Events 2004/2005
TEXAS Journey of Hope....from Violence to Healing
Texas Journey of Hope October 14-30, 2005
FOR THE SAKE OF THE VICTIMS, FOR THE SAKE OF TEXAS, FOR THE SAKE OF HUMANITY,
ABOLISH THE DEATH PENALTY
For the last two weeks of October, 2005, the "Journey of Hope...From Violence to Healing" was in Texas.
The Journey of Hope is a speaking tour led by families of murder victims. Included in the Journey were exonerated death row prisoners, families of executed prisoners and prisoners on death row, and ordinary ciitzens who oppose capital punishment for a variety of reasons. Over 50 people from around the nation were involved in the Journey as it traveled to over 30 Texas cities. Included were Bud Welch, whose daughter, Julie, was killed in the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995; David Kacyznski, who turned his brother, Unabomber Ted Kacyznski, in to authorities in 1996; and Robert Meerpol, whose parents, Ethel and Julius Rosenberg, were executed in 1953. Journey members articulately spoke about the futility of the death penalty as an answer to violent crime and the need for forgiveness and compassion if we are to become a better society.
Members of the Journey who had lost a loved one to murder stated three reasons for their opposition to the death penalty: (1) It does not bring them healing, (2) It is not good for society as it makes us into killers, and (3) it does not honor the memory of their family members who were murdered.
Members of the Journey who had been exonerated after being on death row for many years spoke about the flaws and biases in the criminal justice system: (1) ineffective legal counsel for the poor, (2) discrimination against minorities, (3) prosecutorial misconduct and (4) flawed crime laboratories that can result in innocent people being sent to prison.
Members of the Journey who had a family member on death row or executed explained how they too became victims when the death penalty was imposed.
Activists who joined the Journey spoke about the futility of the death penalty in deterring crime, the high cost of executions as compared to life in prison and how the death penalty was perceived as a severe human rights abuse throughout the world.
Members of the Journey of Hope spoke in over 160 places in Texas - churches, schools, universities and civic organizations. It was a great opportunity for the people of Texas, the state that has had over 350 executions since the death penalty was resumed in 1982, to see the death penalty from the perspective of those most affected by it.
David Atwood Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty
October 18 - JOURNEY OF HOPE IN BRYAN, TX
>> to know more
Oct. 27-30 in Austin : national conference of the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty,
"On the wings of songs" ´
Spiritual Concert
Protestant Church Wiehl,
Sunday September 11. 2005, 7 p.m.
Marianne Haupt:´Vocals Caroline Horstsmannshoff: Organ and Piano
Admission free!
We ask for donations for the huamn rights association "Great Charity Action nonprofit" in the favour of the innocent Anthony Graves on death row TX
Event-Charity Concert for Anthony
Song of wings Part I
When? Friday 10th of June 2005
Where? In the blue room of the Protestant parish Wiehl.
Beginning: 8.00 p.m
Concert for the dignity of man and against the death penalty
with Marianne Haupt, Vocals and Doerte Behrens, Piano
Today it is me, tomorrow it could be you…….. written by a poem of Anthony Graves
Organizer: Great Charity Action e.V.
Admission free! Donations are welcome for the defense and support of the innocent man on death row Anthony Graves.
The 12th Annual Fast & Vigil to Abolish the Death Penalty at the U.S. Supreme Court
PATRONIZED BY THE CITY OF MODENA IN COOPERATION WITH A.C.L.I. MODENA
MODENA, Saturday 14th May 2005
Modena Committee To Abolish The Death Penalty presents :
BEHIND BARS: MEN OR MONSTERS ? a day in the world of death row inmates
DEMONSTRATION MEETING POINT IN "PIAZZA ROMA" - h. 3.30 pm
The rally will start with the intervention of the Social Politics : Alderman, Mrs Francesca Maletti. Aarrival in "Piazza Matteotti" and conclusion with "readings from death row" by MARCO CINQUE - Journalist
CONFERENCE PIAZZA MATTEOTTI - h. 6.00 pm
Opening by the Major of Modena, Mr. Giorgio Pighi.
