California
Maryland became the second state in the nation to declare a moratorium when Gov. Parris Glendening suspended executions over questions of racial bias and other fairness issues. Nine of the 13 people on Maryland's death row are black. Twelve of the 13 were convicted of killing white people - even though 80% of all homicide victims in Maryland are black! Gov. Glendening called his state's death penalty system "a lottery." In California, the first-ever
Moratorium Day in Sacramento was a smashing success. Leaders of religious, social justice, and human rights organizations and more than 700 activists and citizens marched on the State Capitol May 1st to demand an immediate halt to executions while California's flawed
death penalty system can be studied. Leaders of Californians for a Moratorium on Executions (CME) presented more than 89,000 signed petitions for a time out on state killing to Gov. Gray Davis. The following day the campaign moved to Los Angeles where activists
literally `called on' members of the LA City Council demanding they pass a resolution supporting a moratorium. More than 70 cities, counties and states across the country have passed resolutions to date demanding a halt to state killing. Oakland, Santa Cruz, West Hollywood, Berkeley and Menlo Park have passed such resolutions, as have Santa Clara and San Francisco Counties.
What You Can Do?
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Sign and circulate the Californians for a Moratorium on
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Executions petition.
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You can download a copy or sign online at
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Sign up for CME updates by sending your e-mail address to CAmoratorium-subscribe@topica.com.
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Call 415-243-0143 for information.
