CADP First Quarter 2000 Update
March 25, 2000
Dear CADP Friend:
Thank you for your past support of Coloradans Against the Death Penalty. In case you have not received our brochure, I am enclosing one for you. We are asking for your renewed support in the upcoming year.
In February 1999, CADP held a conference called "Where Do We Go From Here?" In October, around the anniversary of the execution of Gary Davis in 1997, we held our first annual dinner. At the dinner, we honored Father Jim Sunderland for his dedication and efforts to abolish the death penalty. We have established several committees including development, legislative action, religious action, and speakers bureau. We have a website at www.coadp.org and a newsletter. You may subscribe to our listserv by submitting your e-mail address on the front page of the webpage.
CADP's mission is to abolish the death penalty in Colorado. We strive to find the right balance of focusing on our mission, while establishing alliances with organizations whose missions are related. CADP has a Board, an Advisory Council, and CADP Friends (supporters/contributors) who are not "members" per se. CADP supports a moratorium on the death penalty, as a step toward abolition. CADP's policy with regard to ongoing capital cases in Colorado is to put the client before the cause, deferring to the defense attorneys on these cases as to how best CADP may assist. On recent proposals in the Colorado legislature, CADP has chosen to work behind the scenes to oppose one judge sentencing, and to support a return to jury capital sentencing. One need not be opposed to capital punishment to support returning this decision to juries comprised of Colorado citizens. CADP supports life imprisonment without possibility of parole as the alternative to a death sentence. Studies show that support for the death penalty drops when citizens understand what this alternative means. The question at the heart of this complex debate is ultimately how we define ourselves as individuals and as a society.
CADP is establishing a network of subchapters around the state. We will not succeed in abolishing the death penalty if our only supporters are in the Denver area. Our Speakers Bureau is reaching out to schools, churches and organizations, so that we can deepen the dialogue about this issue, and move toward a new consensus. It is our hope that the new consensus is one in which we impose punishment and consequences without excessiveness, and provide for the possibility of, not only responsibility, but hope for healing of all affected by violent crimes.
CADP has been gathering individual signatures for Moratorium 2000, sponsored by Sister Helen Prejean. We continue to contact churches and other organizations to pass the Moratorium Resolution, a campaign sponsored by Quixote Society. Our Friends may choose to write letters to the editors of local papers when articles appear on the death penalty. CADP will work to support the election of Colorado legislators who may favor a study/moratorium, and is considering sponsoring a study/moratorium bill next year. In addition, in the next year, Frank Rodriguez' federal habeas corpus appeals may be denied, and, if so, he will seek clemency from Governor Owens. CADP will launch a campaign to support the clemency request, and speak out against the death penalty.
CADP needs your help to support our current projects and for future more expensive means -- such as polls, focus groups, and advertising campaigns -- to achieve our mission. We encourage a $20 minimum donation to cover the costs of mailings and the like. Remember that CADP is a §501(c)(4) organization, as its mission is political -- to abolish the death penalty in Colorado. Therefore, while we have nonprofit status, contributions are NOT tax deductible. We look forward to your continued support and your involvement.
Sincerely,
Vicki Mandell-King
CADP President
See the Web site's News section for more articles and information about the death penalty.
