Four Executions Scheduled For AprilJoin MFSA and the Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty (TCADP) in April for a vigil in your community for the four scheduled executions of Texas prisoners:
Information and updates on these cases are available on TCADP’s website. |
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TCADP – Texas Faith Leader Advocacy |
On Monday, March 9, 2015, TCADP and Texas Impact held a press conference at the State Capitol in Austin to release the Interfaith Statement of Opposition to the Death Penalty, which was endorsed by more than 500 faith leaders across Texas. The signatories represent 25 different faith traditions, including Baptist, Buddhist, Catholic, Episcopalian, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Reform Judaism, United Methodist, and United Church of Christ. More than 20 Jewish leaders in Texas endorsed the accompanying Rabbis’ Statement. (Pictured here: Participants in our Faith Leader Advocacy Day at the Capitol on March 9; photo courtesy of Jeff Campbell Photography)
Many of the United Methodist clergy signatures were from clergy who attended the 2014 Peace & Justice Luncheon at the Southwest Texas Annual Conference after hearing the story of Anthony Graves, death row exoneree – http://anthonybelieves.com/about-anthony/. Thanks for the witness of these and other clergy who stood in opposition to the death penalty. http://umc-gbcs.org/faith-in-action/abolish-texas-death-penalty
| Legislation advances in Nebraska, Delaware, Colorado, & MarylandNebraska – The Judiciary Committee of the Nebraska Legislature voted unanimously for the first time to advance a bill to repeal the death penalty! The full legislature now will debate the bill. Follow #nerepeal on Twitter for updates and share this graphic provided by EJUSA on Facebook to congratulate our friends at Nebraskans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty.
Delaware – On March 26, Delaware’s Senate passed (11-10) a bill to repeal the death penalty, after amending it to exclude current death row inmates. Those who testified in support of the repeal cited racial disparities, a lack of deterrent effect, and the high costs associated with capital punishment. The bill will now move on to the House of Representatives, which is expected to consider the measure in April. Colorado – On the same day, Colorado’s House Judiciary Committee voted (6-4) against a repeal bill. Legislators heard nine hours of testimony regarding the bill, largely from supporters of the measure. Seventeen states have either considered legislation to repeal the death penalty this year or will likely consider it in the next session. |
Maryland – Earlier in March, a bill to repeal the death penalty passed the Maryland General Assembly, and the governor has pledged to sign it into law, making Maryland the 18th state to do away with the death penalty
Rio Texas Methodist Federation for Social Action 
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