NADP NEWS | History in the Making | January 2011 | Click to View

THE ABOLITIONIST | Winter 2010 | Click to View

NADP NEWS | Speaking Out, Changing Minds | November 2010 | Click to View

NADP NEWS | Standing on the Shoulders of Giants | October 2010 | Click to View

NADP NEWS | NADP Hits the Road | August 2010 | Click to View

NADP NEWS | Speaking Out Against Nebraska's Death Penalty | July 2010 | Click to View

NADP NEWS | A Month of Contrasts | June 2010 | Click to View

NADP NEWS | On the Road Again| May 2010 | Click to View

THE ABOLITIONIST | Spring 2010 | Click to View

NADP NEWS | Like the Many Colors of Spring | April 2010 | Click to View

NADP NEWS | Building Momentum & Moving Forward | March 2010 | Click to View

NADP NEWS: An Alarming Price Tag | February 2010 | Click to View

NADP NEWS: Legislative Update & Sr. Helen Returns to NE | January 2010 | Click to View

NADP NEWS: Hearings, reports, and retreats... OH MY! | November 2009 | Click to View

NADP NEWS: Make your voice heard! | October 2009 | Click to View

NADP NEWS: What a difference a month makes! | September 2009 | Click to View

NADP NEWS: Innocence Matters | August 2009 | Click to View

THE ABOLITIONIST| Summer 2009 | Click to View

NADP NEWS | History in the Making | January 2011

Greetings,

After more than 11 year of a moratorium, two different study commissions, and a slew of reforms, a bill to repeal the death penalty in Illinois passed out of the legislature on January 11th! Lawmakers and citizens in Illinois realized that, despite all their efforts to study and reform the state's death penalty system, it was continuing to make mistakes, costing tax payers millions of dollars, and dragging victims’ families through an endless ordeal. They now stand only one signature away from making the death penalty history in Illinois and we need your help to make this a reality.

As Illinois prepares to celebrate a historic victory, we continue building momentum for repeal here in Nebraska. The 102nd Nebraska Legislature convened on January 5th and they will again have the opportunity to consider a bill to put an end to Nebraska's broken death penalty system. Read more about the status of the death penalty in Nebraska below.

When three students at Lincoln East High School picked the death penalty as the topic for a research project in their AP English class they had no idea what kind of impact it would have on their opinions. We asked one of the students to reflect on the experience and we are happy to feature her article in this months NADP NEWS! Check it out below.

Onward to Justice,
Jill

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Take Action to Help End the Death Penalty in Illinois
Call Illinois Governor Quinn and ask him to sign the bill to end the death penalty

Illinois is just one signature away from becoming the 16th state without the death penalty! The General Assembly passed legislation to repeal the death penalty on January 11, 2011 and the bill is now awaiting Governor Pat Quinn's signature.

Governor Quinn is encouraging people to contact his office with their opinions on the issue, and our friends in Illinois have asked for our help. In the past, Governor Quinn has indicated support for the death penalty, while also expressing concerns about the problems with the system. We need you to remind him that regardless of his position on the death penalty in principle, Illinois’s history has made clear that, in practice, the system is broken beyond repair. Illinois can no longer afford to keep its costly and error-ridden death penalty.

Please call Governor Quinn today and
ask him sign the death penalty repeal bill!
You can reach the Governor at:
Chicago Office – (312) 814-2121
Springfield Office – (217) 782-0244

You will likely speak with a member of the Governor's staff or be asked to leave a message on their voicemail. You can say something as simple as, "I want to encourage Gov. Quinn to sign the legislation to end the death penalty." If you don't get through to a person or voicemail, please try again.

NADP has set a goal of making 250 calls to Governor Quinn’s office. After you call, and please do call both numbers, please send a brief email to our office (jill@nadp.net) with the phrase “I HELPED IN ILLINOIS”. Indicate if you spoke with a live person or left a voicemail message. If anything interesting happens with your calls, please be sure to let me know so that I can pass that on to our colleagues in Illinois.

If you would like talking points or more information about this historic effort, please visit the Illinois Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty website at www.icadp.org.

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The Status of the Death Penalty in Nebraska

The death penalty has also been a hot topic here in Nebraska this month. Many of you may have heard that our Attorney General, Jon Burning, has requested that the state Supreme Court set an execution date for Carey Dean Moore. His request came just days after the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services announced that it had recieved a shipment of the final drug needed to carry out executions in the state. The drug, sodium thiopental, has recently become very hard to aquire as it is no longer being made by any companies within the United States—Nebraska officials had to aquire this supply from India. Nearly everyone is in agreement that Nebraska is unlikely to carry out an execution in the immediate future as the courts evaluate the new lethal injection protocols. You can read more about these issue here.

As some of Nebraska's elected officials continue to put the state's broken death penalty to use, Senators Brenda Council and Danielle Conrad have introduced LB 276, a bill to replace the sentence of death with life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. We applaud all of the state senators, and the growing number of Nebraskans, who continue to call for an end to capital punishment in the state. In the past 3 years, we have doubled the size of our supporter base and have increased our outreach to the western part of the state for the first time. As a result, the state legislature has begun to acknowledge our concerns with the death penalty – even legislators who support the death penalty conceded on the floor last session that the death penalty costs the state too much money.

When the Nebraska Legislature returned to Lincoln this month, they were faced with one of the worst financial situations in recent memory. No program or service is being spared from the chopping block—no program except the state's broken death penalty system. More than a dozen states have found that the death penalty is up to 10 times more expensive than sentences of life or life without parole. It is time for our elected officials to get serious about ending one of the state's most wasteful and inefficient programs, the death penalty.

LB 276 has been referred to the Judiciary Committee and will be scheduled for a hearing in the next few weeks or months. We will be monitoring the progress of this bill and will be asking each of you to take action in the future. It is important that we continue to show our elected officials that Nebraskans are ready to see the end of capital punishment.

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My Research Project on the Death Penalty
By: Anne McManis, Lincoln East High School

When we started this assignment, my partners and I didn’t think it was going to be any different from the rest of the group projects we had done over the years. Our teacher told us to pick a topic, develop a stance, and then do something about it in our community. Frankly, if it’s homework, then the possibilities of truly caring are slim at best, so to be charged with the task of choosing a subject that we might have even the smallest inclination towards seemed like a Herculean feat. Our group talked awhile and decided to pick the death penalty, something we knew was controversial and had the possibility of actually being interesting.

Our knowledge of capital punishment was lacking, but we knew enough to divide the workload into three parts. Michale Liou would research the psychological effects on the families of the victims and the inmate. Matthew Shattill was to examine the lethal injection process, and my mission was to study the economic aspect of capital punishment. We decided not to formulate our opinion until after we had investigated a little bit.

After school I got on the Internet and typed the words “death penalty” into my search engine. As expected, I got millions of hits. My mind drew up blank on how to push this daunting task to a later date so I began digging through the massive garbage heap called Google. Eventually I happened upon an article from Fox News. The headline read “Just or Not, Cost of Death Penalty Is a Killer for State Budgets”. I was hooked and it soon became obvious that the death penalty was a bigger waste of money than buying a Snuggie. On average, a trial seeking death costs $1 million more than one seeking life without parole. Guess where all that money’s coming from, yep, the good old taxpayers of America. Imagine what we could do with all of that cash! We could fund more shelters and soup kitchens, create programs to keep kids off the street, heck , if we really wanted to go all out we could design a school lunch that was actually healthy! The possibilities are endless, and all it takes is for our government to stop killing people. I know it sounds easy, but apparently it makes sense to kill people in order to show other people that killing people is wrong. The logic is flawless, I know.

When I got to school the next day Michael and Matthew told me what they had found out. For many victims’ families, seeing the person who had caused them so much pain finally meet their death wasn’t as fulfilling as they thought it would be. They were already so emotionally drained from the countless number of appeals and trials that come with a death penalty case that they had a hard time feeling anything when it came to the execution. As far as the actual execution goes, lethal injection isn’t as foolproof as many would like to believe. Because of the hippocratic oath, the execution is not administered by a trained professional, rather it’s usually a prison guard who may or may not know what he or she is doing. Reports of needles missing the vein have been reported, and depending on which drug they were giving the inmate at the time, this can result in chemical burns, failure to anesthetize the prisoner, and a prolonged death.

After sharing everything we had learned it was easy to decide which side we were on. Now we just had to figure out what to do about it. That’s where our teacher came into all of this. Coincidentally, she happened to be friends with a woman who worked for Nebraskans Against the Death Penalty and was kind enough to put us in touch. Our group was able to meet with her and together we came up with a plan of action. Michael and Matthew would work together to write letters to all of the senators in the Lincoln, area and I was in charge of writing an article for the NADP’s wonderful newsletter. That brings us to the present, and I would just like to thank everyone who’s had a part in giving me and my group a chance to learn about such an important topic. It’s been an eye opening journey and one that will affect me for the rest of my life. I’m sure my partners feel the same way, and regardless of whatever grade we get on our project, it was worth it.

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THE ABOLITIONIST | Winter 2010
Click below to for full screen view

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NADP NEWS | Speaking Out, Changing Minds | November 2010

Greetings,

In early November, the Death Penalty Information Center (www.deathpenaltyinfo.org) released the results of one of the most comprehensive studies ever conducted of Americans' views on the death penalty. No surprise to us, the poll shows that the majority of Americans now support alternatives, such as life without parole and restitution for victims, over death sentences. There is no doubt that more and more people are questioning the legitimacy of capital punishment, and today we bring you two stories that show why this shift is happening.

More than 500 students at Doane College in Crete, Nebraska got the chance to hear the story of death row exonoree Curtis McCarty. Curtis spent more time on death row, 19 years, than most of the students in the audience have spent walking and talking. We invited guest writers to reflect on McCarty's time at the college. Read more about this powerful event below.

Retired Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens has recently spoken out about his change of heart on the death penalty. Learn more about his reasoning below .

As states, including Nebraska, face upcoming legislative sessions where deep budget cuts will be the major topic of conversation, we are seeing more and more discussion about the high cost of capital punishment. Read more on this issue below.

Onward to Justice,
Jill

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Curtis McCarty speaks at Doane College in Crete, NE
By: Dr. Betty Levitov, English Professor and Dr. Danelle DeBoer, Sociology Professor

Although I’m not much given to “should” or “ought,” Curtis McCarty should be heard and seen in person. I was fortunate to be in the audience when he came to Doane College as a guest of the Sociology department as part of a regional conference. He visited sociology classes and my class, a first-year seminar designed to introduce students to the Liberal Arts. Amy Miller, President of the Board of Directors for NADP, introduced McCarty, at the beginning of class. He stood in the front of the classroom in his jeans and tennis shoes, short-sleeve tee shirt over a long-sleeve tee shirt, slim, fit, and from the neck down, he could pass for one of the students. Only the wrinkles at the sides of his eyes, a slight receding of his hairline, and softening around the jaw revealed a much older man.

He spoke in a soft voice, pausing between sentences, telling a story that is patently painful. And even though he must have told his story many times, he seemed to live in his experience as he unfolded the details of twenty-two years of incarceration on death row, sixteen underground, for a crime he didn’t commit.

My students sat still, mesmerized. For a continuous seventy-five minutes, he spoke in a quiet, hesitating way, only to pause to unscrew the cap of his bottled water and sip. None of the students moved; no one looked at the clock; no one even looked at their phone. They were hooked.

Why, I wondered? Was it because he said he was white and middle class, like most of the students? Was it because he admitted he’d gotten into drugs, dropped out of school, alienated himself from his family and was an admitted wise ass? Was it his candor? Or was their attention caught by the shock of his story—about a kid gone bad on drugs, and not a murderer—who got caught in a corrupt penal system where results of an investigation trumped justice?

When McCarty appeared for a large audience later that evening in the college auditorium, I saw many—actually most—of my students returning for more of the story. And when I requested response papers for extra credit, I got five times as many as for other public events on the campus. One student who said she was already against the death penalty before hearing McCarty wrote:

I really enjoyed the speech from Curtis McCarty about his horrible story. His speech was very interesting and intrigued me a lot. They way he talked was so soft, slow, and sad. It’s like you could hear the pain and sorrow in his voice as he spoke. It made me feel so bad for him. ….It is stories like Curtis McCarty’s that make me dislike the death penalty even more. To think about all the people who could have been falsely convicted, sentenced to death row, and killed before they had a chance to prove their innocence just isn’t fair…

Another student wrote:

I find it difficult to grasp the concept of our government officials knowingly sending innocent people to death row. Our entire justice system’s goal is to prevent crime and in this particular case, it did just the opposite.

