September 1999
Dear Friend,
In less then five years, Texas Governor George W. Bush has carried out more than half of all the state’s executions since they resumed in 1982.
Meanwhile, his brother, Governor Jeb Bush, defended Florida’s use of the electric chair as news reports detailed the state’s most recent bloody execution.
The politics of death remain in high gear. Given that Texas is responsible for far more executions than any other state, Governor George W. Bush’s bid for the presidency in 2000 poses an opportunity for the Moratorium Now! campaign. Together, we can and must beat the Bushes by sounding a clear and visible public call for a moratorium. Equal Justice USA’s organizing plans for the fall are primed to do just that.
The United States’ application of the death penalty has become so egregious that even the United Nations has taken notice. Later this year, the UN General Assembly will vote on a resolution urging a worldwide moratorium. During this international media moment, we will run an ad – signed by US citizens – calling for a halt on all executions.
Six hundred groups have now urged a halt on executions. The Moratorium Now! campaign’s goal remains to obtain 2,000 resolutions by the end of 2000.
In August, Durham, North Carolina, made national news when it became the nation’s fifth and largest city to adopt a moratorium resolution. Organizers in the state have also convinced three other city councils to do the same. The city endorsements have galvanized state organizing efforts. North Carolina organizer Steve Dear recently said:
"I would encourage anyone to pursue a moratorium resolution from their local government . . . The results have been tremendous here in North Carolina."
We want The New York Times ad to celebrate 1,000 group endorsements of a moratorium. Here is what you can do to help:
1) Approach your municipality, faith community or local group and urge them to endorse the moratorium. A model resolution is included in the enclosed issue of Moratorium News! and is available on the Web at www.quixote.org/ej/mororg.html. Remember to send your ratified resolution to your local media and to us.
2) Organize a local resolution drive. We can provide organizing materials (see www.quixote.org/ej) and connect you with activists from around the country to share strategy and organizing ideas. Read the enclosed copy of Moratorium News! for updates on moratorium campaigns in Illinois and North Carolina, that are models of successful organizing.
3) Make a generous donation to support the Moratorium Now! campaign, which you can do online with our secure server. Your gift will help fuel the resources and energy required to increase our organizing efforts. Whatever you can give will help multiply the campaign’s impact.
Thanks to your generosity, we have hired another full-time organizer to pump energy into the campaign. In July, we welcomed Dylan Grimes, a former intern for Equal Justice USA.
Let’s all join together to push for the 1,000 mark. As you read through the newsletter, we hope you will be inspired to urge your local groups to adopt moratorium resolutions.
It will take significant energy and significant funds to make this goal a reality by November. By putting our shoulders to the wheel, we can beat the Bushes!
P.S. The drive for thousands of signers of the New York Times ad is being launched this month. Bianca Jagger, Arthur Schlesinger, Susan Sarandon, Philip Glass, Bishop Thomas Gumbleton, Noam Chomsky and others have already agreed to sign. Look for your invitation in the next couple of weeks.