On May 21, 2012, a Dallas County jury determined that Roderick Harris should be sentenced to death for the murder of Alfredo Gallardo during a 2009 robbery. According to the Dallas Morning News (“Killer of 2 Dallas brothers gets death penalty, May 21, 2012): Harris stormed into the family’s trailer in southeast Dallas in March 2009 and demanded […]
capital punishment
Two New Op-Eds Call for Abolition of Death Penalty
This week, two major Texas newspapers featured op-eds calling for the abolition of the death penalty. In the Fort Worth Star-Telegram (“‘Myth of violence’ drives capital punishment,” May 1, 2012), Reverend Bernard Kern (a new member of the TCADP Board of Directors), describes support for the death penalty as part of the “myth of redemptive […]
The Final Collapse of the Deterrence Argument?
In upholding the revised capital punishment statutes of several states back in 1976, the U.S. Supreme Court recognized two main purposes of the death penalty: 1.) deterrence (to stop people from committing capital offenses out of fear of being executed) and 2.) retribution (punishment that is proportionate to, and warranted by, the crime). A new […]
State of Texas Executes George Rivas
Last night, February 29, 2012, the State of Texas executed George Rivas. It was the second execution of the year in Texas and the sixth nationwide. Rivas was convicted and sentenced to death for the murder of Irving police officer Aubrey Hawkins on Christmas Eve in 2000. The shooting occurred while Rivas and six other […]
TCADP 2011 Annual Report: Texas Carries Out Fewest Executions Since 1996
Today, December 15, 2011, the Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty (TCADP) released its annual report, Texas Death Penalty Developments in 2011: The Year in Review. According to the report, executions in Texas dropped to the lowest number since 1996 and death sentences remained at a historic low level this year.
Perspectives on Last Week’s Executions
TCADP Founder David Atwood wrote the following essay to explain why he and long-time activist Dick Gregory felt obligated to protest the execution of Lawrence Brewer, as part of their unconditional opposition to the death penalty: Two executions took place on September 21 – Troy Davis was executed in Georgia and Lawrence Brewer was executed […]
Save the Date: Austin Panel Discussion
On Tuesday, September 28th, 7 PM, at St. John’s United Methodist Church, 2140 Allandale Road, Austin there will be a panel discussion about capital punishment featuring three individuals who view it from very different and unique perspectives.
Scheduled Execution: Derrick Jackson
Derrick Jackson is scheduled to be executed Tuesday, July 20 at 6:00pm. The execution will be the 15th Texas execution of 31 nationwide.
More information about Texas Vigils.
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