Sadly, just like that, summer is ending! I hope yours has been a good one.
Ohioans to Stop Executions has been busy planning for what is sure to be a busy next few months. You will hear a lot more about what’s on the agenda next week. Today we simply wanted to share a few bits of news from the summer and wish you a happy and safe Labor Day Weekend.
Here are a few things we wanted to let you know about:
- The state of Delaware’s Supreme Court threw out that state’s death penalty! Congratulations to our allies at the Delaware Repeal Project and the legal team at the Delaware Public Defender. Delaware becomes the Eighth state to abandon the death penalty since 2007.
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County Outliers Report: A new report from The Fairness Project demonstrates just how unusual the death penalty really is in our country. Only 16 counties in the entire United States sentenced five or more people to death from 2010-15. The good news? None are from Ohio! The decline in use of the death penalty continues.
- Ohioans have been learning about the issue and speaking out. A sizable group participated this summer in Washington DC at the annual Fast & Vigil to Abolish the Death Penalty at the U.S. Supreme Court. Pictured at right are myself, Erik O'Neil, Lee Blackburn, and Jack Sullivan. Not pictured are Ohio death row survivor/Witness to Innocence member Joe D’Ambrosio and Father Neil Kookoothe, who shared their story. They were also featured in the Washington Post!
- Finally, I want to share a new project with you that OTSE is collaborating with. DeathPenaltyFail.org provides a series of videos which you can share via social media. There are links on our Facebook page, or go directly to DeathPenaltyFail.org to see and share them with your community.
There’s so much more to say, but we’ll wait until next week. Expect some news coverage of our soon to be released report, A Relic of the Past: Ohio’s Dwindling Death Penalty. We’ll also have updates on events later this month, our plans for the legislature following the election and in 2017, and how you can help.
Have a safe and happy Labor Day Weekend!
–abe
Abraham J. Bonowitz
Communications, Organizing & Strategy