And another:

I am totally shocked that our system is like this….Although this didn’t happen to me, I feel morally obligated to learn more about the death penalty and exactly what’s going on within our legal system.

Curtis McCarty told me he would not want to be the subject of a documentary film. That’s unfortunate because McCarty’s story needs telling, most effectively in person. But because he will eventually be unwilling or unable, a wide-screen or TV exhibition could substitute, reaching a mass audience.

McCarty survived because the Oklahoma investigative unit was indicted for tampering with the evidence in his murder case. His DNA did not match, and he was exonerated. He was lucky. He was white and middle class and his family was reading newspapers at the right time.

My students were moved by McCarty’s story. Some even changed their minds about the death penalty.

I have a hard time understanding why Nebraska legislators continue to vote against repeal of the death penalty or a cost analysis of death row and lethal injection. And why governors refuse death row appeals for a stay of execution when evidence might be found to prove their innocence. Have they listened to Curtis McCarty? Have they heard?

Curtis McCarty is a powerful speaker. His power lies in his ability to thoughtfully challenge students to reconsider or reaffirm their position on the death penalty. I had several students tell me they were staunch advocates of the death penalty and after hearing Curtis speak, they re-evaluated their positions. These students now oppose the death penalty. As educators we work semesters, even years to initiate thoughtful consideration of social issues. However, in just one hour, Curtis made a tremendous impact on our students.

I am so very thankful that Curtis is brave enough to share his story. His keynote address educated our students about the inequities of the criminal justice system in a way that was personal and professional. He further challenged our students to a higher calling. He reminded us all that it is our duty, our responsibility, to take care of one another. In a world filled with injustice, it is the obligation of the advantaged to advocate for the marginalized and the oppressed. With a soft spoken voice, we heard him loud and clear.

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Justice Stevens Voices Support for Repealing the Death Penalty

Former Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens cast one of the votes that brought the death penalty back in 1976. At the time, he felt that it was possible to ensure “evenhanded, rational and consistent imposition of death sentences under law.” In 2008, two years prior to his retirement from the court, Justice Stevens changed his mind, stating that he now believed the death penalty to be unconstitutional.

The reason for his change of heart has had been unknown until recently.

In a new essay published in The New York Review of Books, he wrote that personnel changes on the court, combined with “regrettable judicial activism,” had created a system of capital punishment that is plagued by racism, tilted toward conviction, and too easily influenced by politics. Read this powerful essay here.

You can also watch a clip from a recent 60 Minutes where Justice Stevens reflects on his views on the death penalty by cliking on the video below.

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Could Abolishing the Death Penalty Help States Save Money?
By Maya Srikrishnan at ABCNEWS.com

In 2003, Seattle resident Robert Kerr was abducted from his apartment and found dead 30 miles from his home, with his bank account emptied and without clothes or identification. At the end of 2010, the state of Washington has yet to arrest or convict anyone for his death.

While Kerr's killers have never been found, the state will spend hundreds of thousands of dollars in the coming year on the death penalty for people already behind bars -- a situation that has reformers, and Kerr's family, clamoring for change.

Kerr's case is one of thousands of unsolved murders, and it's the reason his sister, Judy Kerr, supports her state, California, in abolishing the death penalty and reallocating the millions of dollars it spends on death row inmates each year to solving cold cases.

With so many states facing deficits, legislation on the death penalty has started to address the cost of the policy, while justification for it has traditionally focused on whether it's right or wrong.

"I thought the crime would be solved quickly, and there would be justice for me," Kerr, a registered nurse from San Francisco, said. "The state needs to be allocating its money toward different things."

In 2003, Seattle resident Robert Kerr was abducted from his apartment and found dead 30 miles from his home, with his bank account emptied and without clothes or identification. At the end of 2010, the state of Washington has yet to arrest or convict anyone for his death.

While Kerr's killers have never been found, the state will spend hundreds of thousands of dollars in the coming year on the death penalty for people already behind bars -- a situation that has reformers, and Kerr's family, clamoring for change.

Kerr's case is one of thousands of unsolved murders, and it's the reason his sister, Judy Kerr, supports her state, California, in abolishing the death penalty and reallocating the millions of dollars it spends on death row inmates each year to solving cold cases.

With so many states facing deficits, legislation on the death penalty has started to address the cost of the policy, while justification for it has traditionally focused on whether it's right or wrong.

"I thought the crime would be solved quickly, and there would be justice for me," Kerr, a registered nurse from San Francisco, said. "The state needs to be allocating its money toward different things."

READ MORE AT ABCNEWS.COM

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NADP NEWS | Standing on the Shoulders of Giants | October 2010

"We are like dwarfs on the shoulders of giants,
so that we can see more than they, and things at a greater distance,
not by virtue of any sharpness of sight on our part, or any physical distinction,
but because we are carried high and raised up by their giant size."
-John of Salisbury (Metalogicon, 1159)

Greetings,

This month has been nothing short of amazing in our work to repeal the death penalty in Nebraska, but at the same time our movement has suffered another great loss. The events of the past few weeks have brought into sharp focus the many "giants" upon whose shoulders we stand, and whose tireless work and dedication have set us on a path towards victory.

It is with the deepest sorrow that we report on the passing of Dr. Leola J. Bullock, long-time civil rights activist and one of the true giants of the movement to repeal the death penalty in Nebraska. It is hard to imagine what it will be like to walk the halls of the Capitol knowing that Dr. Bullock is not standing there with us, but her passing reminds us why it is so important for each of us to stand up and finish the work of ending capitol punishment. Read more about her extraordinary life below.

The 2010 Annual Dinner and Awards Banquet was a huge success and we are grateful to everyone who attended or helped make the event possible! Those in attendance were witness to an inspiring vision of a country on the road to ending the death penalty, and the part that we as Nebraskans play in that journey. Read more about this amazing event below!

If you are not yet fully inspired, read about the incredible retreat featuring Sister Helen Prejean which took place in Schuyler this past weekend. This unique event offered an in-depth look into the life and work of Sr. Helen as well as the important role that the Catholic Church is playing in efforts to end the death penalty here in Nebraska and around the country. Check out the details below!

Onward to Justice,
Jill

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Remembering Dr. Leola J. Bullock

The below article appeared in the Lincoln Journal Star on Tuesday, October 26, 2010

In the week after the death of Leola Bullock, there was much said about her passion for civil, social and human rights.

At her funeral, the Rev. Dr. Jesse Foster told how Leola would invite and encourage others to show up at meetings, hearings, protests, anywhere they could speak up or stand up against discrimination, prejudice or inequality.

But whether or not those others would accompany her did not influence her own participation. She was going, Foster said, even if she was the only body standing up, or the lone voice speaking out.

On Oct. 17, her own ability to stand up, sit in or wave a hand to be heard was stopped.

Foster would have liked to have said to her "Talitha cumi," the Aramaic phrase he said Jesus used to raise a dead woman.

"Damsel, get up."

Foster knew he could say it all day, but Leola would not rise up, he said. So he turned to the hundreds gathered Friday morning at St. Mark's United Methodist Church.

"I can say it to you," he said, "Talitha cumi."

The question people are asking as the generation who lived through the hardened times of the 1930s, '40s, '50s, '60s, and who dedicated themselves to the ideals of human rights, pass away: Who will take their places?

They were members of what was called -- rightly or wrongly -- the Silent Generation, those born between 1923 and the early 1940s. Leola was born in 1929. Fellow Lincoln activist Lela Shanks was born in 1927. Martin Luther King Jr. was born in 1929, four days before Leola. Malcolm X was born in 1925.

Family and friends, most of them members of generations that came after Leola, say they and many other younger people have jobs and advantages because they have stood on the shoulders of that older generation of activists.

Baby boomers and subsequent generations benefited from Brown v. Board of Education, which helped desegregate schools. They benefited from those who registered to vote, or sat wherever they wanted on city buses, at their own peril.

As much as the generation has done, as they die they leave many things they wanted to accomplish undone.
Lincoln is without a human rights director. The death penalty, which they believe disproportionately applies to minorities, still is in effect in Nebraska. Police, they say, continue to have a disproportionate number of contacts with people of color.

Racism and hate crimes continue. Political prisoners still are locked up. Dropout rates among minorities are too high and the achievement gap too wide.

Leola believed each generation would find its own way to get things done.

Foster, who is pastor at Newman United Methodist Church and director of Christian leadership with the Nebraska United Methodist Conference, said he feels no generation is ever active enough in the realm of social justice, especially those who are more removed from overt oppression.

"I think it's a question of every group staying aware that justice is not something that is just going to come to any group," he said.

Of the hundreds of people, of all colors, at her service, he knew, there might be someone just waiting to be inspired to be the next Leola Bullock.

"Talitha cumi," he said.

Stand up.

Also read: Longtime civil rights advocate Leola Bullock dies at 81 &
Editorial, 10/20: Leola Bullock’s legacy is everywhere

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2010 Annual Dinner a Success

How do you win a campaign to repeal the death penalty? While there is no magic answer to this very important question there is someone who knows an whole lot about it; Shari Silberstein. NADP was lucky enough to have Shari deliver the keynote at our Annual Dinner and Awards Banquet, held on the campus of Nebraska Wesleyan University on October 8, 2010.

Shari is the Executive Director of Equal Justice USA (www.ejusa.org), one of the quintessential national organizations leading the charge in work to end the use of the death penalty. Since joining Equal Justice USA in September 2000, Shari has become a nationally recognized anti-death penalty organizer, campaign strategist, and trainer. She has provided hands-on technical assistance, capacity building, strategic planning, training, and campaign coordination to more than two dozen state organizations working for death penalty reform, moratoria, and abolition. Shari played a leading role in the first two state campaigns that ended the death penalty in the modern era – New York in 2005 and New Jersey in 2007. NADP is proud to have been working with the amazing staff at EJUSA since 2007.

Shari's hands on experience in winning campaigns left the crowd deeply inspired to continue the important work at hand in Nebraska. She spoke about the importance of building a strong grassroots constituency of individuals who support an end to our broken death penalty system. We invite you to become a leader in your own community as we build our base of support in Nebraska! There are many ways to be involved in our campaign: identifying and organizing NADP supporters in your area and encouraging them to contact their State Senator and local media outlets; setting up church group meetings, house parties, and community conversations that will facilitate healthy discussions; and becoming a liaison between NADP and your own State Senator. To learn more about getting involved in your local community, please contact Jill Francke, Statewide Coordinator at 402.477.7787 or jill@nadp.net.

NADP was also pleased to honor UNL Law Professor Eric Berger, J.D. with the C.A. Sorensen Award and the Sisters of Mercy with the Angel of Mercy Award. We want to thank all the individuals, organizations, and local businesses who donated to our Silent Auction! The financial support we receive from this event is critical to our success through out the year, so thanks again to everyone who attended or who sent in a special donation! If you were unable to attend you can still contribute to our efforts by visiting http://nadp.net/donate.htm or by sending a check to our office at 941 'O' Street, Suite 725, Lincoln, NE 68508.

See more photos here: http://bit.ly/9QFwn1

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Dead Man Walking: The Journey Continues

One hundred lucky Nebraskans got a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to spend an entire day listening to and talking with Sister Helen Prejean, one our movements most formidable forces.

Sister Helen set out to light a fire in the hearts and minds of those who gathered at the beautiful Saint Benedict Center in Schuyler. She spent the morning speaking about her own awakening to the need to work for social justice for everyone and about her early work living with the poor with the Congregation of St. Joseph in New Orleans.

The afternoon provided an opportunity for the group to explore what Sister Helen refers to as the "two arms of the cross" through a discussion of her work with both death row inmates and their families and the families of those who have been lost to homicide. She has had many up close and person experiences with the failings of the death penalty and the damage it causes to everyone involved.

Sister Helen called on each individual to find the fire within them that leads us to work for an end our state's broken death penalty system, we invite you put that passion to work!

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NADP NEWS: NADP Hits the Road | August 2010

Greetings,

As the summer winds begin to hint at the changing of the seasons, we continue to travel around the state talking with the growing rank of Nebraskans calling for an end to the use of the death penalty in our state. This month's update is jam-packed with information about what we have been up to and some of the exciting events in which we hope you will take part!

