Sie sind auf Seite 1von 12

Stoppit!

Page 1 Fall 2005

Stoppit!
The Newsletter of Ohioans to Stop Executions
Fall 2005

Action Alert..........................................................................................................................2
Ohio Moratorium Campaign: Fall 2005 Update.................................................................2
Meting out Justice with Violence is Never Moral................................................................3
By August Pacetti.............................................................................................................3
Physician speaks out against Lethal Injection.....................................................................4
By Molly Wieser..............................................................................................................4
Reflections of an Abolitionist on Jury Duty........................................................................5
By David Frickey.............................................................................................................5
Hot off the Presses: Capital Juries and Blind Justice..........................................................6
1000 Executions...................................................................................................................6
The Journey of Hope............................................................................................................6
By Beth Wood .................................................................................................................6
Let’s Shut It Down...............................................................................................................8
By Molly Wieser..............................................................................................................8
John Hicks Found Friend in OTSE Member.......................................................................9
By Marty May .................................................................................................................9
I would like to get involved with Ohioans To Stop Executions ........................................10
Friends of OTSE................................................................................................................10

_______________________________________________________________________
_
The Newsletter of Ohioans to Stop Executions www.otse.org
Stoppit! Page 2 Fall 2005

Action Alert Ohio Moratorium


The State of Ohio has scheduled one Campaign: Fall 2005
execution currently scheduled. Please Update
check www.otse.org for updates.

JOHN SPIRKO Delayed until Resolution by resolution, church-by-


January 19th All executions are at 10am church, city-by-city, Ohioans are
at the Southern Ohio Correctional building the capacity toward the
Facility in Lucasville. realization of a moratorium in Ohio.
WHAT CAN I DO? Sarah Craft of Equal Justice USA joined
Call Governor Taft to express your the OTSE Annual Summit in October to
concern and ask for mercy in this case, help us envisage our next steps. Sarah’s
at (614)466-3555. Write the Governor message was a rallying support for the
directly at 77 South High St., Columbus, work completed and a energizing
Ohio 43215. challenge for our future steps.
Write a letter to the editor of your local
paper – educate your community about Like Ohio, many states have chosen the
the murder being done in your names. resolution strategy – building on this
See http://www.otse.org/e- method allows groups to collaborate
mailletterstotheeditor.htm for guidelines. statewide, stabilize the organizing
Download petitions at www.otse.org - structure and make allies at the national
You may fax your letters and petitions to level. Our national allies at Amnesty
the Governor at (614)466-9354. International, Equal Justice USA,
Learn about the case. As information is National Coalition to Abolish the Death
available it will be posted on Penalty, Death Penalty Information
www.otse.org. For more information Center and Citizens United for
about John Spirko’s case visit Alternatives to the Death Penalty
www.johnspirko.com or see OTSE’s provide assets and resources. The
Spring newsletter resolution gathering strategy in Ohio,
http://www.otse.org/news.htm. now totaling 111, has made marked
Please visit www.otse.org and click on progress with popular education. Every
events to find events / efforts around successful moratorium resolution builds
Clemency Campaigns in your area. momentum and contacts making the
No event scheduled in your area? Create Ohio effort stronger and more diverse.
your own – start a petition drive; hold a
prayer service; invite friends over to This public education emphasis of the
draft letters to the editor. campaign yields significant results.
Be creative – there is no end to the Death sentence rates down! In 2005,
power of the people! Ohio had 4 death sentences. Compared
The execution alert hotline will be to years past: 2004 – 5 death sentences;
updated as we gather new information. 2003- 11 death sentences; 2002 – 9 death
(888)565-4410. sentences. There are various reasons for
the drop in numbers, one of which is the

