Two Victories Today!

Here in New Jersey, the State Assembly finally approved legislation abolishing capital punishment! Given that Governor Corzine has committed to signing this bill, it is sure to become law. As you know, Amnesty and our allies have worked very hard on this issue for many years. Now, people around the United States can build upon our state’s momentum. Thanks to everyone who has helped out! (The Star-Ledger published a letter I wrote on the subject in this morning edition, by the way.)

On Capitol Hill, the House of Representatives voted to support the conference version of Intelligence Authorization bill with section 327, which would clarify that the CIA and other agencies are bound by the same prohibitions against torture and inhumane treatment that apply to the military. The Senate has already approved an earlier version of this legislation, so chances are good that it will vote in favor of the legislation prepared by the conference committee.

Once again, thanks to everyone who has helped out with these important initiatives!

Urgent: Congress to Vote on CIA Interrogation Rules

Please urge your member of the House of Representatives to support Section 327 of the Intelligence Authorization Bill. We are expecting a vote on this legislation TOMORROW, DECEMBER 12th. It would require the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and other government institutions to observe the same interrogation rules as the U.S. military. This is especially important given the recent revelations that the CIA has destroyed video evidence of waterboarding (simulated drowning) and other so-called “enhanced interrogation techniques” that constitute torture and/or cruel and inhumane treatment.

You can find out the name and contact information for your representative by entering your zipcode at www.house.gov. Please call as early as possible tomorrow (Wednesday) morning!

Thanks,
Larry Ladutke
NJ Legislative Coordinator, AIUSA

Help NJ take the lead against the death penalty!

For years, the abolition of capital punishment in the United States has been high on our list of priorities. Now, we have the chance to do so in our state and thus set a precedent for the rest of the country! As expected, the New Jersey State Legislature is going to vote on bills to abolish the death penalty in December. This vote comes as the culmination of years of activism that led to a moratorium on capital punishment and the creation of an official commission that recommended overturning the death penalty! Now that victory is within our reach, we need to remind our lawmakers to vote to end capital punishment. It would be a shame to lose this vote after so much dedicated action!

Please send letter letters to your representatives in the State Senate and the Assembly. You can find out who they are and how to contact them by clicking HERE. Short, handwritten letters would be great. The message is simple: As a resident of your district, I strongly urge you to sponsor and support S171/A795 to abolish capital punishment in New Jersey. You can also include reasons why you are against the death penalty, such as:

The New Jersey Death Penalty Study Commission recommended replacing the death penalty with life without parole.
Capital punishment is not an effective deterrent.
Killing is wrong, whether it done by individuals or the state.
Wrongful executions can not be corrected, and we can never be one-hundred percent sure that a condemned prisoner is guilty because courts have convicted innocent people.
Revenge does not bring the victims of violent crime back.
Supposedly “humane” execution methods such as lethal injection can result in agonizing deaths.

Please also keep an eye out for media coverage of this issue and send in letters to newspapers supporting the abolition of capital punishment!

Help Launch 86 Days of Action Against Torture! Rally in Princeton This Saturday!

This Wednesday marks the first anniversary of the Military Commissions Act, which denies the fundamental right of habeas corpus to anyone the government says is an “unlawful enemy combatant.” It further undermines the fundamental right to due process by allowing the use of so-called “evidence” obtained through physically and psychological abusive techniques—information that is clearly unreliable.

Fortunately, Wednesday also marks the beginning of Amnesty’s 86 Days of Act against torture, which runs until the sixth anniversary of the transfer of prisoners to Guantánamo. I will be speaking in at a rally in Princeton this Saturday, October 20th, at 12 noon. Rev. Robert Moore of the NJ Coalition for Peace Action will also be speaking I hope you can join us at Princeton Borough Hall!

As you may recall, Amnesty took part in a national day of action to support legislation to correct the damage done by the Military Commissions Act. We have seen some important progress. The Senate came very close to attaching an amendment restoring habeas corpus to the Defense Authorization Bill, but failed to overcome a filibuster. Congress has also forced the Bush Administration to release documents proving that, despite its claims to the contrary, our government has continued to physically and psychologically abuse prisoners with stress positions, sleep deprivation, and waterboarding (simulated drowning).

Please check back for information about hosting a screening of the new docmumentary, The Ghosts of Abu Ghraib.

National Week of Action on Treaty for the Rights of Women (CEDAW)!!!!

This week, activists across the nation are urging the Senate to support ratification of the Treaty for the Rights of Women -- officially the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women or CEDAW.

The United States played an important role in drafting this treaty, which is the most complete international agreement for basic human rights of women. 185 countries have ratified it. Yet the U.S. remains one of the 8 countries that have not done so—along with Sudan, Somalia, Qatar, Iran, Nauru, Palau and Tonga. Until our government ratifies CEDAW, it credibly demand that others live up to their obligations under the Treaty.

Please call the offices of Senator Lautenberg (202-224-3224) and Senator Menendez (202- 224-4744) to urge them to help move this important treaty toward ratification!

Please begin by thanking both Senators for supporting S Res 178 on gender-based violence in Guatemala, as well as their support for women and other civilian victims in Darfur!

Please then urge both Senators to support efforts to finally ratify the Treaty for the Rights of Women (CEDAW). Here are some specific actions to suggest:

· Insert a statement in support of CEDAW in the Congressional Record.
· Send a short letter to Senators Joseph Biden (D-DE) and Richard Lugar (R-IN), Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, encouraging hearings and a vote in Committee on the Treaty.
· Make a brief statement on the Senate floor in support of CEDAW ratification.
· Write to Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), asking them to make the Treaty a priority and help build support for Senate ratification.

You may also wish to mention that the following NJ Congressmen have cosponsored H Res 101, a resolution calling for the Senate to ratify the Treaty for the Rights of Women (CEDAW):

· Representative Rush Holt
· Representative Frank Pallone
· Representative Bill Pascrell
· Representative Donald Payne
· Representative Steve Rothman
· Representative Albio Sires

NYT Editorial Supporting Habeas Legislation

Today's New York Times has an editorial, Restoring American Justice, supporting Senate legislation restoring the right to Habeas Corpus that the Military Commission's Act took away from anyone identified as an "unlawfal enemy combatant" under the vague criteria of the Bush Administration.

Both Senator Lautenbuerg and Senator Menendez are already cosponsors of this important legislation.

BOTH NJ Senators Onboard Resolution Against Gender-Based Violence in Guatemala!

I just checked Thomas (the on-line congressional database) and found that Senator Frank Lautenberg has become a cosponsor of S Res 178, the resolution condemnng violence against women in Guatemala! Amnesty International greatly appreciate's Senator Lautenberg's support for this important resolution, as well as Senator Menendez's earlier decision to support it.

Thanks also to everyone who contacted their offices about this issue!

Update--NJ Delegations to Support Ratification of Women's Rights Treaty

There is a delegation being organized to meet with the Newark office(s) of Senator Lautenberg and/or Senator Menedez as part of Amnesty's national mobilization to support ratification of the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). Click here if you are interested in taking part!

From our friends at New Jerseyans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty

Dear Friends,

After seven years of tireless and dedicated work, we are nearing the finish line.

As you may have read in media reports, the death penalty abolition bill is expected to be considered when the New Jersey State Legislature returns from the summer/fall break in November.

Because the legislative term ends in January of next year, this means that the abolition bill will need to go through several steps in less than 8 weeks.

As always, we will need to work together to insure that the bill is signed into law. We are going to again ask you to reach out to your legislators to ensure they do the right thing. NJADP is now scheduling special "letter writing sessions" to generate letters to state legislators. These sessions are great opportunities for local groups to be updated on the status of the abolition bill and to take action at the same time. They start with a five minute presentation by an NJADP staff member or volunteer, followed by about 25 minutes of letter writing.

Many of you held these letter writing sessions during the 2005 moratorium/study bill campaign. We ask that you call now to schedule one for the abolition bill this fall. NJADP can even bring stationary and stamps! Please contact Abe at NJADP's Trenton office ASAP at 609-278-6719 or abe@njadp.org for more information or to schedule a session.

The last seven years have been rewarding and inspiring. New Jersey is the leading state in the abolition movement because New Jerseyans like you have spoken up in record numbers. Because of our hard work, this summer, I was named by the web site www.politicsnj.com to their list of the 100 most politically powerful people in New Jersey. While I may be the face of NJADP most seen by legislators and the public, your strength of conviction and commitment to justice and sensible public policy is the real power behind this movement.

Collectively we have become a powerful force for change. Now it is time to take our grassroots voices to the State House for one last campaign.

If together we do our job well - and I have no doubt we will - we will guide New Jersey out of the darkness of state executions once and for all. We will also create what many are predicting will be the most important turning point moment on capital punishment in our nation's history.

We look forward to hearing from you over the coming weeks about the letter writing sessions.

Thank you.

In peace,

Celeste

PS - We are preparing now for action on the abolition bill later this year - so that we can be as ready as possible to turn out supporters for hearings and voting sessions. As you know, there is often only a few days notice before a hearing or a vote. We are currently developing a list of individuals who would like to be notified by telephone when the bill is scheduled to be considered. If you would like to be sure you are on that list, please contact Abe at abe@njadp.org or 609-278-6719.

Celeste Fitzgerald
Director, New Jerseyans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty
973-635-6396 Chatham Office
609-278-6719 Trenton Office
www.njadp.org

Senator Menendez Cosponsors Resolution on Violence Against Women in Guatemala!

I just spoke with Senator Robert Menendez's office. Although it has not yet appeared on Thomas (the official legislative database on the web), he has signed on as a cosponsor to S Res 178, the resolution condemning the epidemic of gender based violence in Guatemala and calling upon the Guatemalan governemnt to take serious action to protect women and girls!