Thanks to the hard work of our field organizer, Carla Stormberg, NADP held the first of what we hope will be many "Death Penalty Sundays" at St. Patrick's Catholic Church earlier this month. The weekend was a huge success, and we invite you to help us continue this important work by learning more below.

NADP is happy to be participating in the Nebraska Student Organizing Conference again this year. We all know the importance of educating and mobilizing young people in this movement, and this event is one of the year's premiere youth-focused events. Check out the details below.

Finally, we are very excited to report that Sister Helen Prejean will be returning to Nebraska in late October to participate in a day-long retreat focused on her commitment to ending the death penalty in Nebraska. This promises to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be with one of our movements most dynamic personalities. Find out how you can be a part of this unique event below.

Onward to Justice,
Jill

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NADP Hits the Road!

On August 7th and 8th we traveled to Sidney, NE to hold the first of what we hope is an ongoing series of events that we are calling "Death Penalty Sundays". At the invitation of Father Art Faesser, our statewide coordinator, Jill Francke, was able to address more than 300 parishioners at St. Patrick's Catholic Church on the issues of the death penalty and the teachings of the Catholic Church. We were both humbled and encouraged by the warm reception we received from those in attendance and by the impact that this event has had on our work!

To maximize the outcomes of our Sidney trip we distributed postcards that provided a way for people to connect to our campaign and to make their opposition to the death penalty known to their elected officials. As a result of our first Death Penalty Sunday event, we gained more than 65 new supporters in an area where we had only been in contact with a handful of individuals!

We want to say thank you again to Father Art and everyone in Sidney who made our visit so fun and successful!

As we continue these important outreach efforts around the state we need your help! If you are a member of a church or community organization that would like to hold a Death Penalty Sunday or host a speaker on the death penalty please contact our field organizer at (402) 477-7787 or carla@nadp.net.

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Nebraska Student Organizing Conference
Facilitated by Campus Camp Wellstone!
Date: Friday & Saturday, September 18-19, 2010
Location: University of Nebraska-Lincoln

NADP is again participating in this year's Nebraska Student Organizing Conference, which is being held on September 18 & 19 at the UNL Nebraska Union in Lincoln. Since 2007, this event has been bringing together young activists and leaders from across Nebraska to teach them critical lifelong advocacy skills. This year's conference will be facilitated by Campus Camp Wellstone of Wellstone Action. The free two-day training will include: grassroots organizing, strategic planning, power mapping, media and messaging, coalition building, leadership development, and grassroots lobbying.

NADP encourages you to send any young leaders you know to this year’s training. Registration is free. Breakfast and lunch are provided both days and each participant will receive a free Camp Wellstone t-shirt and Politics the Wellstone Way organizing manual. People can learn more about the training and register online at www.unl.edu/psc!

NADP will also be present at this year’s conference booth fair, so we hope you stop by and say hello!

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Dead Man Walking: The Journey Continues
Sister Helen Prejean to Speak at St. Benedict Center
Date: Saturday, October 23, 2010
Location: St. Benedict Center in Schuyler, NE
DOWNLOAD THE REGISTRATION FORM HERE!

Internationally known anti-death penalty activist and best-selling author Sister Helen Prejean, CSJ, will present a one-day retreat titled, Dead Man Walking: The Journey Continues, at St. Benedict Center, four miles north of Schuyler. During this retreat, Sister Helen, a native of Louisiana and a Southern storyteller, brings you on a journey and shares her experiences with her death penalty ministry.

“Justice is a constitutive part of the Gospel. It’s not extra. It’s not what you’re going to do AFTER charity. It’s constitutive,” Sister Helen said. In 1981, she moved to a housing project in St. Thomas, Louisiana, with the purpose of helping the poor living in the area. A year later, Sister Helen was asked to become a pen pal of Elmo Patrick Sonnier, a death row inmate at the Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola. She became more than a pen pal to Mr. Sonnier as she signed on as his spiritual advisor and made personal visits to the prison. This first contact awakened her to the fallibilities and the immoral nature of the death penalty system in the United States.

Sister Helen is the author of the New York Times best-seller, Dead Man Walking (1993), which has received numerous honors including a number one spot on the New York Times Bestseller List for 31 weeks. It was the inspiration for the movie of the same name. Sr. Helen is a religious educator, champion of the poor—and part-time comedian! She also authored Death of Innocents: Wrongful Executions (2004).

The retreat runs from 10 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; registration begins at 8:30 a.m. The program fee is $30. Lunch is available at the Center (contact them directly for details), and there will be a special free showing on the big screen of the film, Dead Man Walking on Friday, October 22, 2010, at 7:30 p.m. A limited number of guest rooms are available at Center for the weekend. For more information call St. Benedict Center 402-352-8819. You can also download the registration form by clicking here!

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NADP NEWS: Speaking Out Against Nebraska's Death Penalty | July 2010

Greetings,

The recent unveiling of the new execution chamber in Lincoln has generated a lot of discussion about our state's death penalty system. We would like to highlight a few of those commentaries here, and we call on each of you to raise your voice in continued opposition to capital punishment in Nebraska.

On July 23rd Bishop William J. Dendinger authored an article in the Western Nebraska Register. The paper is published by the Grand Island Diocese of the Catholic Church and is widely circulated throughout Western Nebraska. We welcome Bishop Dendinger's thoughtful analysis of the death penalty in Nebraska. Read the article in its entirety below.

In the past we have seen many newspapers in Nebraska call for repeal of our state's death penalty. Earlier this week the Lincoln Journal Star reaffirmed its position in opposition to the state's latest announcement regarding the completed construction of the new execution chamber. The editorial offers a grim reminder that Nebraska's officials are preparing "to take a person's life in the name of the state and all its citizens." We invite you to read the full editorial below.

Along with these two articles, we have seen a few wonderful Letters to the Editor submitted by some of our most committed supporters. It is critical that the average Nebraskan hear from their friends and neighbors who are calling for abolition. Our final story this month highlights some of the letters that have already been published and invites you to make your voice heard as well. Check it all out below!

Onward to Justice,
Jill

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Death penalty review
July 23, 2010 | By: Bishop William J. Dendinger

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Efficient death doesn't make it right
July 26, 2010 | Lincoln Journal Star Editorial Board

We are pleased to see that the Lincoln Journal Star remains firmly on the side of justice for all Nebraskans in their support for repeal of the death penalty in Nebraska. To help amplify this important message we are calling on all our supporters to submit a Letter to the Editor of you local paper stating your support for repeal of the death penalty.

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Your Voice is Important!

As we see discussion of the Nebraska's death penalty increasing in newspapers across the state, it is important for our perspectives to be fully represented. The most effective way to make your voice heard is to submit a Letter to the Editor of your local newspaper.

Your letter is most likely to be published if you keep it short and positive. Typically this means 150-250 words. (Be sure to include your address and phone number. This personal information won’t be published in the newspaper. It’s just so the newspaper can verify the letter’s authenticity.) You can visit www.usnpl.com/nenews.php to find links to the online editions of most papers in Nebraska. Each newspaper has its own submission process which can often be found on their individual webpage.

Here are some recently published Letters to the Editor from around the state. Will you make your voice heard as well?

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NADP NEWS: A Month of Contrasts | June 2010

Greetings,

June was a month of contrasts in the world of death penalty abolition.

In two cases that have generated much interest at the national level, we saw an execution by firing squad in Utah and a man in who Georgia received an unlikely chance to prove his innocence more than twenty years after his conviction. Read more about these stories in our national update below.

Back at home, Nebraskans are mourning the loss of a long time civil rights leader and abolitionist following the death of Hugh Bullock. Learn more about the life of Mr. Bullock below.

Finally, we invite you to help celebrate the 19th anniversary PULSE Omaha an amazing organization that helps the secondary victims of homicide. Learn how you can be a part of this exciting event below!

Onward to Justice,
Jill

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National death penalty update

The execution of Ronnie Lee Gardner reads like something out of a wild west novel. On June 18th, Utah held the first execution by firing squad since 1996, and Gardner is only the third person to be killed in this manner in more than 30 years. The uniqueness of the method of execution again brought national attention to the death penalty and gave abolitionists a chance to highlight the many problems with capital punishment.

"I don't want to give the government the right to execute citizens, period," said Greg Hughes, a Republican state representative from Utah. "Inevitably, you're going to kill innocent people." Hughes also noted his concern about how arbitrarily death sentences are imposed, equating it with a kind of "popularity contest". Additionally, the family members of Gardner's victim, Michael Burdell, joined the chorus of voices opposing the execution, saying that the Burdell would not have wanted his killer put to death.

The sudden spotlight on Utah helped galvanize those working to repeal the death penalty in their states. NADP is happy to stand along with Utahans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (UTADP) as we work to end the death penalty all around the country.

While the Gardner execution was another example of the many flaws in today's justice system, we also got a reminder this month of why we must continue with our efforts. On August 17, 2009, the Supreme Court issued an rare order mandating a new evidentiary hearing for Georgia death-row inmate Troy Anthony Davis. The ruling gave Davis the chance to prove what he has long claimed—that he did not take the life of Savannah Police Officer Mark Allen MacPhail in 1991.

Following the hearing, which took place on June 24th and 25th, Anne Emanuel, legal analyst for Amnesty International USA, released the following statement: "Given the evidence that emerged from the two-day hearing, it is clear that the state's case against Troy Davis is thin and tainted. Today's hearing underscores the deepening doubt that has plagued this case. It is difficult to imagine that a jury would convict Davis today after hearing four of the witnesses who convicted Davis 19 years ago testify in open court before a judge that they lied. One eyewitness testified for the first time that he saw his relative, the alternative suspect, Sylvester "Redd" Coles, shoot police officer Mark Allen MacPhail in 1989."

While this hearing marks a major development in the case of Troy Davis, it must be said that the burden of proof that Davis' lawyers must meet to prove his innocence is quite high, so we join all those around the country and even the world who are waiting to see what will happen. And again, we are reminded that risk of executing an innocent person is alive and well in America.

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Nebraska loses a long-time death peanlty opponent, Hugh Bullock

Life-long civil rights activist and long-time NADP member Hugh Bullock passed away on June 20, 2010. For more than 50 years, Hugh and his wife Leola challenged discriminatory practices in housing, employment, and opportunity wherever they found them. His quest for justice drew him towards various organizations including the Police Review Board, Nebraskans Against the Death Penalty, the NAACP, and the Malone Community Center.

The staff and Board of Directors at NADP feel privileged to have know and worked with Mr. Bullock as we sought an end to Nebraska's unjust capital punishment system, and his presence will be greatly missed. The family has requested that memorials be made to Newman United Methodist Church or the Malone Community Center Foundation.

To learn more about the life of Mr. Bullock you can read this recent article from the Lincoln Journal Star or visit this post at the Nebraskans for Peace website.

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19th Anniversary of Pulse Omaha

NADP encourages you to help PULSE Omaha celebrate nearly two decades of service to the Omaha community. On Thursday, August 19, 2010 PULSE Omaha will celebrate its 19th anniversary with a benefit concert by famed jazz guitarist and Omaha native, Calvin Keys. Keys, along with his trio, will be preforming at 1316 Jones Street in downtown Omaha. Tickets are $50 in advance and can be purchased by calling 402.898.6053.

PULSE Omaha, which stands for People Uniting, Lending Support & Encouragement, is a non-profit organization based that offers comprehensive, long-term support for secondary victims of homicide. Since 1991, PULSE has offered crisis intervention, counseling resources, and peer support groups for secondary victims of homicide, and works deeply with the community towards an end to violence in our streets and homes. NADP is a strong supporter of PULSE, as we know that the that the death penalty does not meet the many needs of those impacted by homicides.

You can find out more by visiting PULSE's website at www.pulseomaha.org.

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NADP NEWS: On the Road Again | May 2010

Greetings,

We hope that everyone enjoyed the relaxing long weekend! There is no better way to get back into the swing of things than by getting some new and important information from NADP—so enjoy!

NADP's Field Organizer, Carla Stormberg, is hitting the road, and she wants to meet with you to discuss our ongoing work to end the death penalty in Nebraska. Find out where she is going below!