_______________________________________________________________________
_
The Newsletter of Ohioans to Stop Executions www.otse.org
Stoppit! Page 3 Fall 2005

cumulative effect of the public education The Ohio Moratorium Campaign meets
of jury member. bi-monthly via conference call the
second Thursday at 6:30pm ~ the next
At 111 resolutions, Ohio stands 9th in the scheduled meeting is November 10th, for
country behind North Carolina 1078, call in information contact Eunice at
California 434, New York 328, Texas Eunice@ijpc-cincinnati.org.
275, New Jersey 178, Pennsylvania 162,
Missouri 151, Alabama 113. But watch Meting out Justice with
out – Tennessee is on our heels!
Violence is Never Moral
2005 stands as a year, which ought to
call Ohio to a moratorium. Events
By August Pacetti
throughout the year beg the question… On Sept. 27, I was among 150 people,
Why do we kill ? mostly students and teachers from nine
Cleveland-area Catholic high schools,
Finally after years of appeals one death who gathered outside the prison in
row inmate enjoys the success of a 2002 Lucasville for a prayerful witness
US Supreme Court ruling. Darrell against the execution of Dale Ashworth,
Gumm of Hamilton county became the which took place that morning. Despite
first Ohio victory under Atkins the sorrow and disappointment I felt, I
[unconstitutional to execute the mentally also recognized my emotions of
retarded] How many others are still helplessness and anger that this violence
sitting on death row? was carried out in my name and in the
name of justice - a justice entirely
Derrick Jamison of Hamilton County different from the one I teach to my
becomes the 119th exoneration in the US! seniors in their social justice theology
Was he the only innocent man? course.
Ohio saw our 4th execution “volunteer”
with Dale Ashworth – what are Catholic social teaching maintains that
conditions like on death row that men justice can be achieved only through
are waiving entitled legal remedies? building human relationships of love, not
through revenge or further violence.
Ohio is looking at possibly executing an After the van carried Ashworth's body
innocent man in January – John Spirko away, students and teachers gathered in a
…. How much doubt is enough to sway circle to share reactions to the
the Clemency Board? A strong alibi and experience. I felt profound hope as I
a case with no physical evidence can go listened to young people find fault with
through two clemency hearings and still the logic behind Ohio's attempt to teach
result in a recommendation against that killing is wrong by killing someone
clemency. ourselves.

Please consider becoming a part of this Hearing their convictions led me to the
winning effort – Join the Ohio realization that at some point in their
Moratorium Campaign today! lives, they experienced love to the extent
that they could find it absolutely

_______________________________________________________________________
_
The Newsletter of Ohioans to Stop Executions www.otse.org
Stoppit! Page 4 Fall 2005

incomprehensible for justice and stain on the face of medicine”1, cites the
violence to be compatible. That is our American Medical Association (AMA),
challenge, Ohio: to choose love, life and which prohibits doctors from directly
nonviolence. We must embrace an participating by:
alternative to capital punishment. Please
answer this call by letting Gov. Bob Taft  Injecting lethal drugs
know you reject all violent crime and,  Inspecting or maintaining
hence, support a moratorium on the use injection devices
of the death penalty in Ohio.  Supervising staff who perform
injections
Pacetti teaches at Padua Franciscan  Ordering lethal drugs
High School. This letter originally  Selecting intravenous sites
appeared
 Placing intravenous lines
in the Cleveland Plain Dealer on
Saturday, October 8, 2005.  Monitoring vital signs
 Pronouncing the prisoner dead.

Disturbingly, he also points to a survey


Physician speaks out which states that AMA members are
against Lethal Injection largely unaware of the AMA
prohibitions. In addition, not all doctors
By Molly Wieser are members. This is problematic not
Doctors should: just because of the death of the
a. Do no harm. individual sentenced to execution, but
b. Object when other doctors do because, as Groner states:
harm.
c. Assist in administering lethal When doctors enter the death chamber,
injection for the purpose of they harm not only their relationship
capital punishment. with their own patients but the
d. A& B, but not C relationships of all doctors with their
e. C, but only if the capital patients. Doctors take an oath to be
punishment is actually legal. healers, not killers, and they should not
participate in executions under any
Dr. Jonathan Groner emphatically circumstance.
answers d: Doctors should do no harm
and object when others do. Dr. Groner is Along with several litigators and Dr.
the trauma medical director at Children’s Arthur Zitrin, a retired psychiatrist who
Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, and an lives on Long Island, Groner has worked
associate professor of surgery at The in the following states to deter doctor
Ohio State University College of participation in execution:
Medicine and Public Health. His
November, 2002 article in the British
Medical Journal, “Lethal injection: a
1
available online at
http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/325/
7371/1026
_______________________________________________________________________
_
The Newsletter of Ohioans to Stop Executions www.otse.org
Stoppit! Page 5 Fall 2005