Speakers:
- DAVID ATWOOD - former president of the Texas Coalition Against The Death Penalty - Texas
- CHIARA SILVA - member of the board of directors of the Italian Coalition To Abolish The Death Penalty
- MAGDALENO ROSE-AVILA - founder of "Homies Unidos", organization run by gang members which offers to them an alternative to violence, and co-ifounder of "Moratorium Campaign"
- BILL PELKE - nephew of Ruth Pelke, murdered in 1985, abolitionist and founder of "Journey of Hope"
- SHUJAA GRAHAM - ex death row inmate found innocent and released after 4 years of fights for his life spent in a max security prison.
Hip hop dance exhibition by the crew "YOUNG BLAK SOULZ" - choreography by Elisa Balugani
May 22, 2005
Big gathering against the death penanlty in front of the former nazi transit camp in Drancy (North of Paris) contact : Bastien Noisette
May 19 to 24, 2005
conferences and debates :
The current situation of the death penalty in US - speaker : Rick Halperin - Paris and Nice
to get the program contact : Vendla Meyer vendla@ihes.fr, 01 69 07 43 99
Sponsored by Amnesty International USA, Texas Conference Board of Church and Society (United Methodist Church), Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, Catholic Diocese of Galveston-Houston, Amnesty International - Group 23, Pax Christi Texas, Corymbo Foundation (Switzerland) and the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs - Cultural Foreign Policy Centre (Switzerland). Other sponsors pending.
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more information in French and German about the photographer and the exhibition : http://www.jouph.ch/f/expos/?sub=1&id=53 |
AN EVENING WITH FORMER
GOVERNOR GEORGE H. RYAN OF ILLINOIS
January 29, 2005, at the Omni Hotel Southpark in Austin, Texas
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF
THE TEXAS COALITION TO ABOLISH THE DEATH PENALTY (TCADP)
INVITES YOU TO JOIN US FOR DINNER AND A KEYNOTE
ADDRESS BY GEORGE
H. RYAN, FORMER GOVERNOR OF ILLINOIS AND NOMINEE FOR THE 2003 NOBEL
PEACE PRIZE.
Governor Ryan is internationally recognized for his past efforts to
reform
Illinois death penalty laws by commuting the death sentences of all
167
condemned people on death row in that state. He was also the first U.S.
governor to issue a moratorium on all executions in his state.
Mark your calendar now and plan to join us for an inspirational evening.
You will be mailed a formal invitation with further details in January.
Reception at 6:00 p.m. Dinner at 7:00 p.m.
Cost: $75 per person. Sponsorships available.
For more information regarding the dinner, or the TCADP annual conference
preceding it, go to www.tcadp.org,
or contact our office directly at
512-441-1808 ext. 106, or email myoungs82@yahoo.com
CITIES FOR LIFE - CITIES AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY
Houston will join with other cities around the world to celebrate Cities for Life - Cities Against the Death Penalty on November 30, 2004.The front of the Catholic Cathedral at 1111 Pierce St. in Houston will be illuminated that evening. A prayer service will be held at 7pm on the front steps of the Cathedral. Since Frances Newton is scheduled to be executed the next day, we will dedicate the prayer service to her and her family.
Cities for Life - Cities Against the Death Penalty is an initiative of the Sant' Egidio Community in Rome, Italy. Last year, over 125 cities around the world participated in the program. In Rome, the Colosseum was illuminated.
For more information, call Dave Atwood at (713) 529-3826.
Please note that execution vigils for Frances Newton will also be held at 5:30 pm on December 1. In Houston, the vigil will be at the corner of Westheimer and Shepherd. Vigils will also be held at the Walls Unit in Huntsville and other major cities in Texas.
Please also note that Amnesty International will be holding its monthly anti-death penalty vigil at the Mecom Fountain in Houston at 6:30 pm on December 1.
Bring candles to all these vigils.
END THE TEXAS DEATH PENALTY!
5th Annual March To Stop Executions
Saturday October 30, Austin Texas
10 AM - 1PM Brunch by Inside Books at Republic Park (4th and Guadalupe)
1 PM Gather at Republic Park with music
2 PM March to Supreme Court
Sponsored by the March to Stop Executions Coalition
For more information visit www.texasmoratorium.org
or call 494-0667 or e-mail lilymae30@hotmail.com
to know more : www.amnestyhouston.org
the french page: événements
Des Mains Unies pour la Justice -Association - Join Hands For Justice
