVP now so we 
can let the press club know how many people are 
coming.  We are asking for a minimum donation of 
$75 per person. You can pay at the door but we must have a RSVP now.

EVENT DETAILS
June 28th
5:30 PM ­ 7:30 PM
The National Press Club,
Holeman Lounge, 13th Floor
529 14th Street  N.W.  Washington, DC

If you would like to come please RSVP immediately to <bill at journeyofhope.org>.

If you cannot attend you can still make a 
donation to the Journey in honor of Pops by 
clicking here.  http://www.journeyofhope.org/pages/support.htm

http://www.journeyofhope.org/pages/events-pops.htm 
pictures Pops with Sister Helen last year on the Virginia Journey.

On June 29th, the 35th anniversary of Furman, 
Pops will see the US Supreme Court Building where 
the decision was made that saved his life. Pops has prayed for this day.

Help us make this a special time for Pops.  You 
can send him a birthday message in care of me at <bill at journeyofhope.org>.

Please feel free to forward this email to anyone you think might be interested.

Peace,

Bill

Bill Pelke
President Journey of Hope
Journey of Hope
from Violence to Healing
PO Box 210390
Anchorage, AK  99521-0390
www.journeyofhope.org
877-9-24(GIVE)4483  Toll free