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
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