Amnesty International greatly appreciate's Senator Menendez's support for this important meassure. Thanks also to everyone who contacted his office about this issue!

I will let you know when I hear something from Senator Frank Lautenberg's office.

Urge Senators Lautenberg & Menendez to Support Ratification of the Treaty for the Rights of Women

As I mentioned last month, Amnesty is organizing a week of visits to Senate offices across the country during the week of September 24 to urge them to support ratification of the Convention on All Forms of Descrimination Against Women (CEDAW--the Treaty for Women's Rights).

Unfortunately, the United States is one of the few countries that has not yet ratified this important instrument for protecting women's rights. It's time we finally did so! It would be especially great if you could volunteer to organize a meeting with one of the in-state offices of Senator Lautenberg (Newark or Camden) and/or Senator Menendez (Newark or Barrington). Amensty will provide training and materials to make your visit a success. And I would be happy to help out too!

Click here to volunteer to organize a delegation!

Article on Gender-Based Violence in Guatemala

As you know, Amnesty is urging the Senate to support S Res 178 on the epidemic of violence against women in Guatemala. You might want to check out Michael Parenti and Lucia Muñoz's article Gender Savagery in Guatemala on the North American Congress on Latin America (NACLA) website. (This is not an Amnesty International document)

Once again, please contact the offices of Senator Lautenburg and Senator Menendez about this important issue!

Support Senate Resolution on Violence Against Women in Guatemala!

This spring, activists from Amnesty International and other groups helped secure passage of H Res 100, a House resolution condemning the epidemic of violence against women in Guatemala and urging the Guatemalan government to take serious measures to protect women and girls.

Senator Bingaman (D-NM) has recently introduced a similar measure, S Res 178. Please call the offices of Senator Lautenberg (202-224-3224) and Senator Menendez (202-224-4744) and make the following points:

1. Over 2,500 women and girls have been murdered in Guatemala since 2001.
2. Many of them were also the victims of sexual violence.
3. Few cases have been investigated, and even fewer have bee brought to trial. Only a handful of cases have resulted in the conviction of the killers.
4. Please cosponsor Senator Binghamton’s S Res 178 to send a strong message to Guatemalan government that the U.S. Senate and its constituents value women’s lives and want to see justice done in these murders.
   

There is also an online action available.

Upcoming Mobilization to Support Women's Rights!

Near the end of September, activist around the country will participate in a week of action to urge the U.S. Senate to finally ratify the Convention for the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), which is also known a s the Treaty for the Rights of Women.

If you are in a student group, this mobilization will take place within a month of your return to classes. It would therefore help if you could begin including it in your plans for the semester and put it on the agenda for your first meeting.

Please check back here for more information on this action!

Update on Senate Habeas Corpus Vote

Senators Specter and Leahy have introduced the amendment to the Defense Authorization bill to restore the right to habeas corpus as S.A. 2022. It appears that Senate is likely to vote on this amendment this week, perhaps as early as Tuesday.

Please call the offices of Senator Lautenberg (202-224-3224) and Senator Menendez (202-224-4744) and make the following points:

1. Thank you for supporting S. 185, the Habeas Corpus Restoration Act!
2. I am glad that you share my concern for protecting the constitutional right to challenge the fact and conditions of one’s detention.
3. Please vote in favor of S.A. 2022, the bipartisan amendment to S. 1547 (the Department of Defense Authorization bill) introduced by Senators Arlen Specter and Patrick Leahy to restore habeas corpus.

Restoring Habeas Corpus Coming to a Vote in the Senate!

Both of New Jersey’s senators have already cosponsored S. 185, the Habeas Corpus Restoration Act of 2007. One of the problems, of course, is that President Bush could veto this bill if it is passed on its own. Senators Specter and Leahy are therefore going to introduce a motion to attach it to the Defense Authorization bill, a piece of legislation that the president is unlikely to veto.

Please call the offices of Senator Lautenberg (202-224-3224) and Senator Menendez (202-224-4744) and make the following points:
1. Thank you for supporting S. 185, the Habeas Corpus Restoration Act!
2. I am glad that you share my concern for protecting the constitutional right to challenge the fact and conditions of one’s detention.
3. Please vote in favor of the bipartisan amendment to S. 1547 (the Department of Defense Authorization bill) introduced by Senators Arlen Specter and Patrick Leahy to restore habeas corpus.

Habeas Corpus Letter in 7/9/2007 Star-Ledger

The Star-Ledger finally published my letter about the June 26th Day of Action to Restore Habeas Corpus.

Unfortunately, the online version is not formatted well. Look for “Restoring habeas corpus” on the same line as the signature for the letter from James Baukney of Pennsauken. It is above the letter (clearly) titled “Polls might help.”

Media Coverage of Bloomfield Demonstration on Habeas Corpus

In addition to everyone who turned out to rally and lobby in support of habeas corpus in Washington, activists across the country took part in the day of action in their home communities. It is great to see that the Star Ledger covered the demonstration organized by the Amnesty members from Bloomfield High School and their local allies! You can read more about it at Young local activists stand up for global justice.

Thanks again to everyone who has helped out—and please keep up the pressure!

Report from the Day of Action in DC

Yesterday, I joined roughly four thousand activists from all fifty states to tell Congress to restore the right to habeas corpus and undo other damage created by the Military Commissions Act of 2006. I rode down in a packed bus that left New York City around 6:00 a.m. We arrived in DC shortly before 11:00. The rally in the Upper Senate Park went very well. It was especially great to hear from Members of Congress who have taken the lead by introducing the legislation we were there to support. Sister Dianna Ortiz’s testimony as a torture survivor was both moving and helpful in preparing for the lobbying visits later in the day. And, as usual, it was great to hear from Amnesty’s Executive Director, Larry Cox.

Following the rally, everyone broke into state delegations to coordinate the afternoon of lobbying. Those of us from New Jersey all met with Senator Robert Menendez at 2:00. There were so many constituents involved that the meeting had to take place on the steps of the Capitol! The Senator also discussed ideas he has for advancing S 576 (The Restoring the Constitution Act).

As you may recall, Amnesty was especially eager to meet with Congressman Robert Andrews’s office. Unfortunately, however, there was no meeting scheduled. I stopped by his office with one of his constituents and dropped off some relevant AI literature, but the staff person we needed to speak with was not there.

I then joined a meeting with Congressman Rush Holt’s office that was already in progress. As you may know, Holt had already agreed to cosponsor HR 1415 and HR 1416. The room was packed with his grateful constituents. They were also interested in learning more about Holt’s new role heading an intelligence panel on the Appropriations Committee. While Congressman Holt was tied up during most of the meeting, he was able to stop by and briefly speak with us.

At 3:30, I met with my own Representative, Albio Sires. The meeting went well. He indicated that he shared our concerns and promised to look into the legislation.

My final meeting of the day was with Congressman Scott Garrett’s office. Unfortunately, a change of schedule prevented Garrett from joining us himself. I joined several of Garrett’s constituents a large group of high school students from Elizabeth in a meeting with the appropriate member of his staff. She informed us that Garrett believes that he did was correct to vote for the Military Commissions Act, but would listen to our concerns.

Thanks to everyone who made it to DC yesterday! Your participation showed our state’s congressional delegation just how important habeas corpus and other human rights issues are to the people of New Jersey.

Those of you who were unable to come yesterday can still help out! Please call your Representative and urge him to cosponsor the Restoring the Constitution Act (HR 1415) and the Habeas Corpus Restoration Act (HR 1416)! If possible, try to set up an in-district meeting with him during the upcoming 4th of July holiday recess—and please feel free to contact me at lladutke@yahoo.com for help!

National Week of Action to Restore Habeas Corpus!

The national week of action to restore Habeas Corpus is here! Activists across the country are meeting with their House and Senator offices to urge them to support legislation restoring the right to habeas corpus and correcting other provisions of the Military Commissions Act that undermine the rights guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution. On Tuesday, Amnesty will help bring activists down to Washington, DC for a demonstration and day of lobbying!

These efforts will be even more successful, of course, if activists such as you call Congess and ask them to support HR 1416 (The Restoring Habeas Corpus Act) and HR 1415 (The Restoring the Constitution Act). You can find out the name and contact information of your House member by entering your zip code at www.house.gov.

Congressmen Rush Holt and Steve Rothman are the only two New Jersey House members who have already signed on. We especially need calls from Congressman Robert Andrews’s constituents!

You can refer to the recent Associated Press Article, “Army Officer Says Gitmo Panels Flawed,” which gives Lt. Colonel Stephen Abraham’s inside account of the need to reestablish the judicial oversight built into our nation’s system of checks and balances.

Please also remind your congressional office that Tuesday is the International Torture Victims and Survivors Day. Without the right to habeas corpus, prisoners are unable to challenge the conditions of their detention, even if they amount to torture. The Military Commissions Act also allows the use of unreliable information gathered through techniques that amount to torture.

Rush Holt Joins Steven Rothman in Supporting the Restoration of Habeas Corpus!

Congressman Rush Holt [NJ-12] has become the second House member from New Jersey to support Hr 1415, the Restoring the Constitution Act of 2007, and HR 1416, the Habeas Corpus Restoration Act of 2007! These two bills would reverse much of the damage created by the Military Commissions Act, including the denial of habeas corpus—the basic right to challenge one’s detention before an independent court—to non-citizens. Restoration of this right, in turn, would be a key step toward preventing further acts of torture and the other forms of cruel and inhumane treatment that have been committed at Guantanamo and other U.S.-run prisons.

It’s great to know that two of our state’s House members are already onboard this important legislation. ! If you live in either of their districts, please thank Congressmen Holt and Rothman! If you don’t, please help us convince the rest of New Jersey’s House members to join them! Amnesty is currently working with other human rights organizations for a week of mobilization in support of these bills, including rally and day of lobbying in Washington as well as meetings with local district offices. Click HERE to help out!