The US Supreme Court has decided to take up a case that could have huge implications for wrongfully convicted individuals who end up on death row. Learn more about the case of Hank Skinner below.

Finally, we make an annual appeal for a special fund at NADP. Learn how you can help with these efforts below.

Onward to Justice,
Jill

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NADP Field Organizer hits the road

Carla says, “meet me for coffee!”

Many of you were introduced to NADP's new Field Organizer, Carla Stormberg, in a previous update. Now that she has settled into her work here in Lincoln, she is heading out on a week-long road trip to meet some of our supporters in western Nebraska. She has planned stops in Harrison, Alliance, Sidney, and Grand Island.

Carla is already excited about the people she will be connecting with on her trip. "In Harrison and Crawford, I’ll be meeting with Father Berger, and in Sidney with Father Faesser, my mom’s parish priest, in connection with the work of the Nebraska Catholic Conference. The Conference has a long history of social action against capital punishment in Nebraska (www.nebcathcon.org). Also, I am also looking forward to connecting with some of the amazing individuals who continue this important work around the state."

Carla's goal is to meet with anyone and everyone who is interested in our campaign to repeal the death penalty in Nebraska. If you are on or near the route, give her a call at (402) 477-7787 or email her at carla@nadp.net and she’ll be happy to meet you to discuss ideas about strengthening our presence in western Nebraska!

Where you can find Carla:
June 5,6 - Crawford, Alliance
June 7,8 - Sidney
June 9,10 - Lexington, Saint Paul, Greeley, Grand Island

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Innocence Must Matter
US Supreme Court agrees to hear case requesting DNA tests

On Monday, May 24 the US Supreme Court agreed to hear the case of Hank Skinner, a death row inmate from Texas. Skinner, who came within minutes of being executed in March, has long been requesting that Texas perform a DNA test that he claims will show his innocence.

This case will offer an opportunity for the Court to expand access to DNA testing and, possibly more importantly, to again address the issue of actual innocence in death penalty cases. In another case where a defendant, Troy Davis, has long claimed to be innocent of the crime for which he is facing death, Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia claimed that the highest court in the land is not necessarily concerned with whether a person facing execution was guilty or innocent, only that the original court process had been carried out correctly. The dissenting ruling which came last summer stated that the court "has never held that the Constitution forbids the execution of a convicted defendant who has had a full and fair trial but is later able to convince a ... court that he is 'actually innocent.'"

There is no place in modern society for a justice system that is ready and willing to carry out the "ultimate punishment" with no regard for those who have been wrongfully convicted. In the last 37 years 138 people have been released from death rows around the country because of evidence of their innocence. The risk of executing an innocent person is real. Innocent Nebraskans have been convicted as result of shoddy forensics, coerced confessions, jailhouse snitches, and mistaken witnesses. Despite our best intentions, human beings simply can’t be right 100% of the time. And when a life is on the line, one mistake is one too many.

Read more about the Skinner case here.

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Death Row Special Fund

It started with an appeal for typewriters from the men on death row. The machines had to be very specific, prison-approved typewriters, so NADP established a special fund to collect money to buy a few typewriters. Then money was needed for typewriter ribbons. Later we established a fund for a subscription to the Omaha World Herald. The subscription is in one man's name, but it is shared with everyone on the row.

Many visitors to the men have noted that the typewriters, ink supplies, and newspapers are greatly appreciated by the prisoners. They make extensive use of their typewriters for correspondence, legal appeals, and even writing poetry. When the subscription to the newspaper expires, it is missed.

If you would like to make a contribution to this fund, send your check to NADP Foundation with a note in the memo line that it is for the special fund. The money will be used to purchase typewriter supplies, newspaper subscriptions, and occasionally a new typewriter. Mail your check to NADP Foundation, 941 'O' Street, Suite 725, Lincoln, NE 68508.

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THE ABOLITIONIST | Spring 2010
Click below to for full screen view

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NADP NEWS: Like the Many Colors of Spring | April 2010

Greetings,

I hope that everyone is enjoying the amazing Spring that is in full bloom here in Nebraska. There is nothing like the change in seasons to remind us all that even the dark, cold days of winter can lead to something beautiful and new. Like the many colors of the trees in bloom this months edition of NADP NEWS covers many topics, so we hope you enjoy!

If you opened up the print edition of the Omaha World Herald on April 16th, you would have found a very interesting piece by OWH columnist Robert Nelson on the cost of the death penalty. We don't usually print news articles word for word, but I think this one is worth a read. Take a moment to read it below.

Earlier this month NADP joined with others in observing National Crime Victims' Rights Week. As part of that effort we are working to idenify the much needed services that are available to families who have lost loved ones to murder. Learn how you can be part of this important effort below .

The National Innocence Network held their 2010 Annual Conference in Atlanta, GA earlier this month. NADP Board Chair Amy Miller attended the conference along with representatives from the Nebraska Innocence Project. Check out her update on innocence policy reforms and the latest advances in forensic science below.

Finally, you will find a recent cartoon that we enjoyed!

Onward to Justice,
Jill

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By Chair or Needle, Executions Have Cost
April 16, 2010 | By: Robert Nelson

Contact the writer: 444-1129, robert.nelson@owh.com
Copyright (c) 2010 Omaha World-Herald 04/16/2010

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Identifying Crime Victims' Support Services in Nebraska
NADP joined in recognizing Nation Crime Victims' Rights Week

As many of you may know Nebraskans Against the Death Penalty joined with the many organizations and individuals who observed National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW) from April 18 to 24, 2010. As a part of that week we called on you, our supporters, to help us in identifying the various service programs that are available to the family members of homicide victims here in Nebraska. We want to thank everyone who participated with us!

As we travel around the state talking with people about the death penalty, we often come into contact with individuals who have lost a loved one to homicide. We recognize the unique and urgent needs that these families have in the aftermath of a trauma. We also hear over and over how often those needs are not being met.

We are renewing our call for assistance in identifying victims service providers in Nebraska. If you know of any service providers in your area, please contact our office by phone at 402.477.7787 or by email at info@nadp.net. These services could be found through the courts, the police, at a church, or through some other local agency.

We know that the death penalty gives years of uncertainty and constant media attention to surviving family members while detracting resources from much needed services. By working together, we hope to help our state truly recognize the needs of crime victims so we can refocus resources on programs that help heal our citizens and communities.

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New Science to Rigth Old Wrongs
Amy Miller's report from the 2010 Innocence Network Conference in Atlanta, GA

Mid month, I attended the Innocence Network conference in Atlanta, Georgia. This is a gathering of attorneys, investigators, and activists who work to free innocent people from prison. At one point, I was seated in a room with 82 men and women who had all been wrongfully convicted. Some had been on death row. Others, like the "Beatrice 6" here at home, had been sentenced to a term of years after being threatened with execution. There were 5 women. There was almost a 50/50 split between black and white. Some had been convicted on faulty eyewitness testimony, some on junk science, and some on honest mistakes by law enforcement. Some were educated people, some had never gone past elementary school. In other words, the criminal justice system had failed all these people across a wide spectrum.

This is why we are working to end a punishment that cannot take into account the mistakes made by human beings. Until our human government can get it right every time, we have to make sure there is a way to undo our errors.

This summer, NADP will be holding events across the state to raise awareness about the flaws of Nebraska's death penalty. Watch for updates online and through this e-newsletter--and then join us as we keep going on the slow steady march towards justice.

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A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

While we know how much you love reading our updates, we thought it might be nice to share something with you that is a little easier on the eyes. Below is a cartoon we thought you might enjoy!

Ignorance was blitz - Apr 11, 2010 (Originally appeared in the Lincoln Journal Star)
Used with permission. For more cartoons by Neal Obermeyer please visit www.nealo.com.

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NADP NEWS: Building Momentum & Moving Forward | March 2010

Greetings,

We witnessed two major news stories here in Nebraska this week. One gives us great hope for the future of our campaign to repeal the death penalty, and the second reminds us why our efforts are so very important.

On March 25th, 22 Nebraska Senators stood up for the average Nebraskan in support of a bill to identify the financial cost of our state's death penalty system. While we know that the true costs of the death penalty go far beyond what can be counted in dollars and cents, this debate has shown that we are making progress, that our educational efforts are being successful, and that our work must continue! Read more about the vote on LB1105 and see how your Senator voted.

Just days before the debate on LB1105, Douglas County CSI chief David Kofoed was convicted of tampering with evidence in a murder case. Nebraskans were reminded why we will never be able to guarantee the perfection of the criminal justice system—it is run by human beings, and none of us are right 100% of the time. Read more about this case and its impact.

Lastly, we are asking you to help us sustain and expand our efforts here at NADP! Learn more about how you can help.

Onward to Justice,
Jill

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22 Nebraska Legislators call for more information about the death penalty
Senators consider a bill to reveal the costs of the death penalty in Nebraska

We got a huge indication last week that our efforts to highlight the many problems with the death penalty have had a sizable impact in the halls of the Nebraska Unicameral. Of the 44 Senators present for the vote on LB1105, half of them indicated that it was time to lift the curtain shielding Nebraskans from knowing the fiscal impact of our death penalty system. While those 22 votes were not enough to pass the bill, it should serve as a strong signal that we are making progress and that our work must continue!

It was the contention of the opponents of LB1105 that knowing the cost of the death penalty would do nothing to decrease the support for the policy in the eyes of lawmakers and voters in Nebraska. As the debate came to an end, however, we witnessed a monumental contradiction to that proposition. Senator John Wightman, a well-respected Senator from Lexington and member of the Appropriations committee, who previously cast votes in support of the death penalty, stated that, in addition to supporting the cost study, he would strongly consider supporting repeal of the death penalty if the cost study showed that the policy was placing an undue financial burden on our state or county budgets.

We have opened new doors in our campaign, and we must continued to raise the important question, to the public and to legislators—is the death penalty is worth it?

We appreciate everyone who has already contacted their Senator in response to the vote on LB1105. For those who haven't yet done so, please take a minute today to thank your Senator if they cast a vote in support of the bill. Too often we forget to say thank you when our representatives cast a favorable vote, and this is a great chance to show our appreciation.

How they voted- LB1105 (click to email)
Voting yes (22): Adams, Ashford, Avery, Campbell, Carlson, Coash, Conrad, Cook,
Council, Dierks, Dubas, Fulton, Giese, Haar, Lathrop, McGill, Mello,
Nordquist, Rogert, Wallman, White, Wightman
Voting no (22): Christensen, Fischer, Flood, Gay, Gloor, Hadley, Hansen, Harms,
Heidemann, Howard, Janssen, Langemeier, Lautenbaugh, Louden,
McCoy, Nelson, Pankonin, Pirsch, Schilz, Stuthman, Sullivan, Utter
Excused (5): Cornett, Karpisek, Krist, Pahls, Price

As many of us know, the true costs of the death penalty are more than financial. They include the toll it takes on the families of those who have been lost to murder, its impact on corrections officials and law enforcement, the very real risk of executing an innocent person, the bias the system shows towards race, gender, geography, and socioeconomic status, and so many more. So while it is important that we understand the financial costs of the death penalty, we cannot lose sight of the many reasons why Nebraska's broken death penalty system needs to be repealed!

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Conviction of CSI Investigator Raises Reasonable Doubt
Another chilling example of the imperfections in Nebraska's criminal justice system

The conviction of Douglas County's lead Crime Scene Investigator, David Kofoed, has again shed light on why the risk of executing an innocent person, even in Nebraska, remains a very real concern. Kofoed's conviction was called "disturbing" by Douglas County's top prosecutor and an expert on rules of evidence called it "devastating." Read more about the questions raised by the conviction here.

For Matthew Livers, the actions of Mr. Kofoed amounted to a living nightmare. Livers spent 8 months in jail in 2006 for two murders that he did not commit. Similar to the case of the "Beatrice 6", Livers confessed to killing his aunt and uncle only after an 11 hour interrogation that included the threat of the death penalty. He almost immediately retracted that confession.

We have always understood that the criminal justice system is run by human beings – and we are not perfect 100% of the time. We also know that innocent Nebraskans have been convicted as result of shoddy forensics, coerced confessions, jailhouse snitches, and mistaken witnesses. And when a life is on the line, one mistake is one too many. This horrible case goes far beyond mistakes and casts an even wider shadow on the ability of a justice system to be trusted with a life or death decision.

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Help Build Momentum for Abolition!

