Anti-Death Penalty Coalition Sponsoring Press Conference
-- By Philip Tobias
A broad coalition of community groups has quickly come together to oppose the reinstatement of the death penalty in Colorado. The legislature is expected to pass death penalty sentencing laws to conform to the U.S. Supreme Court's recent ruling which, in most experts' opinion, rendered Colorado's death penalty laws unconstitutional.
Demonstrate your opposition to the death penalty. Attend this press conference:
- Date: Tuesday, July 9, 2002
- Time: 12 p.m. noon
- Location: Press Conference Room (third floor, southwest corner),
Colorado State Capitol in Denver
Sponsoring organizations include Coloradans Against the Death Penalty (CADP), the Colorado Criminal Defense Bar (CCDB), Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center, Amnesty International, American Civil Liberties Union, American Friends Service Committee, the Catholic Archdiocese of Denver and other religious groups, plus additional like-minded organizations.
Make a strong statement to legislators and the media, by being part of a large, supportive crowd. Come hear prominent speakers including:
- Bud Welch: National death penalty abolition supporter. Mr. Welch lost a daughter in the Murrah Federal Building bombing in Oklahoma City.
- Lorraine Parker: Denver lawyer, former President of the Colorado Women's Bar Association, and former Texas prosecutor who handled a death penalty case in that state.
- William Nieves: Former inmate who spent 6 years on death row - before being found innocent of all charges.
- Archdiocese of Denver representative.
Take advantage of this historic opportunity to demonstrate that you are against the death penalty. According to Guss Guarino, in a statement from the cosponsoring CCDB, "Events over the past weeks have given us an opportunity to revive and renew opposition to the death penalty. I do not say this lightly when I say that this is an historic time. For the first time in recent memory, Colorado is without a death penalty (despite comments to the contrary). Many talk about the inevitability of a death penalty in Colorado, however, the CCDB and many others do not believe in this inevitability. In fact, thanks to the efforts of many CCDB members, a debate now exists about whether we should have a death penalty at all."
Within a half-hour of the Supreme Court's recent Ring decision, local community leaders were already working together. They began contacting the press, planning lobbying efforts, and organizing this press conference. Randy Canney, CADP President Elect, said about the press conference, "The death penalty - a scientifically, socially, morally, financially, and constitutionally inept method of crime punishment and deterrent - will be put directly in the spotlight by experts involved in the death penalty's day-to-day application, and citizens directly affected by its injudicious use."
In addition to encouraging you to attend the press conference, CADP and other sponsors ask you to immediately take action. Let legislators know your feelings about the death penalty. "This is a campaign year and now more than ever, legislators read the editorial pages. From now through the end of the special session, write short editorial letters to your newspapers expressing your absolute opposition to the death penalty," said Guarino. "Politicians listen to the opinions of their constituents and contact with legislators influences votes. If a legislator receives two dozen personal calls, e-mails, and letters, it's considered a flood of opinion." Learn how to contact your legislators and local newspapers.
"Although a significant portion of Colorado citizens were and are opposed to the death penalty, the legislature hasn't entertained a thorough debate in recent memory over whether Colorado should even have a death penalty," said Canney. Change is needed, and it is up to citizens. Guarino adds, "Change only comes after you stand up and say 'Enough!' If we say and do nothing ... we will live with a death penalty for decades to come, and we will have no one to blame but ourselves."
"If you are against the death penalty," Guarino concludes, "you have a responsibility to act." Please join Coloradans Against the Death Penalty at this important press conference event.
Read the coalition's press conference statement
Read the PDF statement from the Archdiocese of Denver
Read the statement about rejected Senate Bill 02S-008 to abolish the death penalty