Busses to June 26th Habeas Action in DC

Amnesty is joining forces with the ACLU and other organizations to organize a day of rallying and lobbying in Washington, DC to restore the right to Habeas Corpus. The ACLU has posted information of free buses for those interested in going to DC.

There are buses leaving from the following loactions in New Jersey:

New Jersey: Newark/ElizabethDeparts: Tue. 6/26, 5:30am
Exact location to be determined
New Jersey: Trenton/PrincetonDeparts: Tue. 6/26, 5:30am
Exact location to be determined


Those of you in Northern Jersey might also consider taking a bus from NYC:

New York: New York City - 125 Broad StreetDeparts: Tue. 6/26, 5:00am
125 Broad Street No personal parking available
New York: New York City - Union SquareDeparts: Tue. 6/26, 5:00am
Union Square E. @ 16th St.No personal parking available
New York: New York City - Upper West SideDeparts: Tue. 6/26, 5:00am
Exact location to be determined No personal parking available


Those in Central/Southern Jersey may want to catch the bus from Pennsylvania:

Pennsylvania: PhiladelphiaDeparts: Tue. 6/26, 6:00am
Exact location to be determined No personal parking

Remember, we are also organizing in-district meetings with congressional offices during that week! You don't have to leave Jersey to help protect the U.S. Constitution.

NYT Week in Review on Roots of Bush Administration Torture

The current Week in Review section of the New York Times has a good article on the origins of the torture and other inhumane “interrogation techniques” that the Bush Administration has used and defended as part of the “war on terror.” Not only does it show that the U.S. government copied these abusive methods from its former totalitarian rival, but also that it has a long track record of criticizing these methods as torture when used by the Soviet Union. You can read “They’ll Say Anything: Soviet-Style ‘Torture’ Becomes ‘Interrogation’” online.

Please remember that this is Torture Awareness Month! Amnesty is joining forces with other human rights groups to convince Congress to restore the right to habeas corpus, an essential safeguard against the practices described in this article. Click here to find out how you can help!

Week of Action—Restore Habeas Corpus

As I previously posted, Amnesty is teaming up with other human rights organizations for a week of lobbying to restore the right to habeas corpus. By eliminating this right for anyone the administration labels an “enemy combatant,” the Military Commissions Act has put a legal face on the unconstitutional practice of indefinitely holding prisoners without charges and without any opportunity to challenge their detention before an independent court. Unfortunately, past experience has shown that these circumstances create extremely favorable conditions for torture and other forms of cruel and inhuman treatment—which also violates the U.S. Constitution!

On June 26, the International Day in Support of Torture Victims, activists from around the country will gather in DC demonstrate, learn how to lobby, and then meet with their congressional offices. There is a possibility that Amnesty may be able to provide bus transportation for those interested in taking part! This will be a great opportunity to speak with the people who help set policy on human rights issues and to show them how much you care about our Constitution.

If you can’t make it to DC, we are also organizing meetings with local congressional offices throughout the week of June 26.

Click here to find out more and volunteer to take part in these activities—as a delegation leader or member.

Those of us in New Jersey have a lot of work to do on this issue. So far, Congressmen Steve Rothman [NJ12] is the only one of thirteen House members who has cosponsored the relevant legislation! Both of New Jersey’s senators have cosponsored the Restoring the Constitution Act. While Senator Frank Lautenberg has agreed to support the Habeas Corpus Restoration Act, however, Senator Robert Menendez has not yet done so.

I have also been told that getting Congressman Robert Andrews [NJ1] onboard is going to be especially important! Help from his constituents would therefore be greatly appreciated!

Larry Ladutke
NJ Legislative Coordinator, AIUSA

Torture Awareness Month Activities: Restore Habeas Corpus!

It’s almost June, Torture Awareness Month. Once again, AIUSA will be teaming up with other human rights groups to press Congress to take action against torture and the policies that lead to it. Following the passage of the Military Commissions Act of 2006, this year's activities are more important than ever! We are going to be focusing on legislation to restore the fundamental right to habeas corpus. Without this right, prisoners can be held indefinitely without every being charged with a crime. Worse yet, lack of access to independent courts creates the perfect conditions for torture and other forms of cruel and inhuman treatment!

On June 26th, Torture Victims and Survivors Day, there will be a rally and day of lobbying in Washington. You do not need to have any previous experience—training will be provided. It also appears likely that we will be organizing buses to take people down!

We’re also going to organize a week of meetings with local congressional offices.

I know many of you are students who are nearing the end of another academic year. Please try to stay in touch with the members of your group so that as many people as possible can take part in these important actions. You can also check back here or at www.aiusa.org and for information as it becomes available.

Press Release on China & Darfur from Sentaor Menendez

You can find out more about Senator Menendez's statements yesterday by reading CONGRESSIONAL PROPOSAL TO OFFICIALLY PRESSURE CHINA ON GENOCIDE IN DARFUR at his website. [Note: Amnesty International has not taken a position on whether or not the ongoing atrocities in Darfur constitute genocide. Whether or not they constitute genocide, the ongoing war crimes and violations of international humanitarian law must stop immediately.]

The release also contains statements by NJ Representative Chris Smith, who is introducing a resolution on this issue in the House. There are links to the text of both the Senate and House resolution, as well as video of Senator Menendez's statements before the Senate.

NJ Senator Menendez Calls Upon China to Take Further Action on Darfur

I have heard that NJ Senator Robert E. Menendez has just made some very strong statements calling on China to help end the ongoing attrocities in Darfur. As you know, Amnesty recently completed a nationwide campaign to support congressional letters urging Chinese President Hu to help pursuade Sudanese President Al-Bashir to allow UN peacekeepers into Darfur. It is great to conitnue to see New Jersey politicians taking leadersip on this important issue!

Please see Menendez to introduce Darfur measure from Gannette for further information.

The Record Published my Letter on Capital Punishment

The Record published the letter that I wrote in response to state Senator Gerald Cardinal's pro-death penalty editorial.

Please keep writing letters supporting legislation to abolish capital punishment in New Jersey!

NJ Prosecutors Tried to Kill an Innocent Man

Please see the press release from the Innocence Project below. This offers clear evidence that there is indeed a real possibility of executing innocent people!

Please look for articles on this in Wednesday's papers and write letters to the editor expressing your support for legislation abolishing the death penalty.

Larry Ladutke


After 19 Years in Prison for One of the Most Heinous Crimes in NJ History, Byron Halsey Is Proven Innocent through DNA

DNA indicates that another man – who testified against Halsey two decades ago – is the actual perpetrator; Halsey’s conviction set to be vacated today

(ELIZABETH, NJ; May 15, 2007) – New DNA tests prove that Byron Halsey, who narrowly escaped the death penalty when he was convicted in 1988 of the brutal sexual assault and murders of two young children, is innocent and should be released from prison, the Innocence Project said today. At a hearing today in New Jersey state court, a judge is expected to grant a joint motion to vacate Halsey’s conviction filed by the Innocence Project and the Union County District Attorney’s Office.

The motion to vacate the conviction says that DNA testing on several key pieces of evidence used to convict Halsey actually indicates the guilt of another man, Cliff Hall, who is already in prison for several other sex crimes in New Jersey and who testified against Halsey during his trial. In March 1988, Halsey was convicted of several charges stemming from the November 1985 murders of a seven-year-old girl and an eight-year-old boy he was raising with his girlfriend; Hall, who lived next door to the family, had dropped Halsey off across town and then returned home on the night the children were brutally killed.

“Today, we can say with scientific certainty that Byron Halsey is innocent. Every piece of physical evidence connects Cliff Hall, not Byron Halsey, to these murders,” said Vanessa Potkin, Staff Attorney at the Innocence Project, which is affiliated with Cardozo School of Law at Yeshiva University. “It has taken more than two decades, but DNA has finally revealed the truth in this case.”

The physical evidence that was subjected to DNA testing over the last 14 months includes key evidence that was used at Halsey’s trial (when advanced DNA testing was not available):

• Semen on the seven-year-old girl’s underwear (which was stuffed into her mouth during the rape and murder); the prosecution said during the trial that the semen came from someone with the same blood type as Halsey, but DNA testing now shows that the semen was from Cliff Hall.

• Semen at the crime scene, which was also matched to Halsey’s blood type but is actually from Cliff Hall, DNA shows.

• A cigarette butt found at the crime scene, which was central to the initial police investigation of the crimes. DNA testing shows that the cigarette butt was Cliff Hall’s.

The brutal rapes and murders of the two children were among the most horrific crimes in memory in Northern New Jersey, and the prosecution sought the death penalty for Halsey. The girl had been brutally raped, beaten and strangled to death. The boy was sexually assaulted, and a piece of cloth had been hammered into his head with large nails while his face had been slashed with scissors (it was later determined that he died as a result of the nails being hammered into his brain). In public statements in 1987 leading up to the trial, one of the public defenders who represented Halsey accused the prosecution of “encouraging a lynch mob kind of feeling.” When the jury returned a verdict convicting Halsey on multiple charges, but not on charges that would have led to a death sentence, spectators in the courtroom jeered loudly.

“With New Jersey in the middle of a serious discussion about whether the death penalty is worth its risks and costs, it is imperative that we learn the lessons of Byron Halsey’s case. The fact is that Byron Halsey is lucky he is alive to see the DNA test results in this case. The state fought hard to execute him for a crime that, two decades later, science proves he did not commit,” said Barry Scheck, Co-Director of the Innocence Project. Last week, a New Jersey Senate committee approved legislation that would abolish the death penalty in the state.