Connecticut: The Connecticut execution Reflections of an


protocol call for a "licensed and
practicing physician" to certify the Abolitionist on Jury Duty
training of the person who inserts the IV
catheters and the person who administers By David Frickey
the drugs. These are both ethics In late July, 2005, I was summoned to
violations. Action: Filed complaints jury duty on the murder trial of
with the Connecticut medical board. Kristopher Morris. As I filled out the
Georgia: Several physicians have been form about my life and views on the
involved in the executions. Action: justice system, I though about this man's
Wrote two articles about Georgia. A suit life on the line. I could have lied and
against the doctors is slowly making its said that I could vote for the death
way through the legal process penalty if the circumstances were
Kentucky: The governor is a doctor who aggravating. However, my Catholic
signed a death warrant. Action: Filed a Christian training has told me that the
complaint against the governor to the end does not justify the means. When I
state medical board. The execution did was questioned about my views by the
not occur. The inmate is mentally prosecutor, Scott Kirschman, and the
retarded. defense attorney, Lewis Williams, I
Missouri: The protocol requires a doctor maintained my views about the death
to insert a femoral central venous penalty. Mr. Williams was especially
catheter for every lethal injection. persistent about getting me to vote for
Action: There is suit against lethal the death penalty if the circumstances
injection, where Dr. Groner will likely warranted it. I thought this was odd,
testify. The last execution (Johnston), a because he was the defense attorney.
temporary stay was granted for these Maybe he was trying to catch me in an
issues by a 3 judge panel of the 8th inconsistency or maybe he was trying to
circuit but it was overturned. get me on the jury so that I would vote
against the death penalty. I do not know
Dr. Groner is always looking for health for sure. What I do know is that I stood
care professionals who would be willing my ground. I told him that as a Christian
to support his cause by writing letters to nation we do not have the right to
the editor, introducing or supporting execute people because they have killed.
moratorium resolutions at health care The judge, David Cain, commented that
professional organizations, and I was an honest person. I was excused
educating colleagues. He can be reached from the jury. I later wondered what
at: gronerj@chi.osu.edu. would happen if they could not find 12
jurors who would vote for the death
penalty from the 77 who had been
summoned. As I reflect now, I think that
they would have probably just
summoned more people. This
experience has strengthened my resolve
to continue to fight against the use of the
death penalty.
_______________________________________________________________________
_
The Newsletter of Ohioans to Stop Executions www.otse.org
Stoppit! Page 6 Fall 2005

growing. Visit our website to learn how


to get involved.www.otse.org
Hot off the Presses:
Capital Juries and Blind
The Journey of Hope
Justice
The Death Penalty Information Center By Beth Wood
has released a new report, "Blind Justice: My name is Jennifer Bishop-Jenkins.
Juries Deciding Life and Death with My sister witnessed the murder of her
Only Half the Truth: How Death husband and unborn child. She
Penalty Jurors are Unfairly Selected, scribbled a heart and U (love U) in the
Manipulated, and Kept in the Dark" blood above her husband’s head as she
(October 2005). bled to death.
“In capital cases, some citizens are often My name is Stanley Allridge. I had a
excluded because of their personal brother executed by the State of Texas in
beliefs or race. For those who do serve, 1995 and another in 2004.
critical information is frequently
withheld during the trial. The evidence My name is Juan Roberto Melendez. I
jurors do hear is often unreliable,” spent 17 years, 8 months and 1 day on
explains Richard Dieter, executive Florida’s death row for a murder I did
director of DPIC. “Jurors’ emotions are not commit.
played upon as the most gruesome
aspects of the crime are displayed in Sharing of stories, what a powerful
graphic detail. The victim’s family is testament to the human condition. So
often pitted against the defendant and his the Journey began. As I returned to my
family. When their service is over, jurors room, I felt emotionally exhausted.
are largely ignored.” After having heard 30 of these
introductions the first night of the Texas
The full text of this groundbreaking Journey of Hope, I was overwhelmed at
report is available online at the tremendous amount of sorrow and
http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/BlindJu pain that this group of people had
sticeReport.pdf. The 2 page executive suffered. The only other time that I can
summary is at ever remember being so emotionally
http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/BlindJu beleaguered was in the weeks following
sticeES.pdf. To order a hard copy, e- the terrorist attacks on September 11th.
mail Brenda Bowser-Soder at DPIC at
bbsoder@deathpenaltyinfo.org or call Over the 17 days that ensued, I got to
(202) 289-2275 know most of the people individually
and came to see them as “regular”
people rather than victims. This was
1000 Executions brought home to me as I sat with one of
The U.S. has executed nearly 1,000 the women and she told me how proud
people in the name of “justice.” The she was of the father who raised her.
movement to abolish the death penalty is You see, he was alone from the time she
_______________________________________________________________________
_
The Newsletter of Ohioans to Stop Executions www.otse.org
Stoppit! Page 7 Fall 2005