Nebraskans Against the Death Penalty Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization working to educate the citizens of Nebraska about the many problems with the death penalty system in our state. We have had a busy year so far—we have made great strides in building a movement of Nebraskans who oppose the death penalty and in educating and moving policy makers to see the futility of our capital punishment system. It’s all because of supporters like you that we are able to do this work. Thank you for your time, energy, and donations!

As NADP looks forward to the work that is ahead, we need your help to make this next year a success! With your support, we will continue to educate Nebraskans about the problems that plague the death penalty system in our state. We will continue our successful efforts to give voices to those most effected by and familiar with the death penalty’s flaws: murder victims’ families and the wrongfully convicted, leaders and members of the faith community, law enforcement and correctional officers, as well as lawyers and judges from all over the state. Your financial support will allow us to do this very important work.

Please take a minute right now to send in a donation of $25, $50, $100, $500 or whatever amount you can afford. Donations to Nebraskans Against the Death Penalty Foundation are tax-deductible and will be used in our important outreach and education efforts. Donate online by clicking here, or you can mail a check to 941 'O' Street STE 725, Lincoln, NE 68508.

Together, we will show our elected officials that the death penalty is dying, and Nebraskans are ready to see it go!

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NADP NEWS: An Alarming Price Tag | February 2010

Greetings from NADP's new field organizer!

Hello NADP Supporters,

My name is Carla Stormberg, and I am the new Field Organizer at NADP.  I wanted to take a brief moment to introduce myself and to let you know about the exciting work I will be doing around the state in the coming months!

I grew up in Sidney in Nebraska's panhandle and have been happy to call Lincoln my home for the past 30 years. In 1988 began working as a database manager at Hudson Bay Company--an organization that helps non-profit organizations, including NADP, raise money for their efforts.  I first became acquainted with the work of NADP in 2000 and have been a supporter ever since. I starting working at NADP's office in Lincoln at the beginning of February and I have already learned so much from all the amazing people working to end the death penalty in Nebraska.

In my new position I will be working with Jill to design and implement grassroots strategies to mobilize NADP members and supporters to take meaningful action on NADP’s statewide agenda. This will include coordinating events around the state, expanding the use of web-based technologies as an outreach tool, and helping to maintain the integrity of NADP’s database. Many of you will be hearing from me in the near future as we work to strengthen the activities and effectiveness of our current NADP supporters and I very much look forward to getting to know you.

Since coming on board at NADP I have had the pleasure of hearing Miriam Kelle and Kurt Mesner speak to Judiciary Committee members about why the families of murder victims what to know the true cost of the death penalty. Many people are surprised to learn that the death penalty’s complexity and finality make it much more expensive than life without parole. How much does the death penalty cost in Nebraska?  We want to know!  Read more about what is happening in the Legislature below.

I am excited to get the opportunity to hear a new voice in the movement to end the death penalty, author Thomas Cahill, who will be speaking in Omaha later this week. In an event co-sponsored by NADP, Cahill will present "Courage and Kindness on Death Row" on Thursday, March 4th at Countryside Community Church in Omaha. Read more about this exciting event below!

Earlier this month, Governor Dave Heinemann officially signed Nebraska's new lethal injection protocols. This marks another step in the wrong directions for our state. Read more about the recent decision below.

Thank you for the opportunity to work with you in this important campaign to put an end to Nebraska's death penalty. I would love to hear from you--I can be reached on my email at carla@nadp.net or in the office at 402-477-7787.

Talk to you soon,
Carla Stormberg

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An Alarming Price Tag: The Wasteful, Inefficient Government Program
Senators consider a bill to reveal the costs of the death penalty in Nebraska

On Wednesday, February 24th the Judiciary Committee held a hearing on LB1105 which would compare the costs of Nebraska's death penalty with non-death-penalty sentences resulting from capital murder convictions. You can read an article from the Lincoln Journal Star about the hearing here. "This isn’t just a bill in the sense of a pending law,” said NADP Board Chair Amy Miller. “This is also the bill handed to taxpayers with the dollars and cents it costs to exterminate life.”

Just two days after the hearing, a new forecast of state tax revenues from the Nebraska Economic Forecasting Advisory Board predicted that Nebraska lawmakers will have another $30.7 million budget gap to close this year. This comes after the Legislature already cut state spending and aid and dipped into various cash funds to close a $334 million budget short fall for the current year. According to the Governor, “this forecast indicates that the state has more challenging times ahead. It is clear that the Legislature needs to enact additional spending reductions to get the budget back in balance.”

According to Sen. Lavon Heidemann, chairman of the Legislature's Appropriations Committee, the Leglislature will be considering every possible cost saving measure. Whether that includes ending one of the state's most wasteful and inefficient programs—the death penalty—remains to be seen.

The true cost of executions in Nebraska is currently unknown, as no cost study has ever been undertaken here. But we can anticipate the results of a cost study by looking to studies done in other states. More than a dozen states have found that the death penalty is up to 10 times more expensive than sentences of life or life without parole. In our neighboring state of Kansas, the median cost of a death penalty case is $1.26 million, or 70 percent more than comparable non-death penalty cases. Indeed, the costs of the original trial and appeals in Kansas are 16 and 21 times more costly, respectively, than comparable non-death penalty cases.

We call on our State Senators to pass LB 1105. In a budget crunch year where aid to pregnant low-income women, schoolchildren, the disabled, and the elderly have all been cut, saving millions by abandoning the death penalty sounds better and better. NADP will continue our work to ensure that tax payers in Nebraska have a clear picture of how and where our money is being spent.

Please take a minute today to contact your State Senator and ask him/her to support LB1105 to shine a light on the costs of the death penalty in Nebraska! For more information on the cost of the death penalty and how to contact your Senator please visit www.nadp.net.

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"Courage and Kindness on Death Row"
By Thomas Cahill, Author of A Saint on Death Row

Famed author Thomas Cahill (How the Irish Saved Civilization, Gifts of the Jews and A Saint on Death Row) pauses in his writing of the Hinges of History series to share this story about a Death Row inmate who was transformed, and, through Cahill's writing, transforms the reader. Cahill had the unusual experience of forming a friendship with an extraordinary man, Dominique Green, who was a prisoner on Texas Death Row.

In this talk, he tells you about his experience and how it changed forever his view of prisoners, as well as his misunderstanding of the way justice operates in our society. This is a story of affirmation, grace, and change. When considering faith-based citizenship in these United States, Cahill awakens our hearts and minds as the discussion of the death penalty continues in Nebraska.

Date & Time: Thursday, March 4 at 7pm
Location: Countryside Community Church, 8787 Pacific Street, Omaha

Tickets: $10 Suggested Donation, Free for Students w/ ID

Reserve your tickets by email or at Countryside Church during office hours. Questions? Please contact Cyndi Kugler at cyndik@countrysideucc.org or 402.391.0350 x 121. This program is part of the 2009-2010 Center for Faith Studies Annual Lecture Series and is co-sponsored by Nebraskans Against the Death Penalty.

Find “Courage and Kindness on Death Row" on Facebook.

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Lethal Injection Protocols Signed
Write a letter to the editor of your local paper

Governor Dave Heineman signed off on Nebraska's proposed lethal injection protocols on February 10th. While we were not surprised by the Governor's actions, we are are again disappointed in the lack of foresight demonstrated by our elected officials. States throughout the country have been, and still are, tied up in years-long battles over lethal injection. Why does Nebraska want to get in the business of spending years in court and millions of tax-payer dollars on an already-broken government program?

We are encouraging all our supporters to send a letter to the Editor of your local paper!

Now is the time to remind our fellow Nebraskans and all our elected officials that no new method of execution can do nothing to solve the many problems with our state's death penalty system. Additionally, it has set our state on a path towards years of legal challenges—spending untold sums of taxpayers money, causing additional pain and anguish to murder victims' families, and doing nothing to eliminate the very real possibility of executing an innocent person.

Take a minute to write a letter to the editor of your local paper, expressing your concern. Click here to find talking points that you can use when writing your letter.

You're most likely to have an impact if you keep it short and positive—typically, this means 150-250 words. Be sure to include your address and phone number. This personal information won't be published in the newspaper. It’s just so the newspaper can verify the letter's authenticity. The following website has links to online editions of many Nebraska newspapers: www.usnpl.com/nenews.php.

If you have any questions or need help finding out where to send your letter, please contact our office at jill@nadp.net or call 402.477.7787.

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NADP NEWS: Legislative Update & Sr. Helen Returns to NE | January 2010

Greetings,

The new year is off to an exciting start here at NADP, and we want to thank everyone who has already been a part of our ongoing efforts to end the death penalty in Nebraska!

Hopefully most of you have kicked off 2010 with a call or email to your State Senator asking him/her to support Senator Council's ongoing efforts to repeal Nebraska's death penalty. For those of you who have not yet contacted your Senator there is still time. Senator Council has also introduced a bill that would authorize the State Auditor to investigate the true costs of the death penalty. As our state continues to face tough financial decisions, we must ask our Legislators to do the responsible thing—find out how much the death penalty is costing Nebraska's taxpayers! Read more about what is happening in the Legislature below.

One of the most recognizable and important faces in the movement to end the death penalty, Sister Helen Prejean, will be returning to Nebraska!  In an event co-sponsored by NADP, Sr. Helen will present "Dead Man Walking: The Journey Continues" on Monday, February 8th at Creighton University.  Read more about this exciting event below!

Earlier this month, the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty held its annual conference in Louisville, KY. With more than 350 in attendance, including 3 dedicated abolitionists from Nebraska, it was a great chance to hear about all the progress being made around the country. Read more about the conference below.

Without the support of individuals like you, we are not able to continue this important work. Please take a minute right now to make a tax-deductible donation to NADP Foundation. You can also send a check donation to 941 'O' Street, Suite 725, Lincoln, NE 68508.

As always, we hope you find this edition of NADP NEWS both helpful and informative.  We are always interested in hearing what you think. Send any questions or comments to me at jill@nadp.net.

Onward to justice,
Jill

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Your voice is needed in the halls of the Capitol
Senators introduce a bill to reveal the costs of the death penalty in Nebraska

As Nebraska continues to face tough economic times, our State Legislators are looking to eliminate wasteful and unnecessary spending wherever possible. Our representatives in Lincoln face some very difficult decisions, and it is likely that we will see even deeper budget cuts this year. We are pleased to see that Senators Brenda Council, Brad Ashford, Danielle Conrad, and Steve Lathrop have again brought attention to the death penalty as one of the states most expensive and inefficient programs. LB1105 would " require an audit comparing the costs of administering death penalty and non-death-penalty sentences resulting from murder in the first degree convictions." You can read the bill in entirety its here.

As we have seen in state after state, the death penalty costs 2, 5, 10, and even 16 times as much as having a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. It is time for Nebraskans to know the true cost of the death penalty!

When Senator Council first brought this issue to the Legislature as an amendment to LB306, there were many death penalty supporters who said that it does not matter how much the death penalty costs; however, as we continue to face difficult budget decisions, it is irresponsible of our Legislature to prevent an investigation into the costs of a system that has proven to be both wasteful and inefficient in state after state. Tax payers in Nebraska deserve to have a clear picture of how and where our money is being spent, and your Senator needs to hear from you again on this issue.

Please take a minute today to contact your State Senator and ask him/her to support LB1105 to shine a light on the costs of the death penalty in Nebraska!  For more information on how to contact your Senator please visit www.nadp.net.

Sister Helen Prejean - "Dead Man Walking: The Journey Continues"
Anti-Death Penalty Advocate & Award-Winning Author to Speak at Creighton University

Anti-Death Penalty Advocate & Award-Winning Author
Sister Helen Prejean, CSJ will present: "Dead Man Walking: The Journey Continues"

Date & Time: Monday, February 8, 2010 at 7pm
Location: Harper Center Hixson-Lied Auditorium at Creighton Univiersity 2500 California Plaza, Omaha

Book Sale and Signing to Follow! This event is free and open to the public!

To learn more about Sr. Helen Prejean please visit www.prejean.org. For more information about the event, contact jill@nadp.net.

This event is sponsored by: Creighton University Committee on Lectures, Films, and Concerts, Creighton University School of Law, Creighton University Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Creighton University Justice and Peace Studies Program, Creighton Center for Service and Justice, Cortina Community, Creighton Prep, and Nebraskans Against the Death Penalty.