Today’s motion vacates Halsey’s conviction and releases him from prison on bond; he will live under state supervision (wearing an electronic monitoring device at all times) while the District Attorney decides whether to dismiss the indictment against him, which would officially exonerate him of the crimes. “The District Attorney’s Office has been working cooperatively with us for over a year. They agreed to conduct DNA testing, and they agreed to vacate the conviction based on the DNA results. In cases where the DNA shows our client is innocent and matches another suspect, it is not unusual for a District Attorney’s Office to conduct a careful investigation before making a decision to dismiss the indictment. We recognize the District Attorney has an obligation to conduct a full investigation, and we are hopeful that he will reach the logical conclusion and dismiss the indictment,” Potkin said.

The only remaining evidence against Halsey is a supposed confession before his trial. “In about 25% of the 201 wrongful convictions that have been overturned by DNA, people confessed or admitted to crimes that DNA later proved they did not commit. It would be a stretch to say that Byron Halsey even confessed to this crime – given the state of mind he was in, the length of the interrogation, the tactics police used, and the words he actually said,” Scheck said.

The supposed confession was so riddled with problems that by the time Halsey’s trial started, the prosecution began to argue against the confession – telling the jury that Halsey intentionally gave a flawed confession as a “passport” out of being found guilty. In fact, the “confession” was the result of 30 hours of interrogation over a 40-hour period of time during which Halsey (who has a sixth-grade education and severe learning disabilities) had little sleep. Even the detective handling the interrogation characterized Halsey’s statements as “gibberish” and noted that Halsey was in a “daze” and a “trance” most of the time. On every key fact of the crimes, Halsey gave incorrect answers during the interrogation and had to guess several times before giving police accurate answers (on everything from the location of the bodies to how they were killed). The final police statement signed by Halsey does not reflect any of those inaccuracies or the process that led to them – it only recites the information that Halsey eventually guessed correctly after numerous tries and information about the crime he received from police and repeated back in fragments. Halsey confessed to things that DNA now proves did not happen.

The events leading up to Halsey’s wrongful conviction began on November 14, 1985. Halsey was living with Margaret Urquhart and her two young children in a rooming house in Plainfield; Halsey helped support the family and raised the children as his own. Halsey worked days at PMS Consolidated, and Urquhart worked nights as a health aide. On the night of November 14, Urquhart was at work and Cliff Hall (who lived in the same building) took Halsey across town while the children were home alone. After dropping Halsey off with friends, Hall went home. Cliff Hall’s whereabouts are unaccounted for the following two hours. Halsey, meanwhile, walked home a couple of hours after Hall dropped him off (which several witnesses corroborate) and discovered that the children were missing. Throughout the night, he repeatedly called Urquhart at work and checked with several friends and relatives to see if they had the children. The next morning, the children were found in the basement of the rooming house.

From his behavior and other evidence, police suspected Cliff Hall from the beginning. But as the lengthy interrogation of Halsey progressed, leading to the supposed confession, police stopped investigating Hall. By the time Halsey’s trial began, nearly three years later, Hall was called as a witness for the prosecution. Even though his testimony was contradicted by other witnesses, it was damaging to Halsey’s case. Halsey’s attorneys, both public defenders, presented evidence of Halsey’s alibi and argued strongly that his supposed confession was not valid. Regardless, the jury convicted him. Halsey – who had actually been born in prison in New Jersey to a mother who was convicted of fornication and essentially put in prison for being pregnant – was sentenced to two consecutive life terms, plus 20 years, in prison.

Cliff Hall committed three separate sex crimes in Plainfield during an 11-month period in 1991-1992. In June 1991, he grabbed an 18-year-old woman from behind on a street and, holding a knife to her throat, orally, vaginally and anally raped her for up to three hours. Three months later, he abducted a 19-year-old woman and took her to a building where he repeatedly and violently raped her vaginally and anally for two hours. Several months after that, he punched and attempted to rape a 26-year-old woman as she walked toward a train station in Plainfield. Hall pled guilty to all three of these crimes (all off which were committed while Halsey was in prison for the murders that DNA now indicates Hall committed).

Nationwide, 201 people have been exonerated through DNA testing, according to the Innocence Project. As in Halsey’s case, DNA in more than 37% of the exoneration cases also helped identify the true perpetrator of the crimes. Four of the 201 exonerations were in New Jersey. Raymond M. Brown of Greenbaum, Rowe, Smith & Davis in Woodbridge is co-counsel with the Innocence Project on Halsey’s case.

##

Further Impact of Darfur Letters!

See China names special envoy for Darfur for more information about the impact of the congressional letters we supported! Once again, thanks to everyone who helped get 8 of NJ Congressmen and both of our Senators to sign these letter!

China Reacts to Congressional Letters on Darfur

You can read news coverage of the congressional letters to urging China to convince Sudan to allow UN peacekeepers into Darfur.

China's reaction shows how important our work on this initiative has been. While the Chinese government continues to try to deny its damaging role in the Darfur crisis, the fact is that it has taken positive steps only in response to international pressure--including anticipation of these letters! Also, the fact the Chinese government is concerned enough to put out this PR campaign shows that it is in fact concerned about its image.

Online Action to Restore Habeas Corpus

From Kevin Spidel in the DC office:

Help protect people from abuse and arbitrary detention! Habeas Corpus is a right that has been around since before the United States existed. It is the most basic and fundamental protection against arbitrary detention and other human rights abuses, and Congress has taken it away from any non-US citizen in US custody that the President designates an "enemy combatant."
Now, even lawful permanent residents who are in the US can be held without the simple opportunity to go to and independent court and ask the government to show it has a basis for holding them. People who have languished in Guantanamo for more than five years cannot get any substantive review of their detention. The United States has become a country that can hold people without charge, without hope and without end. I know this is not the America you believe in.

Take action now and tell you Senators and Representatives that this cannot stand. Ask them to restore this cornerstone of justice and due process by removing the prohibition on habeas corpus passed by the Congress and signed by the President last fall. Let them know that the United States is a nation of laws, and that no one should be held indefinitely on the judgment of one man. Let them know that this is not the America you believe in.
Help restore habeas corpus rights! Take action »

Sincerely,
Kevin Spidel
Project Manager, Denounce Torture Initiative
Amnesty International USA

8 out of 13 NJ Congressmen Sign the Lantos-Smith-Payne-Wolfe Letter on Darfur

The following NJ Congressmen signed the letter calling upon Chinese President Hu to help convince the Sudanese government to allow UN peacekeepers into Darfur:

Robert Andrews (1st District)
Jim Saxton (3rd District)
Chris Smith (4th District)
Scott Garret (5th District)
Bill Pascrell (8th District)
Donald Payne (9th District)
Rush Holt (10th District)
Albio Sires (13th District)

That’s 61.5%! Nationally,103 out 435 House members (23.7%) signed on. New Jersey is well above average! Our state also has the honor of being represented by two of the four authors, Chris Smith and Donald Payne.

Amnesty is very grateful to all members of both chambers that signed these important letters, as well as everyone who contacted Congress about this issue.

House Passes Resolution on Violence Against Women in Guatemala!

Earlier this week, the U.S. House of Representatives approved H.Res. 100, Congresswoman Hilda Solis's resolution condemning gender-based violence in Guatemala and calling upon the Guatemalan government to take meaningful action to protect women and girls! You can read the press release on Solis's website.

Once again, Amnesty International greatly appreciates New Jersey Congressmen Andrews, Holt, Payne, Rothman, and Sires for cosponsoring this resolution. Thanks also to everyone who made calls to Congress about this issue!

Look for information about the corresponding Senate resolution in the near future!

From Our Friends at NJADP--Death Penalty Hearing 5/10

[Note: You can find out how to contact your NJ State Senator by using the links located on the rights side of this page.]

BREAKING NEWS: The Death Penalty Abolition bill is scheduled to be heard by the Senate Judiciary Committee next week, Thurs., May 10 at 10am. We need you to attend the hearing!

Dear Friends,

All issues have a moment when they are made or broken. That moment is here for the death penalty in New Jersey. What happens in Trenton on May 10 will help determine whether we make history and guide the nation toward justice and life. If we do not succeed on May 10, we face an uncertain future that may include executions being carried out in our state and in our names.

The hearing and vote is set for May 10 at 10AM in committee room 4 on the first floor of the State House Annex in Trenton. It is vitally important that you attend to show support for abolition. If you can, please let us know if you plan to attend by sending an email to NJADP at abe@njadp.org or call us at 609-278-6719. Please wear your NO EXECUTIONS buttons to the hearing! (We will also have some on hand.)

Please also call your State Senator. We need to ask our senators not only to support the abolition bill but also to speak up in favor of it. In other words, we need our leaders who support abolition to lead the way!

It is difficult to convey just how important this hearing is for the effort to end New Jersey's death penalty. Among the remaining few steps for the death penalty abolition bill, I believe this one before the Senate Judiciary Committee is the defining one. This vote will set the course for the rest of the abolition bill's journey to Governor Corzine's desk.

This is also a defining moment for NJADP. In 1999, when Lorry Post, a parent of a murdered daughter, called together a handful of people for our first meeting, we pledged that we would work together until the death penalty was abolished. We spoke then about our hope that New Jerseyans who respect and value life and justice would never have to hold candles at a vigil on the eve of an execution. We said that in place of vigils, we would instead hold educational forums and attend meetings with legislators. Now, seven years after that moment of commitment, we stand on the verge of making history.

Please join me in the Senate Judiciary Committee Room on May 10 and please call your Senator today.

