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December 1998 Dear Friend of Equal Justice USA, This month, December 1998, marks the 50th anniversary of the United Nations' adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. While our government has ratified much of it, the document's promises have yet to be realized in the U.S. - particularly in relation to the death penalty. In fact, in recent years, our courts and legislatures have moved further from the fundamental rights affirmed in the Declaration - the right to life, the right to an adequate legal defense and the right to basic equal justice under law. Around the world, this anniversary has fortified the movement for a mora-torium on executions. And while we in the U.S. are heartened by this growing international sentiment, we know that much work remains before our country will be swayed. The work before us is formidable, yet we celebrate the distance we've already come. As the enclosed edition of Moratorium News details, 332 groups and thousands of individuals from around the U.S. have joined in the call to halt executions. At the urging of local citizens, the cities of Mt. Rainier, Maryland and New Haven, Connecticut have passed moratorium resolutions. Local organizing efforts are building in five states. Equal Justice USA is playing a key role facilitating the Moratorium Working Group, which brings together national groups to forge a concerted strategy. At the same time, five state bars have joined the American Bar Association in urging moratorium. Much, much more is needed. Equal Justice USA is expanding to meet the demands of a growing movement. In January, Trisha Kendall is joining the Quixote Center staff as full-time Moratorium Now! campaign organizer. She brings training and organizing experience on a local and state level. We welcome her additional energy and passion to both our office and the movement. If you are an activist, expect to hear from her soon. Or feel free to give her call to welcome her. Equal Justice USA's goal for 1999 is to recruit 1,200 organizations to pass moratorium resolutions (including at least 10 city councils). We seek to reach out far and wide, drawing in a spectrum of groups from both sides of the death penalty debate. The coming year will be decisive if we are to meet our challenge of involving 2000 groups (including 100 city councils) before 2001. Our expanding staff and ambitious dreams for the future are the direct result of your unwavering involvement and support. And as another year turns, bringing closer the new millennium, we ask again for your support. Help us wage a dialogue about how the death penalty works in real life and real death. Reach out to local groups, churches, and businesses - any gathering of people - about the moratorium. Remember to include groups who may not agree with you about the death penalty. Youc an find a sample resolution on this website (click here). Present it yourself, recruit others to do it, or use the back of your response form to list groups that Equal Justice USA should approach. For a comprehensive organizing packet, call, write or e-mail our office. How many more anniversaries of the Universal Declaration will it take before its core principles find a permanent home within the U.S. and every inch of our planet? Only by joining together can find the hope to answer, "not many!" And in this collective pursuit, every set of hands matter. May your holidays be warmed by love and the New Year filled with peace. Blessings, The staff of Equal Justice USA |
