DEATH PENALTY HAS BEEN ABOLISHED IN ILLINOIS!!!
The governor of Illinois has signed a bill that repeals the death penalty from Illinois’ law! He also commuted the death sentences of all 15 prisoners on death row in the state. This is a tremendous moment for human rights and another step forward for abolition! Please help us maximize this moment by doing 2 things:
1) Send the governor and bill sponsors a thank you note by clicking on this simple action:
http://tinyurl.com/5v2mc3y
2) Please write a letter to the editor (LTE) to your local newspaper. This is a great opportunity to advance the national momentum and to bolster efforts in the remaining DP states. AIUSA's LTE writing guide: http://tinyurl.com/dayxgq
LETTER TO THE EDITOR TALKING POINTS:
· Governor Quinn’s signing of this bill and commuting of the remaining death sentences shows great leadership and support for human rights.
· No state has tried harder to fix their death penalty than Illinois, but after 10 years it was finally realized that the death penalty cannot be fixed.
· The danger of executing an innocent person can never be eliminated, and the families of victims will always face years of being dragged through a cruel and grueling process.
· The death penalty will also always cost more than alternatives.
· My state should learn from Illinois’ experience and not spend any more time using or trying to fix a death penalty system that cannot be fixed.
· We do not need the death penalty and we should follow Illinois’ lead and eliminate it.
Talking Points for non-death penalty states:
· Other states should learn from Illinois’ experience and not spend any more time using or trying to fix a death penalty system that cannot be fixed.
· I am proud that my state is on the right side of history and has abandoned this cruel and archaic practice.
AIUSA’s LTE writing guide: http://tinyurl.com/dayxgq