In peace, Celeste

Celeste Fitzgerald
Director, New Jerseyans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty
973-635-6396 Chatham Office
609-278-6719 Trenton Office
www.njadp.org

Darfur House Letter Update

So far, I know that NJ Representatives Holt, Pascrell, and Sires have indicated that they will sign the letter urging China to help convince Sudan to allow UN peacekeepers into Darfur. Counting Congressmen Payne and Smith--who are circulating the letter--that means at least five of our state's House members are onboard.

If you add in our Senators, who have both signed the corresponding letter in their chamber, at least seven out of fifteen total members of New Jersey's congressional delegation have helped out so far!

NJ Reps Smith & Payne Join Lantos & Wolfe to Introduce House Letter on Darfur!

The House letter urging China to help convince President Al-Bashir to allow UN peacekeepers into Darfur is now being circulated. We have previously referred to this as the Lantos letter. Those of us in New Jersey can now proudly call it the Lantos-Smith-Payne-Wolfe letter! Congressmen Chris Smith (NJ4), Donald Payne (NJ10), and Frank Wolfe (VA10) have joined Tom Lantos of California in introducing this important letter!

If you have not already done so, please contact your member of the House and ask him to sign the Lantos-Smith-Payne-Wolfe letter!

Torture Awareness Month is Almost Here!

I had the opportunity to meet the new Denounce Torture Program Manager while I was at Amnesty’s DC office last Friday. As you may know, June 26th is the annual United Nations Day in Support of Torture Victims and Survivors. Last June, Amnesty joined with a broad coalition of organizations to mobilize support for the Torture Outsourcing Prevention Act.

Since then, Congress has passed the Military Commissions Act of 2006. This law contains provisions that directly and indirectly undermine the right to physical, mental, and emotional integrity of the person (protection against torture), such as

-the elimination of habeas corpus appeals for all so-called “enemy combatants”
-the admissibility of evidence obtained through cruel and inhuman interrogation methods
-impunity for those who have committed or authorized torture.

It is therefore extremely urgent for Amnesty, its supporters, and other organizations to make our voices heard this June. Please check back here for more information as soon as it becomes available.

If you are part of a student chapter, please make plans to stay connected after the school year ends so that you can take part in this important mobilization.

Darfur Letter Update / Amnesty Report on China

As of Friday, 96 members of the Senate have agreed to sign the Biden-Lugar letter urging China to help convince the Sudanese government to allow peacekeepers into Darfur! As previously mentioned, NJ Senators Lautenberg and Menendez have already agreed to sign on.

There has been some delay in circulating the corresponding letter in the House of Representatives. As you know, however, hundreds activists around the country have already urged their congressmen to sign it. I will post any information I receive about the status of the this letter.

Amnesty International continues to be very concerned about human rights problems within China. The London office has just released a report documenting the Chinese government’s failure to fulfill its promises to improve conditions in preparation for the 2008 Summer Olympics.

Cluster Munitions Update

While I was checking on the status of S 549, I noticed that there is now a corresponding House bill to limit the use and sale of cluster weapons. Congressman James McGovern introduced HR 1755 in late March. As you know, many of the "bomblets" released by these weapons fail to explode upon impact and thus create minefields that kill civilians for years to come. Children are especially vulnerable because they mistake the brightly colored "bomblets" for toys.

Unfortunately, no members of the New Jersey congressional delegation have cosponsored either of these important pieces of legislation. We'll have to work on that!

(Note: I had the honor of interviewing McGovern for my dissertation in early 2001. He served as Congressman Joe Moakely's aide during the investigation of the 1989 masacre at the Jesuit university in El Salvador. Once elected, he continued to play an important role in the Salvadoran peace process and other human rights issues.)

Eritrea Letter Update--Three NJ Representatives Onboard

I have just found out that NJ Congressmen Bill Pascrell and Steven Rothman have signed the Udall-Kirk letter concerning the troubling situation in Eritrea, including the reported death of AI focus case Fessahaye Yohannes.

Congressman Rush Holt has previously agreed to sign this important initiative. Amnesty International is very grateful to all signers and hopes that this action will contribute to the safe release of Yohannes' fellow journalists who remain in prison.

Menendez joins Lautenberg in Signing Darfur Letter!

I have just received an updated list of the signers of the Biden-Lugar letter urging China to persuade Sudan to allow UN peacekeepers into Darfur. So far, we have 51 out of 100 senators onboard! New Jersey has done even better, though—Senator Robert Menendez has joined Senator Lautenberg in agreeing to sign. Amnesty greatly appreciates their support for this important initiative. Thanks to everyone who contacted them about this letter!

There has been a bit of delay in getting out the corresponding letter in the House. As a result, no one has been able to sign on to it so far. We have, however, been hearing positive reactions from many House offices. If you have not done so already, please give call your representative’s office!

Representative Sires Joins the Stand Against Gender-Based Violence in Guatemala

Amnesty International is very grateful to learn that Congressman Albio Sires has signed on as a cosponsor to HRes 100, the resolution on violence against women in Guatemala! He joins New Jersey Representatives Andrews, Holt, Payne, and Rothman.

Let's NOT get off China's back until the people of Darfur are safe!

"Also piling on the pressure were the Hu Jintao told Sudan's leader during a visit in February that he must give the United Nations a bigger role in trying to resolve the conflict in Darfur. Last month, a senior Chinese diplomat visited a refugee camp in Darfur, a clear signal that Beijing was concerned. China's new message to Khartoum appears to be 'help us get these people off our back,' said John Prendergast of the International Crisis Group."

ALFRED de MONTESQUIOU, Associated Press Writer
World awaits Sudan's next move in Darfur published April 17, 2007

WE are the people on China's back. The pressure is working! Let's make sure the Chinese government understands that we will NOT get off of its back until Sudanese President Al-Bashir accepts the full contingent of UN peacekeeping troops to protect the people of Darfur. If you haven't done so, please call Senator Menendez and your member of the House and urge them to sign the Biden-Lugar (Senate) and Lantos (House) letters to Chinese President Hu!

Sen. Lautenberg Agrees to Sign Darfur Letter!

I still don't have any news on who has agreed to sign the House letter urging China to pressure the Sudanese government to accept UN peacekeepers. There is, however, good news about the Senate letter! 27 senators, including NJ Senator Frank Lautenberg, have said they will sign it! Amnesty International greatly appreciates his support for this important initiative and hopes that the rest of New Jersey's congressional delegation will follow his lead.

There's even more good news. Right before our week of lobbying official began, China started making statements about Sudanese President Al-Bashir's need to be more "flexible" on the issue of UN peacekeepers. Today, Al-Bashir announced that Sudan will allow 3,000 UN troops into the region. This is an important victory for EVERYONE who has worked to stop the killing in Darufr! It is not, however, enough! The Sudanese government has backed down from previous commitments, so it is important to keep up the pressure. Furthermore, while this is a very positive development, 3,000 troops will not be enough to protect the people of Darfur. Please call your representative and Senator Menendez to urge them to sign the letters to make sure that China follows through!

Darfur Event with Congressman Chris Smith

As you know, Amnesty International greatly appreciates Congressman Chris Smith's strong record of leadership on the ongoing attrocities in Darfur. I am therefore happy to pass along the following information from his office.

(Note: Amnesty International has not taken a position on whether the human rights violations in Darfur constitute "genocide." It has, however, identified them as very serious crimes against humanity and war crimes that must end immediately.)

News Release
For Information Contact:
Office of Public Affairs April 10, 2007
Emily Weiss • 609.771.3066

Congressman Smith and a “Doctors Without Borders” Pediatrician Partner with TCNJ to Urge Advocacy on behalf of Darfur Genocide

EWING, NJ …The College of New Jersey will be hosting a free public forum on April 21st to raise awareness about the ongoing genocide in Darfur and engage local communities to advocate for an end to the violence.

The free event—which will feature U.S. Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04) and Doctors Without Borders pediatrician Dr. Jerry Ehrlich—will take place at 2 pm on April 21st in Forcina Hall 130, and is open to the public.

The genocide in Darfur, which began in 2003, has resulted in the deaths of as many as 400,000 people and the displacement of more than two million from their homes. Entire villages have been looted and destroyed, and countless men, women, and children have been murdered, abducted, raped or otherwise abused.

Last May, the Government of Sudan and the strongest faction of the Sudan Liberation Movement, one of the Darfur rebel groups, signed a peace accord. However, Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir’s resistance to a United Nations peacekeeping mission in Darfur and the rejection of the accord by smaller Darfur rebel groups has prevented the peace process to take hold.

Congressman Smith, who has traveled to Sudan and met with President al-Bashir, will discuss U.S. efforts to end the violence and aid the people of Darfur. Smith—a graduate of The College of New Jersey (when it was Trenton State)—has represented the Fourth District of New Jersey in the U.S. House of Representatives since 1981. During his tenure as Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights and International Operations, Smith chaired numerous hearings on human rights abuses in Sudan that focused on the situation in Darfur and strongly advocated for the appointment of a Presidential Special Envoy to Sudan. He led debate on the House floor and managed the passage of a package of legislative initiatives aimed at stopping the genocide and bringing relief to the people of Sudan’s Darfur region. Smith currently serves as Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health.

Dr. Ehrlich, a volunteer with Doctors Without Borders, will share his work to help children in Darfur. Dr. Ehrlich has been a practicing pediatrician for 40 years. As a volunteer for Doctors Without Borders, he has been to many of the world’s trouble spots, including Sri Lanka and Darfur. While on these missions, he brought with him paper and crayons in order to document what the children have seen and experienced. His work in Sri Lanka was featured in a documentary titled “Rice and Honey.”

A Q&A session—as well as breakout sessions on fundraising, advocacy, and awareness campaigns—will follow the presentations by Congressman Smith and Dr. Ehrlich. Break-out advocacy sessions will take place in the Kidsbridge mini-museum of tolerance (also in Forcina Hall) which features exhibits on genocide, holocausts and Darfur.This program is jointly sponsored by TCNJ’s Bonner Center for Community and Civic Engagement, Kidsbridge Children’s Museum, Lutheran Social Ministries – Refugee Program and Congressman Smith’s office.

