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Because Freedom Can't Protect Itself |
MEDIA ADVISORY
July 1, 2005
CONTACT: Marty Durand (208) 344-9750 ext. 202 Death Penalty Vigil July 9th BOISE - A broad and diverse coalition of Idahoans who question the wisdom of capital punishment will gather at 6:00 p.m. on July 9th at the Anne Frank Human Rights Memorial in Boise to reflect on the death penalty and encourage an end to executions. “Idaho’s death penalty has serious problems. Innocent people, like me, have been sentenced to death. I must accept and live with what has happened to my life. We cannot allow others to suffer a similar fate, ” according to Don Paradis who spent 18 years on Idaho’s death row before being exonerated in 2001. Many religious leaders and communities of faith have come out against the death penalty, including Catholics, Jews, Protestants, and Unitarians. “The solution to violence is not more violence and we ask everyone, especially people of faith, to examine their beliefs, consider alternatives and join us in taking a stand against capital punishment,” said Mia Crosthwaite of Idahoans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty. In 1976, the Supreme Court allowed re-imposition of the death penalty in the expectation that the adoption of narrowly crafted trial and sentencing procedures would adequately prevent the execution of wrongly convicted persons. But despite these new "safeguards," an average of about four innocent persons each year have been wrongly convicted and sentenced to death. “People who disagree on the acceptability of capital punishment should agree on one thing – innocent people must not be executed. A system that has narrowly avoided executing over 100 innocent people nationwide cannot be called successful or equitable,” said Marty Durand, Legislative Counsel for the ACLU of Idaho. “In failing to provide mental health and substance abuse services in communities across Idaho, we’ve created a system that doesn’t offer rehabilitation to Idahoans, but only worsens problems we already know exist. Then to impose a death sentence on those who the system has already failed is an even greater injustice,” according to Representative Nicole LeFavour. The play “The Exonerated” will be presented July 7, 8 and 9 at 7:00 p.m., at The Flicks in downtown Boise. The play tells the real-life stories of six people who were convicted of murder, sentenced to death and later exonerated - after serving years in prison. Tickets are available at The Flicks. What: Death Penalty Vigil and Interfaith Prayer Who: Speakers include Mia Crosthwaite, Representative Nicole LeFavour (D-19), Marty Durand and Don Paradis When: July 9th, 6:00 p.m. Where: Anne Frank Human Rights Memorial, Boise Cost: Free. The public is invited to attend |