Friends
Committee on Washington State |
FCWPP ACTION ALERT
23 Aug 2001
Dear Friends,
Next week, just past midnight on Tuesday, August 28, our State of
Washington will kill James Elledge.
Opposition to the death penalty is fundamental to Friends. The policy
statement of the Friends Committee on Washington Public Policy (FCWPP)
reads:
"We seek the abolition of the death penalty because it denies the
sacredness of human life and violates our belief in the human capacity
for change. This irreversible penalty cannot be applied equitably and
without error. Use of the death penalty by the state powerfully
reinforces the idea that killing can be a proper way of responding to
those who have wronged us. We do not believe that reinforcement of that
idea can lead to healthier and safer communities."
We urge Friends to follow the Spirit in
-> supporting a repeal of the death sentence within our state, and
throughout the nation,
-> supporting, as an intermediate step and realizable immediate goal, a
legislative moratorium on executions within Washington along with a
study of the implementation of this extreme penalty as it now stands
-> writing legislators and newspaper editors in response to this
occasion, and
-> participating in events marking this tragedy.
A FCWPP interest group at Pacific Northwest Quarterly Meeting
(September 22-24) will use the death penalty as a case study in grass
roots action.
FCWPP supports building coalitions with other groups who share our goal
to abolish capital punishment. The following events have been
publicized by The Washington Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty:
From: Mary Robinson <[email protected]>
Date: Fri, Aug 17, 2001, 11:19 PM
List of Events Marking the Scheduled Execution of James Elledge on
August 28, 2001, 12:01 a.m.
SEATTLE. The Archdiocese of Seattle will be holding a press conference
on Friday, August 24th, 10:00 a.m. at the Chancery to talk about its
reasons for opposing the execution of James Elledge. Contact:
Kevin Glackin-Coley
Director of Detention Ministry
Archdiocese of Seattle
910 Marion Street
Seattle, WA 98104
[email protected]
SPOKANE. Sunday the 26th - Worship service at Our Lady of Fatima
Catholic Church, 33rd and Perry, 7:30pm. This is planned by the church
and by the social justice ministry of Catholic Charities.
SPOKANE. Monday the 27th - Vigil at 7:30pm at the local office of the
WA
Attorney General, 1116 W. Riverside. After that brief vigil, there
will be a walk to the Community Building at 35 W. Main. The building
will remain open until midnight with a video at 9:00, music and
readings at 10, and comments on legal elements of the execution from
Mary Pat Treuthart at 11. A brief service and lighting of candles just
before midnight.
Contact: Rusty Nelson
Peace and Justice Action League of Spokane
Community Building
35 W. Main #120M
Spokane, WA 99201-0107
509-838-7870
[email protected]
SEATTLE. Vigil/protest/leafleting across from Westlake Mall. August
27th from 7 p.m. to dusk. Public welcome. Sponsor; Washington Coalition
to Abolish the Death Penalty. Contact: Mary Robinson (206) 622-8952.
e-mail: [email protected]
OLYMPIA. Execution-eve vigil on the steps of the State Capitol Building
from 7:00 p.m. Monday evening August 27 to a few minutes past midnight
Tuesday morning August 28. Co-sponsored by WCADP and FOR. Contact:
Glen Anderson
Olympia Fellowship of Reconciliation
5015 15th Ave SE, Lacey WA 98503
(360) 664-6252 work
(360) 491-9093 home
http://www.scn.org/wwfor/DeathPenalty.html
Glen Anderson [email protected]
Alice Curtis [email protected]
WALLA WALLA. Monday evening August 27 to a few minutes past midnight
Tuesday morning August 28, vigil/protest at the site of the execution,
the penitentiary.