Fall 1997 

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 Annual meeting | Busy Summer in the Death House | Joining in Grief for Mario Murphy
Saunders Commutation | Annual Survey | DC-18 Stand Trial | Annual Fast and Vigil
D.C.'s Dave Clarke Coalition | Sr. Prejean to Speak | Pride Festival
Virginia Film Festival and the Death Penalty | Interfaith Center to Focus on Death Penalty
Religious Community Conference Against the Death Penalty

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ANNUAL MEETING TO BE HELD OCT. 25

The annual membership meeting of VADP will be held on Sat. October 25 at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Charlottesville. Speakers include Rob Lee of the Virginia Capital Representation Resource Center which handles death row prisoners appeals. Frank Green of the Richmond Times-Dispatch and Laura LaFay of the Virginian Pilot have written extensively on death penalty related issues and will address the meeting in the afternoon. Frank was a recipient of last year's Thurgood Marshall Journalism Award presented by the Death Penalty Information Center. 

State peace education groups as well as individuals concerned with Virginia's death penalty should plan to attend this day long meeting beginning at 10 AM. Lunch will be provided. Please return the coupon you received in the mail last month or call us at 804-263-8148 so that we can plan for your participation. 

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Virginia's death machine was in full gear this summer with the executions of four people in the span of two months. While the executions of Roy Smith (July 17) and Carlton Pope (August 19) garnered not much publicity, Joseph O'Dell (July 23) and Mario Murphy (September 17- see article) brought many inquiries by the press. Both cases became news due to their international connections. Joseph O'Dell had become a "cause celebrity" due to the efforts of his long time friend, Laurie Urs, who took his case to the Italian Parliament. Mario Murphy, born in Mexico, tested the international treaty signed by the U.S. and reaffirmed this past summer during a visit by the Mexican president that nations must inform each other when incarcerating one of its citizens. Nonetheless, Gov. Allen showed that he had no problem "saying NO" to the governments of Italy and Mexico, nor to the Pope and Mother Theresa. 

These executions brought Virginia's total for the year thus far to six. Eight men were executed last year, which led the nation. Forty-three men have been executed in Virginia since reinstatement of the death penalty. Nationally, Virginia remains second behind Texas in overall executions. Texas has executed 29 thus far this year. Missouri has executed five while Arkansas has executed four. 414 men and women have been executed in the U.S. since 1977. The U.S. with 56 executions so far this year, has now tied the previous record set in 1995. 
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On the evening of September 17 we made yet another trip to the Greensville "Correctional" Facility- this time to hold vigil at the execution of Mario Murphy. This vigil was especially unique for us in that the family of Mario was present outside the gates, as well as many of his friends. We wanted to take special care not to intrude with our presence and be sure to respect the privacy of the family. We spoke to them concerning this and they graciously welcomed us and encouraged us to stand vigil near them. Being around Mario's loved ones during such an incredibly painful and emotional event was indescribably moving. 

Our gathering numbered about thirty , including a group from the Amnesty International Mid-Atlantic office who had journeyed three hours from Washington. Also present was a woman with a son on Death Row in North Carolina. She now resides in Virginia and said she felt drawn to come to the prison to be with us. Joining us in the reading of the names of those executed at Greensville, as well as the names of their victims, was a woman who had known Carlton Pope, executed August 19 of this year. She shared the fact that her children had gone to school with Carlton. All of these unique factors and participants charged the moments of silence during the vigil with extraordinarily powerful emotions. 

As we all began our respective journeys home, we carried with us the hope that this madness called the death penalty will someday end. Our deepest sorrow goes out to the friends and family of Mario Murphy, as well as our thanks for allowing our presence in their time of grief. They voiced their appreciation and wonder at how people who did not know Mario personally thought to come and, as one family member put it, "say goodbye". 