was a young girl, as her mother had been stabbed herself. She pretended to be
murdered. My first reaction was to dead. While waiting, she heard the
exclaim, murdered? But, then I house ransacked and listened as her
remembered where I was and to whom I father took his last breath. During this
spoke. You see, despite the tremendous part of the story, her voice broke and
sorrow collectively suffered by these tears ran down her face. Even having
people, they are not an angry, sad, told her story so many times and
vengeful group. Sorrow is not the experienced healing, she still grieved the
countenance they wear. Rather they are loss of her father. As a Brethren
joyful. They are just as diverse as any minister, he had opposed the death
other group. Somehow, they have found penalty and had told SueZann that if he
the link from violence to healing. I say were ever murdered, he would not
link because it is not an ending, this approve of the death penalty for his
healing. So often you hear the call for murderer. When SueZann was told that
retaliatory violence as a way to bring the State was pursuing the death penalty
“closure” for the victim’s families. for her family, she said no. She knew
These victim’s families, without that more violence wouldn’t bring back
exception, abhor the word closure. They her father and it wasn’t what he would
do not believe that such a thing exists. have wanted.
In fact, Dale Recinella, a prison chaplain
from Florida, tells of a victim’s family So, after all the pain, why do these
member who waited a lifetime to find people continue to open wounds and
closure in an execution. After the speak to others? As SueZann said to me,
execution, she stood up and screamed victims are sold a bill of goods. They
over and over again, “IS THAT IT?” are told that if there is a retaliatory
She had bought the lie that a life for a murder, they will feel better. Isn’t this
life would bring her peace. the justification that you hear all the
time? We owe a death penalty
Despite the fact that the group was on conviction to the families. The Journey
the road to healing, it was obvious to me says no to this in a powerful voice.
that their loss still caused a great deal of Their voice is essential in neutralizing
pain. One member of the group, this the retribution argument. Journey
SueZann Bosler, has participated in members feel that reopening wounds is
every Journey since the first one in worth it so that their voices are heard
Indiana in 1993. She has told her story and heeded. Bud Welch, father of Julie
numerous times since then. She was Welch, who was killed in the Oklahoma
what she terms a PK (preacher’s kid) City Bombing, puts it best when he notes
and was used to strangers coming to her that a revelation came when he saw the
home for help. So when the doorbell same pain in Tim McVeigh’s father’s
rang one evening, she didn’t think eyes that he saw in his own. More
anything of it. She heard her father killing only spreads the pain.
answer the door but then heard a strange
sound. Upon coming to investigate, she I make these reflections after having
witnessed her father being stabbed to completed a 17-day speaking tour
death. She rushed to help and was (October 14-30) with the Journey of
_______________________________________________________________________
_
The Newsletter of Ohioans to Stop Executions www.otse.org
Stoppit! Page 8 Fall 2005