For more information, please contact Lynne Azarchi at 609.581.0239.

###

Darfur Senate Letter Update

So far, 27 U.S. Senators have agreed to sign the Biden-Lugar letter calling on China to help convince the Sudanese government to allow UN peacekeepers into Darfur. Neither of New Jersey's Senators have done so, though! Please call their offices at 202-224-3224 (Lautenberg) and 202-224-4744 (Menendez) and urge them to join this effort!

I will let you know when we have information on who has agreed to sign the Lantos letter in the House.

We met with Congressman Sires--Please call YOUR congressional offices!

Yesterday (April 12th), Bill Volonte and I met with a member of Congressman Albio Sires’s staff in his Jersey City office. The meeting went very well and we are optimistic that Congressman Sires will sign the letter urging China to convince the Sudanese government to allow UN peacekeepers into Darfur. Naturally, we expressed our gratitude for the human rights work that Sires has already done, including joining the Human Rights Caucus and cosponsoring HR 1352, the Torture Outsourcing Prevention Act.

We also asked the staff member to follow up on an issue I had previously raised with Sires’s DC office, support for the Solis resolution on violence against women in Guatemala (HRes 100). He said that he would look into this and expressed interest in learning more about gender based violence in Guatemala and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. As you may know, Congressman Sires represents a district with a large Central American population.

Hundreds of other activists across the country are meeting with the offices of their Senators and Representatives to ask them to take action on Darfur. If you have not already done so, please contact the offices of your House member and both NJ Senators to urge them to sign on to these letters. Representatives can do so by contacting Tom Lantos’s office. Senators can contact the offices of Joe Biden and Richard Lugar.

Talking points:

-Fighting has increased in Darfur last year despite the May 2006 peace agreement. Civilians—especially women—continue to bear the brunt of the violence. This includes the widespread use of rape as a weapon.

-Two thirds of the people of Darfur do not have access to humanitarian aid because the warring parties have attacked relief organizations.

-300,000 to 400,000 civilians have died since the conflict began. Over 2.5 million people have been displaced, contributing to regional instability.

-While China has begun to pressure Sudanese President Al-Bashir, it has not done enough. As Sudan’s largest trading partner, China is in a powerful position to convince President Al-Bashir to do allow UN peacekeepers in to protect the people of Darfur and the international organizations that can help them.

NJ COSPOSNORS OF HUMAN RIGHTS LEGISLATION

The following is a list of New Jersey Representatives and Senators who have signed on as cosponsors of selected human rights legislation (Source: THOMAS, April 11, 2007). Amnesty International USA is campaigning on behalf of all of these bills except HRES 101. While AIUSA is not organizing support for HRES 101, it is campaigning for ratification of CEDAW in the Senate.

VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

HRES 100 Violence Against Women in Guatemala (4 NJ/84 Total Cosponsors)
Rep Andrews, Robert E. [NJ-1]
Rep Rothman, Steven R. [NJ-9]
Rep Payne, Donald M. [NJ-10]
Rep Holt, Rush D. [NJ-12]

HRES 101 CEDAW (Convention on the Elitmination of All Forms of Discrimnation Against Women) Ratification (6 NJ/93 Total Cosponsors)
Rep Pallone, Frank, Jr. [NJ-6]
Rep Pascrell, Bill, Jr. [NJ-8]
Rep Rothman, Steven R. [NJ-9]
Rep Payne, Donald M. [NJ-10]
Rep Holt, Rush D. [NJ-12]
Rep Sires, Albio [NJ-13]

DARFUR & RELATED CONFLICTS

SRES 76 Chad/Sudan/Central African Republic (0 NJ/12 Total Cosponsors)

“WAR ON TERROR”

HR 1352 Torture Outsourcing Prevention Act (4 NJ/48 Total Cosponsors)
Rep Rothman, Steven R. [NJ-9]
Rep Payne, Donald M. [NJ-10]
Rep Holt, Rush D. [NJ-12]
Rep Sires, Albio [NJ-13]

HR 1416 Habeas Corpus Restoration Act (1 NJ/24 Total Cosponsors)
Rep Rothman, Steven R. [NJ-9]

S 185 Habeas Corpus Restoration (1 NJ/10 Total Cosponsors)
Sen Lautenberg, Frank R.

HR 1415 Restoring the Constitution Act (1 NJ/25 Total Cosponsors)
Rep Rothman, Steven R. [NJ-9]

S 576 Restoring the Consutitution (2 NJ/11 Total Cosponsors)
Sen Lautenberg, Frank R.
Sen Menendez, Robert

Week of Lobbying on Darfur--Call Your Congressman and Senators!

Starting tomorrow (Monday, April 9th), activists across New Jersey and the rest of the nation will meet with their congressional offices to ask their Senators and Representatives to sign a letter urging the Chinese government to use its influence to facilitate the deployment of UN peacekeepers in Darfur.

You can support these efforts by calling your member of the House of Representatives to urge him to sign the letter being circulated by Congressman Tom Lantos. Please enter your zip code at www.house.gov if you need to find out who represents you and how you can contact his office!

As announced last week, Senators Joseph Biden and Richard Lugar are circulating a similar letter in their chamber. If you have not done so already, please call the offices of Senator Lautenberg (202-224-3224) and Senator Menendez (202-224-4744) and ask them to add their signatures!

Over the last year, the situation in Darfur has worsened. Only a strong message from Sudan’s closest allies—including China—will help bring improvement. Please help get peacekeepers on the ground to protect civilians and facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid as soon as possible!

I will be speaking at this event on April 15, 2007.

THE ROAD TO GUANTANAMO

On Sunday, April 15th. from 2:00 p.m. -- 5:00 p.m. AI Group 41 (Cherry Hill, NJ) will host a special screening of this movie followed by discussion and Q&A with Lawrence Ladutke, Amnesty International's Legislative Coordinator for New Jersey.

This movie is a reenactment of the capture and treatment of the British detainees at Guantanamo who were eventually released and chronicles their experiences throughout the entire ordeal.

The legal implications and human rights implications of this detention center will be highlighted and discussed afterwards.

This event will also be an ideal opportunity for you to learn more about Amnesty International and its human rights work and how you may become involved personally.

The event will be held at the Camden County Library in the 3rd. floor meeting room. This library is at 203 Laurel Road in Voorhees, opposite the Echelon Mall. Sunday, April 15th. from 2:00 p.m. -- 5:00 p.m.

Call NJ's Senators to Support UN Peacekeepers in Darfur!

As you know, activists around the country are planning a week of lobbying to get members of Congress to sign letters calling upon China to put pressure on the Sudanese government to allow UN peacekeepers into Darfur. I am happy to report that we have received the text of the letter being circulated in the Senate by Joseph Biden and Richard Lugar!

Please call the offices of Senator Menendez (202-224-4744) and Senator Lautenberg (202-224-3224) and ask them to sign these important letters!

I will post information about the House letter as soon as it becomes available.

AI Easter Actions: You Can Do More!

AIUSA has posted several actions in commemoration of Easter and Passover. They ask that you send letters or postcards of support to several human rights victims and their families.

With regard to two of the actions on the Easter list, however, you can take further action to help by supporting initiatives in Congress. In addition to sending letters to the family of Claudina Velásquez, please call your member of the House of Representatives and ask him to cosponsor HRes 100 on gender-based violence in Guatemala. This will send a strong message to the Guatemalan government that it must do more to protect women and girls like Claudina.

Please also ask your Congressman to sign a letter being circulated by Representatives Mark Steven Kirk and Mark Uduall about the situation in Eritrea. It expresses concern about the reported death of Yohannes Fessahaye in prison and calls upon the Ethiopian government to release all prisoners of conscience, such as imprisoned protestant pastors featured in the Easter action.

Congressman Chris Smith Speaks on Annual State Department Reports

Congressman Chris Smith (NJ4) addressed the Foreign Affairs today on the subject of the annual State Department human rights reports. He paid special attention to the cases of China , Sudan/Darfur, and Vietnam . His comments also provided insight into the important role that Congress can play in promoting human rights through U.S. foreign policy. Congressman Smith reminds us, for example, “most of the major human rights efforts undertaken by the United States Government in recent decades . . . . were Congressional initiatives undertaken in the face of skepticism – and sometimes outright opposition – by the Executive branch.”

Read Excerpts from Congressman Christopher H. Smith’s Opening Statement.

Rep. Holt Signs Letter on Troubling Developments in Eritrea

Congressman Rush Holt (NJ12) has agreed to sign a letter to Secretary of State Rice regarding the reported death in prison of Eritrean journalist Fessahaye Yohannes.

As you may know, Yohannes has been one of Amnesty’s special focus cases for several years. His reported death is made even worse by the fact that many of his colleagues remain in prison. Amnesty hopes that the pressure generated by this letter will help gain their safe release. We therefore greatly appreciate Congressman Holt’s decision and call upon the rest of New Jersey’s House delegation to contact Representative Mark Udall’s office in order to sign on.

Rothman Supports Restoring Our Constitutional Rights!

Congressman Steve Rothman has become the first New Jersey member of the House of Representatives to cosponsor two critical pieces of legislation to undo the damage caused by the Military Commissions Act. They are the Habeas Corpus Restoration Act (HR 1416) and the Restoring the Constitution Act (HR 1415).

Both Senators Menendez and Lautenberg have signed on to the Senate version of the Restoring the Constitution Act (S 576). Please see AIUSA Issue Brief 13 below for more information on this issue!