Find Sister Helen Prejean- Dead Man Walking: The Journey Continues on Facebook.

NCADP 2010 Annual Conference - Building Bridges to Wider Audiences
NADP participates in an action packed weekend of training workshops!

This year the NCADP's Annual Conference brought together hundreds of the movement's most valuable assets—abolitionists, leaders, and activists. This year’s theme, Training for the Long Run—Building Bridges to Wider Audiences, focused on broadening our base of support for ending capital punishment. The three day event was jam packed with presentations by individuals who have lost loved ones to violent crime, death row exonorees, policy experts, faith leaders, and legislators.

Two of NADP's most dedicated activists, Miriam Thimm Kelle and Kurt Mesner, were in attendance as part of the community of murder victims family members from across the state of Nebraska and around the country. Kurt reported this after returning from the Conference, “I left with a very good impression after going to the Sunday morning Praise and Healing Ceremony; An Interfaith Celebration. It was very calming and relaxing and let me know that all religions can come together on a common goal of abolishing the death penalty.” Both Mimi and Kurt were mentioned in an article about the Conference in the local paper- read the article here.

One of the most interesting panel discussions of the event included a presentation by Senator Roy Brown, from the Montana State Legislature. Senator Brown is a long time leader of Montana's Republican party and was the Republican nominee for Governor in Montana in 2008.  He was also a sponsor of the death penalty repeal bill in Montana in 2009. The panel discussed the perspectives of political and religious conservatives opposed to the death penalty. Senator Brown appeared in this article following the Conference—Anti-Death Penalty Movement Wooing Conservatives. We hope this important dialogue will grow as we continue our work here in Nebraska!

NADP NEWS: Hearings, reports, and retreats... OH MY! | November 2009

Welcome to NADP News!

Hello Friends,

It is that time again--welcome to Nebraskans Against the Death Penalty's monthly e-newsletter! We hope everyone's holiday season got off to a great start and that everyone was able to spend time with friends and family!

We know many of you were able to weigh in during the public comment period on Nebraska's proposed lethal injection protocols. We want to say a big thank you to those who appeared at the public hearing in Lincoln on November 16th and to everyone who submitted written comments to the Department of Correctional Services. It is important that we all continue to raise our voices in opposition to the death penalty in Nebraska! Read more about the hearing below.

The Nebraska Legislature has wrapped up a special session where Senators were forced to cut Nebraska's budget to fill in a $335.5 million budget gap. Meanwhile, the state continues to move full steam ahead with one of the state's most expensive and ineffective programs--the death penalty. Last month the Death Penalty Information Center release a survey of police chiefs nationwide showing just how ineffective the death penalty really is. Read more about the new "Smart on Crime" report below.

Is the death penalty "retreating"? Three NADP activists recently participated in a very successful training retreat with our national partner, Equal Justice USA. Read more about this exciting event below!

Without the support of individuals like you, we are not able to continue this important work. Please take a minute right now to make a tax-deductible donation to NADP Foundation. You can also send a check donation to 941 'O' Street, Suite 725, Lincoln, NE 68508.

Again, we hope you enjoy this edition of NADP NEWS, and we look forward to talking to you soon! Please send any questions or comments to me at jill@nadp.net.

Onward to justice,
Jill

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Nebraskans speak out against the death penalty and lethal injection
Hearing on proposed lethal injection protocols generates much interest

NADP is grateful to everyone who made their voices heard in opposition to Nebraska's death penalty and the proposed lethal injection protocols. We were pleased to see the number of individuals from around the state who submitted written testimony and those who brought their powerful voices to the public hearing.

Just days before the Department of Correctional Services was set to hear public comments on Nebraska's proposed lethal injection protocol calling for the use of a 3 drug cocktail, the state of Ohio announced that it would be changing to a never-before used one-drug protocol. Corrections officials in Ohio made this change after the state had three botched executions in as many years. However, officials here, including the Attorney General, have indicate that Nebraska will continue to stick to the proposed 3 drug protocol, all but guaranteeing years of costly litigation. This situation continuities to highlight just how broken the death penalty system is. Read more about the hearing and the announcement from Ohio here.

Additionally, it is clear that no method of execution is ever going to fix the fundamental flaws with the death penalty--the risk of executing an innocent person, the staggering cost, the lack of fairness in sentencing... the list goes on and on. The proposal now being considered by the Department of Correctional Services only guarantees more years of delay and additional costs to tax payers, at a time where state and local budgets are tighter than ever. No matter what method of execution Nebraska's officials opt for, the death penalty is dying, and Nebraskans are ready to see it go!

Can Nebraska Afford to Keep the Death Penalty?
New study shows high cost of the death penalty in a time of economic crisis in Nebraska

We featured this report in our last e-newsletter, but it is so powerful we feel it deserves a second look! "Smart on Crime: Reconsidering the Death Penalty in a Time of Economic Crisis" is the most recent report from the Death Penalty Information Center. The report contains an analysis of the costs of the death penalty along with dramatic results from a national poll of police chiefs. In a survey of more than 500 police chiefs nationwide, the results clearly show that those charged with keeping our communities safe consistently put capital punishment at the bottom of their law enforcement priorities.

The study concludes that states are wasting hundreds of millions of dollars on the death penalty, draining state budgets during the economic crisis, and diverting funds from more effective anti-violence programs. If you have not done it already please take a minute to read the study here.

Lincoln's own Captain James Davidsaver is featured in the report. On multiple occasions Captain Davidsaver has offered testimony to the Nebraska Unicameral on the high cost of the death penalty.

From the report:

"During my career, which includes 10-plus years as a certified crime scene technician, I have experienced countless violent crime scenes where the perpetrators inflicted horrific injury, pain and suffering on their victims. Of the accused murderers my fellow officers and I have brought to justice, I do not believe any of them was deterred in the least by Nebraska’s death penalty.

One facet of the issue that is rarely mentioned is the economic cost of capital punishment . . . [these] cases are the most expensive cases by far. . . with a cost as high as $7 million. . . . Removing the death penalty variable from the justice equation should reduce the overall cost."

-Jim Davidsaver, 20-Year Police Veteran, Lincoln, Nebraska (this quote originally appeared in the Lincoln Journal Star on March 25, 2007)

We will continue to call on our leaders to make good decisions when it comes to the state's tax dollars, and the death penalty simply does not make "cents"!

The death peanlty is "retreating"
NADP participates in an action packed training workshop!

Nebraskans Against the Death Penalty was one of seven states invited to particpate in a recent national training retreat held in Connecticut. The event was sponsored by Equal Justice USA and was focused on bringing more stakeholders to the table in our campaign to end the death peanlty, no matter where they fall on the policital spectrum. Additionally, the retreat focused on reaching out to murder victims' family memebers and individuals from the law enforcement community.

During the four day workshop we gained specific tools that will help us break down boundaries and make our movement more powerful than ever! After all, we all want a criminal justice system that helps victims heal, keeps the public safe, and uses public resources effectively.

You can read more about the full retreat experience here!

NADP would like to thank Shari Silberstien, Executive Director of EJUSA, our amazing "cruise director" Sarah Craft, and all of the amazing EJUSA staff for including Nebraska in this amazing experience.

If you are interested in working with us in our efforts to repeal the death peanlty in Nebraska we have a place for you! Please contact us at involved@nadp.net for more information on how you can get involved!

Photo Credit: EJUSA
EJUSA Staff (top row): Eunice, Laura, Colleen, Shari, Sarah, Mona, Rebecca, and Emma
NADPers (bottom row): Erica, Jill, and Nic

NADP NEWS: Make your voice heard! | October 2009

Welcome to NADP News!

Hello Friends,

This is the third edition of Nebraskans Against the Death Penalty's monthly e-newsletter! We see this resource as a great way for us to stay connected to our supporters and to keep everyone informed of the work that we are doing.  We will try to focus on the most important and current events and stories from Nebraska and around the country, and we welcome your input and feedback as we develop this important outreach tool.

Do you have Monday, November 16th marked in your calender as the day to raise your voice in opposition to the the death penalty and Nebraska's proposed lethal injection protocols? I hope so!  Public comment is being taken on these new protocols, both at a hearing on the 16th and with written comments as well. Read more about making your voice heard below.

Most of you have likely seen the recent news that Nebraska is facing a $335.5 million budget shortfall and that our state senators are being called back to Lincoln for a special session to address this major issue. A new resource is now available showing that states could save millions of needed dollars by repealing extremely expensive and ineffective death penalty systems. Read more about the new "Smart on Crime" report from the Death Penalty Information Center and how you can take action regarding the budget crisis in Nebraska below.

NADP recently participated in a very successful training workshop with Murder Victims Families for Reconciliation. Read more about this exciting event below!

Without the support of individuals like you, we are not able to continue this important work. Please take a minute right now to make a tax-deductible donation to NADP Foundation. You can also send a check donation to 941 'O' Street, Suite 725, Lincoln, NE 68508.

Again, we hope you enjoy this edition of NADP NEWS and we look forward to talking to you soon! Please send any questions or comments to me at jill@nadp.net.

Onward to Justice,
Jill

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SAVE THE DATE: Lethal Injection Hearing | Monday, November 16
Make your voice heard! Lethal injection and the death penalty are bad for Nebraska

There is one final opportunity for you to make your voice heard in opposition to the death penalty in 2009.  Monday, November 16th at 9:00 am, public comment will be taken on the proposed new method of execution--lethal injection. And "public comment" means just that--anyone, young or old, expert voice or first time citizen lobbyist, is encouraged to join us to make it clear that Nebraska does not need a new flawed method of killing people.

Stay tuned next week, as we will be sending out action alerts to help you prepare for the hearing--information about how to submit written comments on the proposed lethal injection protocol,  tips on preparing to speak about your oposition to lethal injection, and NADP's plans for the day of the hearing.

For now, SAVE THE DATE!

WHAT: Hearing on Nebraska's proposed lethal injection protocol
WHEN: Monday, November 16th at 9:00am
WHERE: Nebraska State Office Building, Lower Level Conference Room F, 501 South 14th Street in Lincoln

For more information please contact Jill Francke at jill@nadp.net or (402) 477-7787.

Can Nebraska Afford to Keep the Death Penalty?
New study shows high cost of the death penalty in a time of economic crisis in Nebraska

The Death Penalty Information Center has released its latest report, "Smart on Crime: Reconsidering the Death Penalty in a Time of Economic Crisis." The report combines an analysis of the costs of the death penalty with a newly released national poll of police chiefs who put capital punishment at the bottom of their law enforcement priorities. Read the study here. The study concludes that states are wasting hundreds of millions of dollars on the death penalty, draining state budgets during the economic crisis and diverting funds from more effective anti-violence programs.

Also included in the report are the results of a nationwide poll of police chiefs which found that they ranked the death
penalty last among their priorities for crime-fighting, do not believe the death penalty deters murder, and rate it as the least efficient use of limited taxpayer dollars.

From the report's executive summary:

The death penalty in the U.S. is an enormously expensive and wasteful program with no clear benefits. All of the studies on the cost of capital punishment conclude it is much more expensive than a system with life sentences as the maximum penalty. In a time of painful budget cutbacks, states are pouring money into a system that results in a declining number of death sentences and executions that are almost exclusively carried out in just one area of the country. As many states face further deficits, it is an appropriate time to consider whether maintaining the costly death penalty system is being smart on crime.

This report was released at the same time that Nebraska Governor Dave Heinemann announced that the state of Nebraska is facing a $335.5 million budget shortfall.  Governor Heinemann has stated that, "we should reduce government expenditures,"and that the state's decision makers, "will develop a targeted and responsible budget proposal." State legislators are being called back to Lincoln for a special session to deal with the budget crisis on November 4th. We must continue to call for an end to a program that is both inefficient and ineffective--the death penalty.

A new website (www.nebraskabudget.com) has been developed to allow Nebraskan's to voice their opinions on the budget crisis to the Appropriations Committee.  We encourage you to visit nebraskabudget.com and tell our leaders to get smart on crime, and with our money, and end the death penalty in Nebraska!

Murder Victims' Families for Reconciliation Training a Success
Bringing Victim's Voices to the Forefront in Nebraska

Nebraskans Against the Death Penalty was honored to have national board members from Murder Victims' Families for Reconciliation in Omaha to conduct a training and workshop for victim's  families in Nebraska.  The training was held at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Downtown Omaha and brought together 13 MVFR  staff and board members from around the country with a group of local victim's family members and NADP organizers.