Two days before the execution of Mario Murphy, Gov. Allen commuted the death sentence of William Ira Saunders, saying he was swayed by a prosecutor and judge who said that Saunders is not the same violent man sentenced to death seven years ago. Saunders was convicted of capital murder in a 1989 bench trial for the slaying of Danville businessman Mervin Guill and was sentenced to death by Judge James Ingram in 1990. The judge said that a heavy trial schedule forced him to postpone Saunders' sentencing and was further postponed when Saunders fought with inmates and guards. Ingram wrote that he imposed the death penalty because of Saunders' violent conduct in jail. He determined that Saunders would be a continuing threat to society. In Judge Ingram's April 21 letter to the Governor he wrote, that it would be in the "best interest of justice" for Saunders' death sentence to be commuted to life in prison. 

This is the second death sentence that Gov. Allen has commuted. On Nov. 6 of last year the Gov. commuted Joseph Payne's death sentence 3 hours before his scheduled execution. 
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The results of the '97 Quality of Life in Virginia poll conducted by the Center For Survey Research at Virginia Tech are in and once again the data shows that Virginians favor the alternative of Life, with no possibility of parole for a minimum of 25 years combined with restitution to the victim's family. While 79.5% favor the death penalty (down 3% from last year) and 17% oppose (up nearly 4% from last year), 57% favor the alternative (same as last year) and 38% oppose (down over 2%). Since 1993, the annual survey has asked the same questions with the same results (give or take a few percentage points). When the same poll with identical questions are asked and the same results are given, now that's credible! So during this election season, when you hear a candidate for office proclaim that they are for the death penalty, let them know that's not what Virginians want. Please contact us for information sheets on the poll. 
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On January 17 of this year, 18 death penalty demonstrators were arrested for performing civil disobedience on the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court. They were holding a thirty-foot long banner proclaiming "Stop Executions!" The date was significant in that it was the 20th anniversary of the resumption of the death penalty in the United States. The three day trial for the 14 defendants who pled "not guilty" took place from June 26-July 1 {two people who were arrested pled guilty and were sentenced the day after the demonstration}. 

Eight of the defendants represented themselves during the trial and were convicted and ordered to pay $50 to a fund for crime victims. The judge presiding over the bench trial, Robert Morin, requested more time to rule on the First Amendment issues brought up by the remaining defendants. An October 6 court date is set for the sentencing of this group. The courtroom was filled for the three days with death penalty opponents. VADP board member Jon Holtshopple is one of the arrestees that will be sentenced in October. VADP board members Joan Betz, Sunshine Richards, and Henry Heller were observers during the trial. 
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The fourth annual Fast and Vigil marking the moratorium and reinstatement of the death penalty was held in front of the U.S. Supreme Court June 29 - July 2. This year, a record number of 30 people joined the fast and many others participated in related events. A large rally was held on Sunday, June 29th which marked the 25th anniversary of Furman V. Georgia (the Supreme Court decision which put a temporary halt to executions in the U.S.) Over 100 people were present to hear a variety of speakers and singers - all bringing their unique message of opposition to the death penalty. A street theatre group from New York called "The Living Theatre" performed a moving, interactive play before the crowd. 

Abolitionists maintained a presence at the Supreme Court during the day from June 29 - July 1. Beginning at midnight on July 1, a continuous vigil took place until midnight July 2, when the fast was broken. Food was brought in by the Dorothy Day Catholic Workers to feed those who had fasted for the 4 days. The group stayed at CCNV (Community for Creative Nonviolence), a homeless shelter, when they were not at the Supreme Court. 

The Fast and Vigil was sponsored by the AAC (Abolitionist Action Committee) and CUADP (Citizens United for Alternatives to the Death Penalty). For information about the 1998 Fast and Vigil, contact CUADP at 800-973-6548. 
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The Dave Clarke Coalition (named after the deceased D.C. councilman who was a vocal opponent of the death penalty) formed this spring to work on keeping the death penalty out of Washington, D.C. Politicians in Washington have called for the death penalty for those accused of murdering a police officer. Although city council members eventually voted against this, Kay Bailey Hutchinson (R- Texas) has vowed to impose this through Congress. 