Both NJ Senators Support the Restoring the Constitution Act!

Senators Robert Menendez and Frank Lautenberg have both signed on as cosponsors of S 576, the Restoring the Constitution Act of 2007. Amnesty International is very grateful for their support of this important legislation that would undo much of the damage done to our Constitution by the Military Commissions Act last fall. Please see the text of Amnesty’s Issue Brief 13 (February 2007) below for more information.

It would be great, of course, if the rest of New Jersey’s congressional delegation would cosponsor the corresponding legislation in the House of Representatives, HR 1415!

ISSUE BRIEF 13: SUPPORT THE RESTORING THE CONSTITUTION ACT

Amnesty International urges Congress to pass the “Restoring the Constitution Act of 2007” with strong bipartisan support. The “Restoring the Constitution Act of 2007” introduced by Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) would repeal some of the highly problematic aspects of the Military Commission Act of 2006 (MCA) that weaken constitutional and international legal protections.

The need to reverse the most problematic provisions of the MCA, signed into law by President Bush on October 17, 2006, is imperative in light of the recent decision of the Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. In a 2 to 1 decision, the court stated that due to the MCA, federal courts no longer have jurisdiction over the hundreds of pending habeas cases for detainees in Guantanamo, many in their sixth year of detention. The most troubling aspects of the Military Commission Act of 2006 infringe on the human rights and constitutional protections of US citizens and non-citizens alike and contravene basic protections provided in the U.S. Constitution and various international treaties. Immediate steps should be taken to reverse provisions of the MCA which do not comply with US obligations under US and international law.

Senators should cosponsor and pass the Restoring the Constitution Act of 2007, which would begin to reinstate basic constitutional and international human rights weakened by the Military Commission Act of 2006. Specifically, the Restoring the Constitution Act would:

· Restore the writ of habeas corpus for individuals held in US custody;
· Prevent the use of evidence in court gained through the unreliable and immoral practices of coercion and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment;
· Narrow the definition of unlawful enemy combatant to individuals who directly participate in hostilities against the United States, including individuals who participated in attacks against the United States on September 11, 2001;
· Broaden the scope of violations prosecutable under War Crimes Act;
· Provide for expedited judicial review of the Military Commissions Act of 2006 to determine the constitutionally of the process.

Amnesty International firmly believes that any person who is involved in committing war crimes or terrorist acts must be held accountable, as accountability is a cornerstone of human rights enforcement. However, it is imperative that any trials meet basic due process and fair trial standards, and that the human rights of everyone in detention are respected. While it is the responsibility of the United States to protect the country and its citizens from attacks, the tactics it uses must be consistent with human rights and humanitarian law.

Darfur Rally in Morristown--Look for AI Student Area Coordinator

This Sunday (March 18th) at 2pm, the North Jersey Coalition for Darfur is holding a rally at the Church of the Redeemer at 36 South Street in Morristown.

Student Area Coordinator (SAC) Leon Ratz will be speaking to let everyone know about Amnesty’s upcoming Darfur actions, including the April 9th week of lobbying!

Morristown is in Congressman Rodney Frelinghuysen’s district (NJ-11). We would love to have his signature on the upcoming letter urging China to help persuade the Sudanese government to end the violence and allow UN troops in to protect civilians. Unfortunately, Frelinghuysen failed to sign the letter last fall urging the Arab League to put pressure on Sudan to accept UN peacekeepers. Hopefully, this rally will show him how strongly his constituents care about the people of Darfur!

Darfur Vigil Outside China Mission in NYC 3/30

Vigil to Protect Civilians in Darfur
Friday, March 30th 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Across from the Permanent Mission of the People's Republic of China to the United Nations
1st Avenue(between 35th and 36th sts.) New York, NY 10016

Wear United Nations blue to show your support and express the need for a UN Peacekeeping force in Darfur.

Use these slogans if making your own signs:
-Invest in peacekeepers
-China: Actions speak louder than words in Darfur
-Protect Civilians in Darfur
-Send peacekeepers, not weapons

Why Target China?

China is the leading foreign investor in Sudan, with an annual trade value of roughly $1 billion. In the past several years, China has developed a number of oil fields, built a 900 plus mile pipeline, as well as a refinery and a port. Sudan represents China's largest overseas investment, worth at least $3 billion, and Sudan is the third largest supplier of oil to China. China's trade in oil with Sudan has close connections with arms dealing. Many of the helicopter gunships used by Khartoum were purchased from China using expected revenues from oil extracted in South Sudan. Amnesty International has documented the effect of China's arms exports to Sudan, noting that Chinese equipment has been used by the Government of Sudan and Janjawid in operations in Darfur.

In addition to the enormous effects of China's arms deals with Sudan, China, as the key trading partner of Sudan, is in a unique position to affect the atrocities in Darfur. UN Security Council Resolution 1706, which called for the deployment of UN peacekeepers to replace the isolated and ineffective African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) was not supported by China which, along with fellow permanent member Russia and rotating member Qatar, abstained from the vote. The result was a mixed message to Khartoum about the international community's commitment to finding a viable security arrangement for the people of Darfur and eastern Chad.

It is incumbent upon China, as much or more than any other international actor, to do all it can to address the tragedy in Darfur and Chad. As a key supplier of arms and funds to the Khartoum government, China is especially responsible for the continued violence in Darfur at the hands of the Government of Sudan and the Janjawid. Furthermore, by virtue of its close relationship with the Government of Sudan, China is one of only a few actors that can exert pressure to end the targeting of civilians in Darfur, and fulfill commitments Khartoum has made to disarm the Janjawid and adhere to its responsibility to protect civilians in Sudan.

Contact: mkennis@aiusa.org

Update on Darfur Lobbying

As you know, Amnesty is organizing a week of lobbying (April 9-13th) on Darfur. If you have not done so, please go to http://grassroots.amnestyusa.org and search for a delegation in your congressional district!

Last fall, activists across the country got 174 members of the House of Representatives and all 100 Senators to sign a letter urging the Arab league to press Sudan to accept UN peacekeepers in Darfur. With your help, we can do even better on a new letter calling on China to play a constructive role by persuading Al Bashir’s government to stop the violence and allow the peacekeepers protect the civilians of Darfur!

Thanks to 4 NJ Congressmen on Opposition to “Extraordinary Renditions”

Congressman Markey of Massachusetts has reintroduced the Torture Outsourcing Prevention Act as HR 1352 IH. This legislation would introduce important safeguards to ensure that the Bush Administration’s policy of “extraordinary rendition” does not send people to countries where they are likely to be tortured.

As you may recall, Amnesty put a lot of effort into supporting this bill in the 109th Congress (as HR 952). We are therefore very grateful to all 47 congressmen who have already signed on as cosponsors. In New Jersey, our appreciation goes out to Rush Holt [NJ-12], Donald Payne [NJ-10], Steve Rothman [NJ-9], and Albio Sires [NJ-13].

Greetings from DC!

I am in Washington this weekend for the annual Legislative Coordinator training. This is my third time, and there are more people here than I have seen before.

Monday morning, we are all heading over to Capitol Hill to do some lobbying! I have meetings scheduled with seven House offices, including those of Congressmen Smith, Sires, LoBiondo, Payne, Ferguson, Pascrell, and Rothman. I plan to focus on violence against women in Guatemala (H Res 100), the restoration of Habeas Corpus (HR 267), and the soon-to-be-reintroduced "Torture Outsourcing Prevention Act."

News Article on International Movement Against Cluster Bombs

As you know, Amnesty is currently supporting S 594, the Custer Munitions Civilian Protection Act, in the Senate. This bill would place restrictions on the use of U.S. funds for the purpose of using or exporting these weapons in order to significantly reduce the likelihood of civilian casualties.

While this legislation would not ban cluster munitions, it is important to note that there is a growing international consensus against these weapons. I therefore encourage you to read the Associated Press's coverage of efforts to establish a treaty outlawing cluster bombs (“46 Nations Push for Cluster Bomb Treaty”). This article also provides good background information on the dangers posed by these weapons.

Please remember to call the offices of Senators Lautenberg and Menendez and urge them to cosponsor S 954!

Support the Cluster Munitions Civilian Protection Act!

[Notes: This post originally referred to S 597. S. 594 is the correct number for this bill. AI has changed the link to the online action. I have updated it below.]

Please urge Senator Frank Lautenberg and Senator Robert Menendez to cosponsor S. 594, the Cluster Munitions Civilian Protection Act.

During the last several decades, the international community has made significant advances toward eliminating the use of land mines. As you know, these weapons have killed an maimed countless civilians.

Unfortunately, the use of cluster munitions poses similar risks because many of the “bomblets” released by these bombs and missiles fail to explode upon impact. As a result, they scatter de facto land mines across large areas. The danger posed by these weapons has been compounded by their frequent use in or near civilian populated-areas. Children are particularly at risk, given that they are likely to pick up live “bomblets.”

S. 594 addresses these risks by restricting U.S. funds from being used to export cluster munitions that will be used in civilian areas. It also prohibits the use and export of cluster weapons in which more than one percent of the “bomblets” fail to detonate upon impact.

Please call Senator Lautenberg’s office at (202) 224-3224. You can reach Senator Menendez’s office at (202) 224-4744.

Amnesty International has also set up an online action on this issue.

Organize a Congressional Visit to End the Nightmare in Darfur!

As promised, here is the call for our April week of lobbying on Darfur!

Dear Supporter,

Last September, activists across the country met with their local congressional offices about murder, rape, forced displacement, and other ongoing atrocities in Darfur. As a result of their efforts, 174 members of the House of Representatives and all 100 senators signed a letter urging the Arab League to persuade the government of Sudan to allow UN peacekeepers to protect the civilian population of Darfur.