During the day-long workshop there were trainings on Making and Sustaining Connections with Family Members, Telling You Story Effectively, Working with the Media, and Legislative and Policy Work. Each of the interactive sessions offered an opportunity for the individuals in attendance to hear the extraordinary stories of pain and courage from other victims' families and to develop some of the skills that they hope to put to use in the ongoing efforts to end the death penalty in Nebraska.

NADP would like to thank Beth Wood, Acting Executive Director at MVFR, all of the amazing MVFR board members, and everyone who attended from Nebraska for making this event a success.

If you have lost a member of your family to murder and you would like to connect with MVFR and other victims families in Nebraska please contact jill@nadp.net or bwood@mvfr.org for more information.

NADP NEWS: What a difference a month makes! | September 2009

Welcome to Nebraska News!

Welcome to Nebraskans Against the Death Penalty's second monthly e-newsletter! It is our hope that this publication will be a informative and easy way for you to stay connected to NADP and the work that we are doing. We will try to focus on the most important and current events and stories from Nebraska and around the country, and we welcome your input and feedback as we develop this important outreach tool.

So much has happened since we sent our our first newsletter just one short month ago!

Yesterday afternoon, corrections officials here in Nebraska released their proposed protocols for lethal injection. This despite the fact that earlier this month, an execution by lethal injection in OH had to be stopped after the execution team struggled for more than two hours to find a usable vein. According to Richard Dieter at the Death Penalty Information Center, this is the first time an execution by lethal injection in the United States has failed and then been rescheduled. This failed execution is raising new questions and renewing many concerns about lethal injection in Ohio and around the country. Read more below .

Trial by Fire, an explosive article from the New Yorker Magazine, revealed what many opponents of the death penalty have long feared--an innocent man has been executed. The article, by David Grann, documents the case against Cameron Todd Willingham, who was convicted and executed for starting a fire in his home that killed his three young children. Five years after Mr. Willingham's execution, this article shows that this tragic fire needlessly took the life of four innocent individuals--the three children who died in the fire on December 23, 1991, and their father, wrongfully executed by the state of Texas in 2004. Read more about this incredible story below .

As we travel around Nebraska educating citizens and legislators about the problems with the death penalty we are often asked, "what can I do to help you get the word out in my community?" The 2009 Nebraska Student Organizing Conference can help you answer that question. The conference is being held on Saturday, October 10 at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and we encourage all our supporters to attend! Find out more below .

Without the support of individuals like you we are not able to continue this important work. Please take a minute right now to make a tax-deductible donation to NADP Foundation. You can also send a check donation to 941 'O' Street, Suite 725, Lincoln, NE 68508.

Again, we hope you enjoy this edition of NADP NEWS and we look forward to talking to you soon! Please send any questions or comments to me at jill@nadp.net.

Onward to justice,
Jill

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Problems with lethal injection result in delayed execution
Ohio Governor calls off execution after more than two hours of failed attempts

For the first time in the modern era of the death penalty, an execution by lethal injection was called off and Romell Broom was returned to death row in Ohio. Ohio's Governor Ted Strickland stepped in and postponed the execution after the execution team struggled for more than two hours to find a usable vein to administer the lethal drugs. View the timeline for the failed execution here.

The questions that this case has raised will likely have an impact far beyond Broom's case and the state of Ohio. According to a recent Newsweek article entitled Dying in Vein:

During the attempted execution, Broom was pricked more than 18 times to find usable veins on both arms and one leg. Some of those injections hit bone or muscle. "The pain, suffering and distress to which Broom was subjected on Sept. 15, 2009, went well beyond that which is tolerated by the United States and Ohio Constitution," Tim Sweeney (Broom's defense attorney) stated in court documents filed with the Ohio Supreme Court. "It was a form of torture that exposed Broom to the prospect of a slow, lingering death, not the quick and painless one he was promised and to which he is constitutionally entitled if he is going to be executed by the State."

Broom's execution remains on hold pending a November 30th hearing regarding the failed execution attempt. More information and media coverage of the case can be found here.

Despite the mounting questions about lethal injection officials in Nebraska have released their proposal for moving the state towards a new method of execution. This proposal does nothing to address the underlying problems with the death penalty nor does it address any of the grave concerns being raised by the recent situation in Ohio. Instead it set Nebraska on a path towards years of costly appeals and extended pain and trauma for the families of those who have lost their loved ones. You can read more about the protocol release here. Nebraskans Against the Death Penalty will be asking you to speak out about this new proposal, stay tuned for more information about these regulations as it becomes available.

Shouting from the Rooftops!
It is too late for Todd Willingham, but don't let his story die

The New Yorker report on the case of Cameron Todd Willingham is hard to believe. The story of an innocent person being executed is something everyone should know about. If you have not yet read the article please take the time to do so today. It is long but it is important. In 2006, Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia asserted that there has not been “a single case—not one—in which it is clear that a person was executed for a crime he did not commit. If such an event had occurred in recent years, we would not have to hunt for it; the innocent’s name would be shouted from the rooftops.” We are now asking you to join us in shouting from the rooftops!

Once you have read the New Yorker article pass it on to your friends, family, co-workers--pass it on to everyone you know! "How do I pass it on?" you ask... thanks to our friends at Equal Justice USA, simply follow this link, and they will do the hard work for you.

There is more you can do! Visit the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty's new Shouting from the Rooftops webpage where you will find 7 things you can do to make sure that Cameron Todd Willingham's story and death does not go unnoticed in Nebraska. The risk of executing an innocent person has long be viewed as merely hypothetical by those who support the death penalty. It is up to us to make it known that the United States of America has executed an innocent man!

Nebraska Student Organizing Conference 2009
Organizing for Better Tomorrows!

The Nebraska Student Organizing Conference (NSOC): "Organizing for Better Tomorrows" will take place Saturday, October 10 at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Nebraska City Union.

This is a great opportunity for you to learn more about becoming an organizer in the movement to end the death penalty! Jill Francke, Director of Nebraskans Against the Death Penalty, will be presenting a workshop on Grassroots Lobbying, and NADP will have an information table at the event.

The conference is open to anyone—it is not limited to Nebraska residents, students, or young people. The conference begins at 8am and ends by 6:30pm. Breakfast, lunch, and a light snack will be provided. All attendees will participate in five hands-on workshops to expand their knowledge and skills to organize in their communities. Attendees will also have the opportunity to network with local organizations, community leaders, and fellow activists as they sharpen their skills and build toward a more unified progressive movement.

The cost to attend the conference will be $5 for advance registration and $10 for registration after Saturday, October 3. Spaces are limited, so register in advance! Learn more about the conference agenda and reserve your spot today at http://www.unl.edu/psc/conference.html.

For those coming in from out of town, travel stipends and over-night accommodations are available!

Find Nebraska Student Organizing Conference 2009 on Facebook.

Link to other NADP events at our website.

NADP NEWS: Innocence Matters | August 2009

Welcome to Nebraska News!

I would like to welcome you to Nebraskans Against the Death Penalty's first monthly e-newsletter! It is our hope that this publication will be a informative and easy way for you to stay connected to NADP and the work that we are doing. We will try to focus on the most important events and stories from Nebraska and around the country and we welcome your input and feedback as we develop this important outreach tool.

Our first newsletter is focused on the issue of innocence and the death penalty. Hopefully many of you are planning to attend the upcoming NADP Annual Dinner. We are happy to be co-hosting this event with the Nebraska Innocence Project and we are excited to have death row exonoree Randy Stidel in town to share his powerful message. Please read more about it below and send in your reservation today!

Many of you have been following the exonerations of the "Beatrice 6" and you will be happy to hear that the NE Innocence Project is holding a fundraiser on their behalf. You can find more information about the planned poker run and benefit concert below.

Finally, we are bringing you some very good news in the case of Troy Anthony Davis! The U.S. Supreme Court has ordered a hearing to address the issue of Troy's long standing claim that he did not commit the crime for which he has been convicted. This is a major achievement and we will keep you posted when there are further developments.

Without the support of individuals like you we are not able to continue this important work. Please take a minute right now to make a tax-deductible doation to NADP. You can also send us a check at 941 'O' Street, Suite 725, Lincoln, NE 68508.

Again, we hope you enjoy the first edition of NADP NEWS and we look forward to talking to you soon! Please send any questions or comments to me at jill@nadp.net.

Onward to justice,
Jill

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2009 NADP Annual Dinner with the Nebraska Innocence Project
Can you imagine spending 12 years on death row for a crime you didn't commit?

This past year, the Nebraska Innocence Project has played an integral part in the anti-death penalty movement. In light of the Beatrice 6 exonerations, Nebraskans have learned even more about the dangers of capital punishment, especially when it is used as a tool to coerce confessions. We have chosen to partner with the Nebraska Innocence Project because united we can form an even stronger coalition to educate all citizens of Nebraska. Our goal to abolish capital punishment in Nebraska remains an uphill battle, but together our organizations are armed with information to inform, engage and educate. With great pride we join together to present our 2009 Annual Dinner and honor those who have worked so diligently to end capital punishment in Nebraska. We hope you will join us for this year's event, celebrate our accomplishments, and reaffirm your belief in justice.

The keynote address will be delivered by Randy Steidl, who spent more than 12 years on death row in Illinois for a crime he did not commit. When Randy was questioned about the 1986 murders of newlyweds Dyke and Karen Rhoads he dismissed it as an attempt by police to question a number of people in the area. Randy did not know either of the victims and and provided a corroborated alibi for the night of the murders. To his surprise, he and his friend were later arrested, tried, convicted, and sentenced to death within 90 days.

There was no DNA evidence against Randy, however he had poor representation, multiple witnesses fabricated testimony against him, and there was clear evidence of misconduct by local police and prosecutors. Consequently, Randy was convicted, sentenced to death and spent 12 years on death row trying to prove his innocence.

On May 28, 2004, after a total of 17 years, three months and three weeks of wrongful imprisonment, Randy was freed. Randy now travels the country talking about his experience with the death penalty system.

We hope you will join us for this important event!

Sincerely,
Amy Miller, Board Chair of NADP
Rebecca Murray, President of the Nebraska Innocence Project

Friday, September 18, 2009
Social Hour & Silent Auction 6:30 PM
Dinner & Program 7:30 PM
Georgetowne Club | 2440 South 141st Circle, Omaha, NE
Proceeds from the dinner will benefit both Nebraskans Against the Death Penalty and the Nebraska Innocence Project

For more info call 402.477.7787
Please RSVP by September 8, 2009

Click here to view the invitation
To RSVP cut out and mail in the bottom portion of the invitation or email jill@nadp.net

Randy Steidl testifying before the Judiciary Committee in Nebraska

For more information on Randy visit http://www.witnesstoinnocence.org/speaker_bio_steidl.html.

Ridin’ & Rockin’ 4 Justice
Poker Run and Benefit Concert for the “Beatrice 6”

The Nebraska Innocence Project will be in Omaha again on Saturday, September 19th to host a fundraiser for the "Beatrice 6." This case served as a wake up call to many Nebraskans after DNA evidence exonerated six individuals in a 1986 murder case. Collectively these individuals spent more than 70 years in prison before being pardoned by the Governor and Attorney General earlier this year. This case is a chilling example of what can go wrong in the Nebraska justice system, many of these individuals were persuaded to provide false confessions in order to save themselves from the electric chair. NADP encourages you to come out for this meaningful day of entertainment!

Ridin’ & Rockin’ 4 Justice
Poker Run and Benefit Concert for the “Beatrice 6”
Saturday, September 19th 2009

Poker Run- $15 per hand (includes ride and concert admission)
Registration: 10:30 am-12:00 pm at Dillon Bros. Harley Davidson,17402 W Maple Rd
Last Card Draw: 5:00 pm at Anchor Inn, 2499 Freedom Park Rd

Benefit Concert- $5 admission
5pm at the Anchor Inn, 2499 Freedom Park Rd
Featuring: Rival Element, Midtown Method, and the Conspiracy Theory

* 50/50 Drawings * Raffle Prizes * T-shirts * FUN

If you have any questions about the fundraisers, information on the Beatrice 6, or the Nebraska Innocence Project, please feel free to contact Rebecca Murray, President, at 332-3755 or Traci Janousek, Interim Executive Director at 968-1904 or by email at nebraskainnocence@gmail.com

All proceeds of this event benefit the “Beatrice 6”

U.S. Supreme Court Orders Evidenciary Hearing for Troy Anthony Davis
Rare Decision Could Result in New Trial

In a long-awaited decision on the case of Georgia death row inmate Anthony Davis the U.S. Supreme Court has ordered a Federal Judge to "receive testimony and make findings of fact as to whether evidence that could not have been obtained at trial clearly establishes petitioner's innocence." Troy has always maintained his innocence and this case has become a rallying point for death penalty opponents around the world.