The coalition is comprised of a racially diverse group of people from religious, political and abolitionist organizations. Joan Betz represents VADP at the Coalition meetings. Members of this group have canvassed neighborhoods to educate the public about capital punishment. {In 1992, an attempt by Congress to bring the death penalty to D.C. was defeated by a two to one margin by District voters.} 

For more information about the Dave Clarke Coalition and their activities, call Joan Betz at 703-361-8066. 
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The Catholic Student Center at George Mason University in Fairfax is proud to sponsor, An Evening with Sr. Helen Prejean, whose book, "Dead Man Walking" was made into an award winning movie and gave the anti-death penalty movement a much needed shot in the arm. If you missed Sr. Helen last year during the Journey of Hope when she spoke to the standing room only crowd of 1400, this is your chance to hear this remarkable activist. VADP is proud to cosponsor the event on Thursday, October 30 at 8 PM at GMU's Harris Theater. Full length autographed posters of Dead Man Walking will be raffled off during the evening. For more information call 703-425-0022. 
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On September 14, Joan Betz, Sunshine Richards, and Henry Heller set up a VADP information table at the 10th annual Pride Festival in Richmond. A steady stream of people stopped by to see our information, sign petitions, and learn about alternatives to the death penalty. The response was mostly positive. About 30 people signed up to be on the mailing list. Tabling at fairs, festivals, etc. is a great way to publicize our issue and give people some food for thought. If you have an interest in tabling an event in your community, please call 804-263-8148. 
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The 10th Annual Virginia Film Festival taking place in Charlottesville from Oct. 30- Nov. 2 will feature as its theme- "CAGED"! Films will explore physical and existential states of imprisonment and freedom, and their representations in classic and contemporary films. Discussions will address the role of the media in shaping attitudes towards crime and punishment. 

VADP and the Charlottesville Amnesty International chapter will cosponsor the film,"Procedure 769" at 2 PM in the McIntire Room at the main library. The film explores the execution of Robert Harris in California in 1992 through the eyes of witnesses who include the condemned man's brother, one of the victims' mother, the warden, a psychologist, a reporter, and others. A panel discussion with Marie Deans, Steven Rosenfield, Sunshine Richards, and Jodi Longo, as moderator will take place after the film. Ms. Deans is a paralegal who has done extensive work on Virginia's death row as well as the founder of Murder Victim's Families for Reconciliation. Mr. Rosenfield is a Charlottesville attorney and a member of the Board of Directors of Virginians For Alternatives to the Death Penalty, who has represented death row prisoners during the appeals process as well as representing men charged with capital murder. Ms. Richards' brother was murdered in 1982 and is a member of the Board of Directors of Virginians For Alternatives to the Death Penalty. Ms. Longo is the director of the Mid-Atlantic office of Amnesty international in Washington. 

For more information, contact Meg West at 804-823-5507. 
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The Richmond based Interfaith Center for Public Policy, an association of persons of faith committed to addressing public policy issues in Virginia from the perspective of religious values, has announced that their membership has rated the death penalty as amongst the 5 issues that they will focus on this upcoming legislative season. VADP has provided the Center with our position paper regarding alternatives to the death penalty and the 21 day rule. Anyone interested in their work can call 804-643-2474. 
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On November 13-16, a diverse group of religious leaders and lay persons from across the country will come together at the National 4-H Center near Washington, for an ecumenical conference addressing the death penalty from a religious perspective. The goal of the conference is to empower people of faith and provide them with essential resources so that they may return to their religious communities as more effective advocates for abolition: Topics that will be covered include: 

* How to talk to others about your religion and the death penalty 

* How to support families of murder victims 

* Hearing and responding to the concerns of death row prisoners and their families 

* Activism from a faith perspective 

Featured speakers include Sr. Helen Prejean, Rev. Bernice Albertine King, Millard Fuller, and more than 50 other leaders from the religious and abolitionist communities. 

For more information contact the American Friends Service Committee at 215-241-7124/7130 or write them at 1501 Cherry St., Philadelphia, PA 19102.