Despite some signs of yielding, President Omar Hassan al-Bashir has refused to give final permission to allow UN action. It is therefore essential that we increase the pressure.

One of the most important ways to do so is convincing China—Sudan's largest trading partner—that it can no longer turn a blind eye to the atrocities while conducting business as usual with Sudan. We are therefore mobilizing for a new round of meetings with local congressional offices to support a letter that will tell the Chinese government that it is paying a high price in terms of its international prestige by continuing to support Khartoum’s brutal campaign with money, military equipment, and tacit consent.

During the many times that I have visited my representatives’ offices on behalf of Amnesty, they have made it clear that constituents like us play an important role in setting their agenda. That’s why I am organizing a delegation to visit my congressman, Albio Sires, in April.

Please help us end the nightmare in Darfur by applying to lead a delegation to your local congressional office. Many of those who participated in the meetings last fall did not have any previous lobbying experience. Nevertheless, they made a huge difference. Amnesty International will provide training and resources to help make your visit successful.

Thank you,
Larry Ladutke
Volunteer Legislative Coordinator, New Jersey
Amnesty International USA

Payne and Rothman Support the Women of Guatemala!

Congressmen Donald Payne [NJ-10] and Steven Rothman [NJ-9] have signed on as cosponsors of H.Res. 100, a congressional resolution condemning gender-based violence in Guatemala and calling upon the Guatemalan government to protect the nation’s women and girls. They join the other 47 House members who have cosponsored this bill, including Representatives Robert Andrews [NJ-1] and Rush Holt [NJ-12]! Amnesty International greatly appreciates their efforts to stop violence against women.

Village Voice Article: "China: Partner in Genocide"

As I have previously posted, Amnesty International is preparing for a week of in-district lobbying to request that Members of Congress put pressure on China to use its influence to help end the atrocities in Darfur. If you would like to know more details about why it is particularly important to focus our efforts on China, I suggest reading “China: Partner in Genocide” in the current issue of the Village Voice.

Naturally, I will provide more information about the week of lobbying once it becomes available!

Update: Rep. Andrews Joins Efforts to Stop Violence Against Women in Guatemala!

Congressman Robert Andrews (NJ-1) has become the second representative from New Jersey to cosponsor H.Res. 100, a resolution condemning the epidemic of gender-based violence in Guatemala and calling upon the Guatamalan government to take serious meassures to protect women and girls. Andrews had previously supported H.Res. 1081, a similar resolution that was introduced in the fall. Amnesty International is very grateful for his support for the victims and their families.

Congressman Rush Holt has already agreed to cosponsor H.Res. 100.

Upcoming Legislative Action on Darfur!

In September, Amnesty activists met with hundreds of congressional offices across the country to urge their representatives and senators to sign a letter a letter urging the Arab League to help persuade the Sudanese government to allow UN peacekeepers into Darfur. Over 174 members of the House of Representatives signed the letter, including nine of our state’s congressmen. All one hundred members of the Senate joined them.

Since then, the Sudanese government has wavered back and forth on the question of allowing UN forces to protect the civilian population of Darfur. It is therefore important for us to keep up the pressure! Amnesty has therefore called for another round of lobbying for the week of April 9th. This time, we will ask Congress to tell China—one of Sudan’s most important trade partners—that the time has come to stop the violence in Darfur.

Amnesty will begin recruiting delegation leaders soon. Please look here for further information!

Rep. Holt Leads Efforts to Protect the People of Sri Lanka

It’s always great to see someone from New Jersey providing leadership on important human rights issues! Congressman Rush Holt has written a letter urging the administration to appoint a special envoy to Sri Lanka to help bring about a peaceful solution to conflict and prevent further human rights violations. Last year, the war between the government and opposition groups claimed 3,400 and displaced 200,000 civilians. There has also been a troubling increase in the number of “disappearances” in northern Sri Lanka.

New Jersey Congressmen Pallone and Payne have already agreed to sign Holt’s letter. So have several representatives from other states. Hopefully, more of our state's congressmen will join them before the letter is officially sent in the middle of next week.

Online Action to Congress in Response to State of the Union Address

Tonight, Congress is listening to President Bush’s State of the Union Address.

Please join Amnesty International and activists across the country in sending a strong message to our Members of Congress that they must act to correct the dismal state of human rights in our nation. CLICK HERE to send email messages calling upon your congressman and senators to:
· Close Guantanamo
· Ban torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment
· Close Secret Prisons
· Restore the Writ of Habeas Corpus
· End Extraordinary Renditions (Outsourcing Torture)

You can find out more about what AIUSA has planned for the upcoming year by reading our Human Rights Agenda for the 110th U.S. Congress.

Congressman Sires Joins Human Rights Caucus!

Thanks to Congressman Albio Sires (NJ-13) for joining the House Human Rights Caucus! As you may know, Sires is New Jersey’s only newly-elected member of the House for the 110th Congress. He joins the following nine Jersey congressmen who are already members of this important group:

Robert E. Andrews
Rush D. Holt
Frank LoBiondo
Frank Pallone, Jr.
Bill Pascrell, Jr.
Donald Payne
Steve Rothman
Jim Saxton
Christopher H. Smith

Online Action on Darfur!

This isn’t a legislative action, but I wanted to make sure everyone sees this. As you know, we all put in a lot of work into getting our Senators and Representatives to sign the Dear Colleague letter on Darfur in September. We need to follow up with some additional action to keep the pressure on the Sudanese government to allow UN peacekeepers in to protect civilians!

Thanks,
Larry Ladutke
NJ Legislative Coordinator, AIUSA



Dear friends,

We're days away from a Jan 22-30th summit where Africa's leaders will decide if the Government of Sudan will assume leadership of the African Union Assembly. Make sure the human-rights-violating government of Sudan doesn't chair the African Union putting them in a position to impede international peacekeepers from reaching Darfur. International peacekeepers are needed in Darfur to protect civilians.

Please click here to send an email today to ensure that Sudan doesn't chair the African Union and put civilians at risk!

Keep Up the Pressure Against Capital Punishment!

Thanks to everyone who has helped out in the latest push to end the death penalty in New Jersey! If you haven't done so already, please write and/or call your Assembly Members and your State Senators and urge them to support legislation to replace the capital punishment with life without parole.

We also need to keep this issue visible. Lots of people around the state have written letters or op-ed pieces for their local papers. Please keep them coming!

Both the Jersey Journal and the Bergen Record published letters I wrote in today's issues. (Click on the name of the paper to go to each letter).

Larry Ladutke
NJ Legislative Coordinator

Statement from AIUSA Executive Director Larry Cox on NJ Death Penalty Study Comission

[Please also see the post below!]

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL USA
PRESS RELEASE

January 3 , 2007


Amnesty International Urges New Jersey Legislature to Heed State Commission's Recommendation to Abolish Death Penalty


(Washington, DC) Larry Cox, executive director of Amnesty International USA, issued the following statement in response to the New Jersey Death Penalty Study Commission report: "The commission's recommendation to abolish the death penalty is a welcome development. The arc of justice is bending toward eliminating this inherently flawed system. We now urge the New Jersey legislature to end the death penalty once and for all. "Amnesty International endorses the report's finding that the death penalty does not help victims' families. We strongly agree with its statement that 'sufficient funds should be dedicated to ensure adequate services and advocacy for the families of murder victims.' "The commission's work confirms a growing trend: the more people learn about the death penalty, the more opposed to it they are." For more information on Amnesty International USA's work on the death penalty, please see http://amnestyusa.org/abolish/.

Contact: Jason Opeña Disterhoft at 202-544-0200 x302 or jdisterhoft@aiusa.org

Important action on capital punishment in NJ!

I just received the following message from our friends at New Jerseyans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty. Please conact your Assembly members and State Senator ASAP! (See the links to the right for more information identifying and contacting them.)

Thanks,
Larry Ladutke
NJ Legislative Coordinator, AIUSA

Dear Friends,

Today, New Jersey made history.

For the first time
in the modern era, a state-sponsored death penalty study commission has officially recommended that the Legislature end the death penalty for good.

You helped make this historic day happen by coming out to hearings, testifying, writing letters to the editor, talking to your coworkers about the death penalty, hosting events at your church, contacting your legislators, sending us donations, and attending membership meetings. You did it with your steadfast commitment and your unwavering belief that change was possible. You changed the climate on the death penalty in New Jersey, driving down support and showing decision makers that the right decision is also the safe one. You did it!

Now, we need you and everyone who opposes the death penalty to speak up loudly, clearly, and consistently until the abolition bill is signed. You know the drill and you're so good at it!

There are five more steps to final victory - the Assembly and Senate committees, the Assembly and Senate floor votes, and the Governor's signature.

The first action in this final phase is to contact your state legislators about the report. Please do this as soon as possible. The New Jersey Legislature created the study commission and now it should heed its recommendations.

To find your state legislators, go to: http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/districts/municipalities.asp.

Tell them: "I oppose the death penalty. Now that the New Jersey Death Penalty Study Commission, which was created by the State Legislature, has recommended replacing the death penalty with life without parole, I strongly urge you to sponsor and actively support S-171 (A-795), bills that would accomplish that worthy and just goal."

Then, please look for coverage in your local daily paper and respond with a letter to the editor, praising the commission's recommendation that the death penalty be abolished.

This step is critical as legislators will be watching for the public response.

Finally, please take time to celebrate. Rejoice. And, most importantly, rejuvenate. Because we need you for this last round and it's the most critical round of all.

THANK YOU! The nation will be watching New Jersey in the coming days and weeks. With your help, our State will be a beacon of hope for all the world.*

In peace,
Celeste Fitzgerald
Director, New Jerseyans for Alternatives to the Death

*To access the commission's report, go to http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/committees/njdeath_penalty.asp