Hope in Texas. Journey speaking teams because of litigation which showed, and
spoke all over Texas and reached continues to show, that a) Ohio was
millions of people through the media and never justified in building a prison for
more than 10,000 face to face. Journey 500 supermax prisoners - there are less
of Hope...from Violence to Healing is an than 50 supermax prisoners in Ohio right
organization that is led by murder victim now, the rest of the OSP prisoners are
family members that conducts public classified at lower security levels, and b)
education speaking tours and addresses Ohio has long been in the habit of filling
alternatives to the death penalty. Journey these unjustified cells arbitrarily in a
"storytellers" come from all walks of life transparent effort to look less the fool for
and represent the full spectrum and building the useless prison.
diversity of faith, color and economic After years of these costly court battles,
situation. They are real people who Ohio is no longer permitted to put a
know first hand the aftermath of the prisoner in this living mausoleum of a
insanity and horror of murder. They prison without some due process,
recount their tragedies and their according the United States Supreme
struggles to heal as a way of opening Court. In their infinite creativity, Ohio
dialogue on the death penalty in schools, prison administrators have found a way
colleges, churches and other venues. The to circumvent this obstacle by dreaming
Journey spotlights murder victim's up a raft of promises to prisoners while
family members who choose not to seek repeating these promises before a federal
revenge, and instead select the path of judge. OSP will be a “multi-purpose
love and compassion for all of humanity. facility,” not a supermax prison, if these
Forgiveness is seen as strength and as a promises are honored.
way of healing. The greatest resources There is no reason to believe that the
of the Journey are the people who are a judge quite believed Ohio’s promises.
part of it. Next year the Journey will be The department has a long history of
held in Virginia. In addition to speakers, administrative failures in relation to
they are always in need of activists to OSP, death row, and the Lucasville
help with logistics, etc. If you are prison that lies at the start of this trail of
interested in knowing more and/or tears. If the judge had found Ohio’s
joining to Journey, go to: promises entirely credible, he would
http://www.journeyofhope.org/pages/ind have denied the prisoners’ motion for a
ex.htm permanent injunction prohibiting the
transfer. Instead, Ohio has been given
adequate rope with which to hang itself.
Let’s Shut It Down He will undo the move if Ohio treats
death row prisoners who, according to
By Molly Wieser prison administrators, are a largely
Ohio DRC officials are starting the peaceful crew, as supermax prisoners,
transfer of death row prisoners to the denying them adequate access to legal
Ohio State Penitentiary (OSP); a move counsel and privileges such as time out
they state is for the purpose of saving of their tiny, individual cells.
money. This supermax prison has been Ohio has lost other opportunities to save
about half empty for years.This is money on prison administration, so this
_______________________________________________________________________
_
The Newsletter of Ohioans to Stop Executions www.otse.org
Stoppit! Page 9 Fall 2005

would not come as a jarring despite the me back, greeting cards and post cards I
lack of prisoners there, an administrative sent him. Many times he would send me
error that has needlessly cost Ohio an article he had read in a Christian
taxpayers millions beyond those funds magazine. He was even thoughtful
used to construct the prison in the first enough to send me a few greeting cards
place. when I feel sure funds were limited. He
Three Ohio death row inmates have has 2 sons, 3 grandchildren, 3 sisters and
already attempted suicide as the transfer 2 brothers. He wrote me that his parents
gains momentum. Perhaps they know love all their children unconditionally.
that Ohio’s supermax prison was never He enjoys listening to the radio,
intended to be anything but a form of especially jazz and PBS, football,
torture in violation of international baseball, the Final Four of March
human rights law that prohibits long- Madness, jumping rope and getting fresh
term solitary confinement because of its air and sunshine when walking outside
well-documented effect on mental his cell on the Honor Block. He shared a
health. In all likelihood they know about lot of scripture verses with me but I
the Ohio supermax prisoner recently would say that one of his favorites is
found bloody and beaten with his hands Matthew 25:36-45. It has been a
cuffed behind his back, and about the pleasure to know John.
prison doctor who was fired for
questioning the incident.
Ohio is starting the transfer of death row
prisoners to the Ohio State Penitentiary;
a move it states is for the purpose of
saving money. Let’s shut it down,
instead.

