February 15: Michael Wayne Hall
February 22: Timothy Adams
Learn more about responding to these scheduled executions at the link.
Upcoming Events
Seizing the Momentum… Advancing Statewide Vision through Local Action
2011 TCADP Annual Conference
February 19, 2011
2011 TCADP Annual Conference
February 19, 2011
Schmidt-Jones Family Life Center, First United Methodist Church
13th and Lavaca, Austin, Texas
13th and Lavaca, Austin, Texas
The Panel Discussion on the impact of the death penalty on a county level will include:
- Sam Millsap, former Bexar County District Attorney
- Dennis Reeves, Assistant Public Defender of the Regional Public Defenders Office for Capital Cases
- Karen Peissinger, El Paso TCADP Chapter Leader
- Sachin Chheda, NCADP Deputy Director (moderator)
New offering this year! Afternoon training will feature legislative workshops designed specifically to your legislative district.
Early Bird Registration rates expire today. Register today. Rates go up on Wednesday!
More information and flier (Download PDF)
There is still a little time to advertise in the conference program or exhibit at the conference. Be in touch ASAP!
TCADP Lobby Day – HB 819
On Monday, January 24, 2011, State Representative Jessica Farrar filed House Bill 819 calling for repeal of the Texas death penalty.
What you can do to support this bill:
- Telephone your State Representative and tell them:
- you support repeal of the death penalty in Texas, and
- you support Rep. Farrar’s H.B. 819.
- Ask your Representative to co-sponsor H.B. 819.
- RSVP for the TCADP Lobby Day to be held on March 8 at the Capitol!
- More information on contacting your lawmakers, including talking points, is available at the link.
If you do not know who your State Representative is, you can find out at http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/.
You can follow the progress of H.B. 819 at http://www.legis.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=82R&Bill=HB819. Now is the time to make your voice heard by your elected Representative. Please make your call this week. Let TCADP know the results of your conversation!
News
Recent Editorials on the Texas Death Penalty
Both the Dallas Morning News and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram recently published editorials calling on members of the Texas Legislature to examine the serious flaws and failures of the state’s death penalty system. In “Death penalty debate should start, not end,” (January 15, 2011) the Star-Telegram notes that “The capital punishment system is troubled and expensive. The Legislature needs to debate how to fix it – and whether it can adequately be fixed at all.” Read more from the Star-Telegram and Morning News.
Illinois Repeal of the Death Penalty
As you likely know, both houses of the Illinois General Assembly, the State Senate and the State House, have passed SB 3539, abolishing the state’s death penalty. Read a story about the vote in the Chicago Tribune.
NOW, WE NEED YOU TO CALL GOVERNOR PAT QUINN! Governor Quinn of Illinois has indicated he wants to hear from the public. Call or email Governor Quinn of Illinois today!
Religious Leaders Dialogue on the Death Penalty
TCADP cosponsored an unprecedented event in Houston with seven high-level religious leaders and Sister Helen Prejean! More than 500 people representing diverse faith traditions RSVPd and attended the event.
Sister Helen and Bishop Janice Huie of the Texas United Methodist Church Conference both noted that getting religious leaders to speak out on the issue of the penalty has been difficult, ”The silence has been deafening.” Read all about it in the Houston Chronicle.
TCADP is following up with the attendees and the religious leaders to plan for next steps! All clergy are invited to sign the TCADP Interfaith sign-on letter and return to TCADP.
Calendar
February
6 Odessa Chapter Meeting 4pm odessa@tcadp.org
15 Scheduled execution – Michael Wayne Hall
16 Dallas Chapter Meeting 7:00pm dallas@tcadp.org
19 TCADP Annual Conference Seizing the Momentum… Advancing Statewide Vision through Local Action
19 TCADP Annual Conference Seizing the Momentum… Advancing Statewide Vision through Local Action
21 El Paso chapter meeting 6:00pm elpaso@tcadp.org
22 Scheduled execution – Timothy Adams
25 Fight for Freedom Lecture featuring Anthony Graves and Nicole Casarez at 7:00pm, University of St Thomas. Lecture: Jones Hall, 3910 Yoakum, Reception: Malloy Hall, 3815 Mt. Vernon. RSVP by February 23 to Ryane Jackson, Asst. Director of Annual Giving, at jacksork@stthom.edu or 713-525-2147. This event is co-sponsored by the UST Social Justice Committee and a partner with the Young Social Justice Institute.
22 Scheduled execution – Timothy Adams
25 Fight for Freedom Lecture featuring Anthony Graves and Nicole Casarez at 7:00pm, University of St Thomas. Lecture: Jones Hall, 3910 Yoakum, Reception: Malloy Hall, 3815 Mt. Vernon. RSVP by February 23 to Ryane Jackson, Asst. Director of Annual Giving, at jacksork@stthom.edu or 713-525-2147. This event is co-sponsored by the UST Social Justice Committee and a partner with the Young Social Justice Institute.
March
8 TCADP Lobby Day, Austin Capitol