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CONFERENCE ASKS ALL TO COMMIT TO CONSCIENCE

No western democracy except the USA has the death penalty. Since 1976, when the USA reinstated it, at least 20 countries have abolished it. In 1998, the USA ranked third in number internationally of executions. In July 2000, there were 3683 prisoners on death row in the USA. Do we care? Are more heinous crimes committed here than in other countries? Or is state-ordered murder committed in the USA because we, the people, say it can be?

The over-1000 anti-death penalty activists who spent four intense days in San Francisco at November’s “Committing to Conscience” conference care. They also believe that when we, the people say “No, you can’t” there will be abolition of what they prefer to call “the kill penalty”.

Conferees shared stories, pain, and tears. Yet the spirit of the conference was upbeat, positive, energizing, exciting. And we were uplifted by being with so many dedicated to ending what they feel is the worst crime – execution -- described as “the most premeditated murder of them all” and “a torture of multiple deaths” for those on death row.

What made us cry? A phone conversation with one of the “Death Row 10", who are among the prisoners claiming to have been tortured by Chicago police into confessing to crimes they did not commit.
Talks with the parents of a schizophrenic man executed for murder, medically determined to become violent without treatment but ineligible for that treatment until after that violence happened.
A man who told how he and his wife were attacked in his store. She died; he was convicted of her murder and spent time on death row before his conviction was overturned.
A woman told how she and her husband were wrongly convicted of murder. One of her jurors kept her from being sentenced to death, but her husband was not only executed before their exoneration and her release but spent a gruesome 13 minutes dying during several attempts to electrocute him.

How could we cheer and feel cheerful? Public awareness of this issue has been raised in the past few years by Dead Man Walking; by release of a group of wrongfully convicted death row inmates in Illinois; work by members of Murder Victims Families for Reconciliation; by executions of people whose convictions were questionable, whose mental health was poor, who seemed rehabilitated; and publicity about all of those (use of publicity was a strong theme of the conference).

The tide seems to have turned and the majority of Americans appear to be at least willing to accept life imprisonment without parole as the ultimate sentence. Also, no longer is any manner of execution considered “humane”.

Thurgood Marshall was quoted as saying, “How many would continue to support the death penalty if they knew how it works? When can we plant the seeds of doubt and make one point with others and find some common ground?” We can all listen to those who favor state executions, find common ground, and work to plant seeds of doubt.
We received some seeds and some answers to hard questions, such as:
African-Americans are 13% of the general population but 35% of those on death row; nine percent of death row inmates are Native American, Latino or Asian; and 13 of the 19 on federal death row are people of color; the US is one country that even executes non-citizens.
Since 1976, for every seven people executed, one person on death row, was found to be innocent and released.-- a total of 82.
At least 381 homicide convictions have been overturned since 1963 because prosecutors concealed evidence of innocence or presented evidence they knew to be false.
Over 90% of those tried on capital charges have court-appointed attorneys, who rarely have adequate time or resources.
Volunteers told of helping attorneys in capital cases and appeals and how to find and train them was discussed.
Another helpful sign was that at least a dozen law schools are starting projects like the one at Northwestern University whose students found evidence of a number of wrongful convictions. As one flyer stated,”The death penalty is a horrifying lottery in which political, financial, community, and racial pressures play a more decisive role in sending a person to the death chamber than the actual crime itself.” Crime is no greater and often less where there are no death sentences. France abolished capital punishment by law about 14 years ago, although 68% of the populace favored it. Most now approve of that abolition. And a possible death sentence is not a deterrent. Clinton Duffy, California prison warden during 90 executions, reportedly said, “Not one of those executed said they thought of whether or not they might get the death penalty when committing their crime.”

The conference honored Illinois Governor George Ryan for declaring a moratorium on executions in his state during a thorough review of the process by which the state decides whether and whom to kill. He said, “As governor, executions are my responsibility and I, in fact, throw the switch. That is an awesome responsibility and it is not one that any human should have.” He intends never to resume executions until and unless he can be absolutely certain of the infallibility of judicial process and of moral right. His courageous act has spotlighted the issue and strengthened work by others, including keynote speaker Senator Russell Feingold, who now has allies in Congress for legislation to end executions; Families of Murder Victims for Reconciliation, the most heart- wrenching and heart-warming attenders at the conference; and the over two and one-half million municipalities, organizations, and individuals who signed on to the petitions for Moratorium 2000, spearheaded by Sister Helen Prejean and presented by her and other representatives to Kofi Annan at the United Nations on December 18 while the Colosseum in Rome was lit as it is every time there is an execution stayed or other positive step against executions. ..

The Committing to Conscience conference was inspiring, educational, and called for action expressing moral outrage . Large sessions and numerous workshops focused on what we could do and how to do it. Gandhi wrote, “It is the action, not the fruit of the action, that’s important. You have to do the right thing. It may not be in your time that there will be any fruit, but... if you do nothing, there will be no result.” In the past few years, local, regional, and national groups have mushroomed and are working together. We need you all, now, while we have this momentum. As Sister Helen invited at our closing meeting, “Come along on our journey.”

Marguerite / Mugs

"I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve (or save) the world and a desire to enjoy (or savor) the world. This makes it hard to plan the day."
E B White
From Simpson's Contemporary Quotations, compiled by James B. Simpson. 1988. Recalled on his death, Newsweek 14 Oct 85