In the original trial witnesses said that then 19 year old Davis shot and killed off duty police officer Mark MacPhail. However, since his 1991 conviction, seven of the nine witnesses against him have recanted and there remains no physical evidence linking Davis to the crime.

Many figures including the Pope, former President Jimmy Carter and former Archbishop Desmond Tutu have asked Georgia to grant Davis a new trial. Other supporters include celebrities Susan Sarandon, Harry Belafonte and the Indigo Girls and conservative political leader Bob Barr.

NADP will be hosting an event during National Teach-In Week for Troy Davis (September 21-27). Stay tuned for more details!

For more information on the Troy Davis case and to hear from his family link to this Democracy Now video.

The photo is from the NAACP's IAMTROY.com campaign.

THE ABOLITIONIST | Summer 2009

Status of Lethal Injection in Nebraska
By Amy Miller, NADP Board Chair

"Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up
every time we fail." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

The disappointment we felt with the passage of the bill to implement lethal injection as Nebraska's new and sole means of execution reminds us that perseverance is necessary. The lethal injection bill was singed into law by Governor Dave Heineman on May 28, 2009 and will take effect on August 30th. This does not mean our work is over--not right now, and not for the long haul.

Right now, we need you to do a small thing. We need you to thank the Senators who stood against the injustice of LB 36. If your Senator voted in favor of this flawed and barbaric bill, please email, write or call your Senator to express your disappointment. Below you will find a breakdown of which Senators need to be thanked and which need to hear that you feel let down.

And down the road, we will need you to do a big thing. We will need you to help us, because we're not giving up. We will work through the summer and fall to conduct more public education forums across the state, bringing more and more voters together to oppose the death penalty. When the legislature starts up in January 2010, we'll be right back there pushing for abolition again. So the big thing we are asking you to do is stay with us, despite this set back. We know we're on the side of history--after all, just in the last year, New Mexico abolished the death penalty and many other states teeter on the brink of restoring justice too.

NADP will continue to rise up-every time-with your help, until the battle is won. Thank you all for keeping this movement moving forward!

Below you will find a break down of how the 49 Senators voted. We ask that you call or email a note of appreciation to the Senators who stood with us, even if they are not from your district.

Bill to enact lethal injection- LB 36 (click to send an email)
Voting yes (34): Adams, Ashford, Campbell, Carlson, Christensen, Cornett, Fischer, Flood, Friend, Fulton, Gay, Giese, Gloor, Hadley, Hansen, Harms, Heidemann, Janssen, Karpisek, Lautenbaugh, Louden, McCoy, Nelson, Pahls, Pankonin, Pirsch, Price, Rogert, Schilz, Stuthman, Sullivan, Utter, White, Wightman
Voting no (12): Coash, Cook, Council, Dierks, Dubas, Howard, Lathrop, McGill, Mello, Nantkes, Nordquist, Wallman
Present not voting (1): Avery

Amendment that would have repealed the death penalty - AM1452
Voting yes (13): Ashford, Avery, Coash, Cook, Council, Dierks, Haar, Lathrop, McGill, Mello, Nantkes, Nordquist, Rogert
Voting no (33): Adams, Campbell, Carlson, Christensen, Cornett, Fischer, Flood, Friend, Fulton, Gay, Giese, Gloor, Hadley, Hansen, Harms, Heidemann, Howard, Janssen, Karpisek, Lautenbaugh, Louden, McCoy, Nelson, Pahls, Pankonin, Pirsch, Price, Schilz, Stuthman, Sullivan, Utter, White, Wightman
Present not voting (1): Wallman

Reaching Out to You: Statewide Coordinator’s Report
By: Jill L Francke, NADP Statewide Coordinator

I wanted to take a moment now that the dust has settled to fill you all in on the ongoing work here at Nebraskans Against the Death Penalty!

First, I want to say how awesome it is to be part of a movement that is in such an exciting place both here in our state and on the national level. I am so encouraged by the huge gains being made in CO, KS, MD, CT, MT, MO and of course NM! It has bolstered our movement here in Nebraska and I am sure that we have only seen the beginning of these success stories!

The staff and Board of Directors here at NADP were very disappointed by the passage of the bill to implement lethal injection as our new and only means of execution on the second to last day of the 2009 legislative session. However, at the beginning of the session this legislation was viewed as a "slam-dunk" so the fact that we held them off as long as we did was very encouraging. Additionally, we picked up some new supporters of abolition and saw the emergence of two floor leaders during this years debate. While we did not have the votes needed for repeal this year we can certainly feel the shift that has taken place in this debate and even one of our staunch opponents in the Legislature declared that he can see the end of the death penalty in Nebraska coming in the near future. So our work must continue!

I want to thank all the individuals and organizations here in Nebraska and around the country that took part in the various calls to action during this session. There is no doubt that the presence of a true movement in support of repeal was felt in the halls of the capitol this year!

We have already seen the first in what will be a litany of challenges to lethal injection in Nebraska. The law does not even take effect until September and already it has been challenged in our state Supreme Court. It was very clear from the testimony heard before the Judiciary Committee and from the debate on the floor that this poorly crafted legislation will soon be seen as the "Nebraska Lawyers Stimulus Package of 2009" and we will be working to ensure that the state takes responsibility for passing this wasteful and inefficient legislation.

I also want to take some time to let you all know about the ongoing work that is underway at NADP. We have recently begun to collaborate with Murder Victims for Reconciliation (MVFR), a national organization that works with murder victim family member, (“mvfms”) in an effort to expand our outreach to mvfms here in Nebraska and we are happy that MVFR will be holding their upcoming board meeting in Omaha. While here, MVFR will be conducting a training for our local mvfms and other activists working in that community. We are extremely lucky to have some amazing mvfm who are already a critical part of our campaign and look forward to learning more about the needs of murder victim family members in Nebraska and how death penalty affects those needs.

Additionally, we are working to expand our efforts in the area of innocence and the death penalty. Greg Wilhoit will be delivering our Annual Dinner address this year and we are planning to do a mini tour in the state with some of our local exonorees and mvfms to get our the message that Nebraska faces the same problems that plague the death penalty in other states. We have learned so much from the work of the Journey of Hope and Witness to Innocence and it is our hope that these personal messages from our state will be very effective in continuing to reframe the debate about capitol punishment.

I always like to hear from our supporters and I appreciate any feedback from you on the work we are doing. If you know of a location that we could host an event in your area or are willing to help us organize such an event please give me a call or send me an email.

I look forward to working with and learning from all of you as we look down the road to abolition of the death penalty in our state and around the country!

Murder Victim’s Families for Reconciliation Coming to Nebraska

Murder Victims’ Families for Reconciliation (MVFR) recently selected Omaha as the site for their national board meeting and training session. Founded in 1976 MVFR is a national organization of family members of victims of both homicide and executions who oppose the death penalty in all cases. From October 22-25, MVFR will hold a two day board meeting along with a one day training session for family members of victims of homicide and executions. For more information on MVFR, you can view their website at www.mvfr.org.

“I am beyond thrilled that Nebraska was selected as the site for the MVFR board meeting. Recently, NADP has begun work to bring together murder victims’ family members and I think that this training session is crucial to that integral part of NADP. No one can put a voice to homicide or execution like a family member can,” stated Megan Moslander, NADP Office Manager and Events Coordinator.

NADP is also pleased to work with People Uniting, Lending Support and Encouragement (P.U.L.S.E) of Omaha to make the training session a success.

NADP strongly encourages any individuals who are interested in the training session to please contact Megan or Jill at 402.477.7787. This training session will provide an excellent opportunity to meet with others who have experienced similar experiences a victim of homicide or execution in Nebraska.

Losing a Fellow Abolitionist: Kathleen Hawk Norman

NADP’s friend, supporter and keynote speaker from last year’s annual dinner Kathleen Hawk Norman passed away April 16th, peacefully dying in her sleep at home in New Orleans.

As founder of "Jurors for Justice," an abolitionist support group for jurors on murder cases as secondary trauma victims of the death penalty, Kathleen had become a unique voice for abolition. She spoke so eloquently about how she was called for jury duty in Louisiana and tried to live up to her ideals as an American in agreeing to serve as jury foreperson. The trial resulted in a death sentence for Dan Bright because the only evidence presented clearly seemed to indicate his guilt. But when Bright's new appeal attorneys came to Kathleen to ask her for just an affidavit stating "If I'd known this other evidence existed, I would have paused before passing sentence," she didn't agree to just sign the affidavit: she became mobilized into a tremendous advocate for Bright. She attended every hearing, pursued the matter in the press, and refused to rest until Bright was finally exonerated and set free.

Even that was not enough for Kathleen. She went on to help found the Louisiana Innocence Project, became chair of the ACLU of Louisiana Board of Directors and pushed herself to travel nationwide, speaking out about the need to abolish the death penalty. Her public speaking was immensely powerful though it required her to re-live the experience of sending an innocent man to death row. She described how she felt traumatized even when she thought Bright was guilty, and how guilty she felt when she had proof he was an innocent man. "I kept telling Dan's attorneys how guilty I felt and they would pooh pooh me, saying it wasn't my fault, it was just the system. But it was my fault, and it is the fault of any citizen called for jury duty--that's why we have GOT to get rid of this abomination called the death penalty," she told NADP at our last annual banquet as our keynote speaker.

And if you knew Kathleen personally, as we here in Nebraska came to, you know that she was an absolute firebrand. She wouldn't make plans to do something: she did it. She didn't let others get discouraged or overwhelmed: she would blink at you behind her gorgeous funky eyeglasses and tell you to get out there and kick up the traces. We're grieving here in her home-away-from-home state, but as one NADP board members said, "Kathleen wouldn't want us to be flattened by her loss--she would want us to be feisty that she didn't get to see the death of capital punishment, so we need to just work harder."

In addition to a large family of siblings and her mother here in Nebraska, Kathleen is survived by her son in New Orleans. At the family’s request, memorials can be sent to NCADP, to Nebraskans Against the Death Penalty, or to the Innocence Project.

Connect With NADP

As the world of online activism continues to grow, NADP is working to stay connected to our supporters on the World Wide Web. We are currently utilizing various social networking sites and other forms of online communication to keep you up to date with our work and activities. We hope that you will take a minute today to visit our website www.nadp.net. We work very hard to keep the website up to date and informative so check back often to see what we are up to. When you visit the website please sign up to receive our email updates. This is the quickest and most cost effective way for us to keep you informed about the events taking place in your area and the many ways that you can take action.

You can also become a fan of NADP on Facebook by visiting www.fbook.me/nadp and clicking on Become a Fan. Additionally, you can follow NADP on Twitter by visiting www.twitter.com/N_A_D_P.

If you have questions about our online outreach or if you would like to receive email updates, please send an email to jill.francke@gmail.com.

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

Nebraskans Against the Death Penalty would like to offer a special thank you to "Nebraska's Cartoonist" Paul Fell for his coverage of the death penalty in the 2009 Legislative session. Through out this newsletter you have seen various FellToons, all pointing out major flaws with the death penalty and lethal injection here in Nebraska. Paul was very gracious in allowing NADP to use his cartoons in our outreach and education efforts surrounding LB 36 and for that we are very thankful.

In addition to allowing us to distribute these cartoons to our supporters Paul has also donated the original print of the cartoon that appears on the front page of this newsletter to our Annual Dinner Silent Auction. This is guaranteed to be a hot item so I hope that you are all able to come and place a bid on this wonderful piece of political art!

As a way of saying thank you to Paul we hope that you sign up to receive his Daily FellToon via email. It is a great way to start your morning and you never know when a poignant death penalty cartoon may appear! To sign up please visit www.paulfellcartoons.com and click on the Daily FellToon.

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