John Hicks Found Friend


in OTSE Member
By Marty May
I am writing this on November 17. On
November 29 John Hicks is scheduled to
be executed for crimes committed in
1985. I see John Hicks differently from
other people because I have regularly
corresponded with him for 3 years. John
is a Christian man who served the Lord
on Death Row. He is a man of strong
faith and demonstrated that by praying,
reading the scriptures, attending Bible
studies and watching Christian TV. John
was always very appreciative of my
letters, the envelope I sent him to write

_______________________________________________________________________
_
The Newsletter of Ohioans to Stop Executions www.otse.org
Stoppit! Page 10 Fall 2005

I would like to get Director, Molly Wieser


937-278-4225
involved with Ohioans To AFSC
Stop Executions ... 915 Salem Ave
Dayton OH 45406
mwieser@afsc.org

Activist United
Loren Bondurant
740-427-6949
Kenyon College, Gamgier, OH 43022
activists.united@kenyon.edu
Central State - North
Student Affairs Center, Kenyon College
Kenyon College, Tuesdays 10pm

Amnesty International - Group 86


Laura Osborn Coffey
513-734-6043
PO Box 45, Bethel Ohio 45106
lozcoffey@cs.com

Amnesty International
Michael Manley
mmanley@ccad.edu

Friends of OTSE Catholic Commission Community


Action
ACLU - Ohio Sister Marian Durkin, CSA
Judy Maruszan 330-659-5100
216-472-2220 5232 Broadview Rd., Richfield 44286
4506 Chester Ave, 44103 smd@srsofcharity.org
jmaruszan@acluohio.org
3rd Thurs, 7pm Max Wohl Civil Central Ohioans to Stop Execution
Liberties Center Jim Tobin
614-560-0654
ACLU - Cincinnati Working Group
Ken Bordwell Cincinnati Chapter of Ohioans to Stop
513-751-1047 Execution
3608 Duluth Ave., Cincinnati, OH Eunice Timoney Ravenna
45220-1202 513-579-8547
kenbordwell@aol.com 215 E. 14th St, 45202
eunice@ijpc-cincinnati.org
AFSC Ohio Criminal Justice Program

_______________________________________________________________________
_
The Newsletter of Ohioans to Stop Executions www.otse.org
Stoppit! Page 11 Fall 2005

Cleveland Coalition to Abolish the mjp@siscom.net


Death Penalty Montgomery and Greene Counties
Kathy Soltis
216-291-3671 Interfaith Coalition to Stop Execution
4506 Chester Rd. 44103 Nancy Hirsch
clevedp@yahoo.com 614-425-1819
Cleveland 3400 Kenny Rd., 43221
www.clevedp.org contact@stopexecutions.org

CURE - Ohio Kenny Richey Campaign


Karen Thimmes, sec; Ellen Kitchens, Karen Richey
Treas; Michelle Baker, web 44-141-642-0183
614-457-0409, toll free 877-826-8504 210 Hamilton Crescent Cambusland
PO Box 14222, Columbus 43214 Glasgow G73 8TF
2004@cureohio.org kennyisinnocent@yahoo.co.uk
Family and Friends of Felons Scotland
walkmarty@iopener.net
Dayton Lorain County Coalition to Abolish the
Death Penalty
Families That Matter Jeff Campbell
Support for families with loved one's on 440-244-6037
Ohio's death row Catholic Action Commission of Lorain
Eunice Timoney Ravenna County, 2500 Elyria Ave., 44055
513-579-8547
215 E. 14th St. 45202 North East Ohio Moratorium Committee
eunice@ijpc-cincinnati.org Paul Beaudry
216-225-6813
Greater Akron Chapter of Ohioans to psb@icheminc.com
Stop Executions Cleveland - North East Ohio
Mac Goekler
330-633-1846 National Lawyers Guild Student Chapter
288 Kensington Park Dr., Tallmadge Case Western Reserve University School
44278 of Law
mgoekler@neo.rr.com Cynthia Allgood
Greater Akron 216-261-4419
interfaith 23951 Lakeshore Blvd. Suite 509 Euclid
Summit County Catholic Commission OH 44123
3rd Friday of each month, 8:30am - caa15@cwru.edu
9:30am
moratorium Toledo Coalition Against the Death
Penalty
Great Dayton Pax Christi Jeffrey Gamso
Mary Jo Pfander jmgamso@earthlink.net
937-299-4885 Toledo
634 Lamont Dr. Kettering 45429
_______________________________________________________________________
_
The Newsletter of Ohioans to Stop Executions www.otse.org
Stoppit! Page 12 Fall 2005

_______________________________________________________________________
_
The Newsletter of Ohioans to Stop Executions www.otse.org

Das könnte Ihnen auch gefallen