We have written on behalf of Troy Davis several times. He was convicted of the 1989 murder of a police officer in Georgia, but no physical evidence linked him to the crime. The conviction was based solely on witness testimony, but since the trial, seven of the nine prosecution witnesses have recanted or contradicted their testimony. One of the remaining two has reportedly been implicated as the actual murderer.

Troy Davis has come close to execution several times and is presently on another stay. This action letter is to Governor Perdue.

Please adapt it to your needs and send it immediately.

New Jersey Abolishes Death Penalty
TRENTON, N.J., Dec. 17, 2007 (CBS/AP)

New Jersey on Monday became the first state in four decades to abolish the death penalty under a bill signed by Gov. Jon S. Corzine, a move being hailed across the world as a historic victory against capital punishment. Corzine signed the bill at a Statehouse ceremony.

"We have seized the moment and are poised to join the ranks of other states and countries that view the death penalty as discriminatory, immoral and barbaric," said state Assemblyman Wilfredo Caraballo, D- Essex. The bill, approved last week by the state's Assembly and Senate, will replace the death sentence with life in prison without parole.

A special state commission found in January that the death penalty was a more expensive sentence than life in prison, hasn't deterred murder and risks killing an innocent person. "The state is taking a painful but necessary step," said Corzine, a Democrat.

Among the eight spared is Jesse Timmendequas, a sex offender who murdered 7-year-old Megan Kanka in 1994. The case inspired Megan's Law, which requires law enforcement agencies to notify the public about convicted sex offenders living in their communities.

Courtesy of Karl Keys:

Several of the concerns of the ABA’s report leaped out of me as having been a consistent problem in Pennsylvania since the Weekly was launched ten years ago:

“Inadequate Procedures to Protect the Innocent. … Since the death penalty’s reinstatement, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has exonerated at least death-row inmates, including Nicholas Yarris, Neil Ferber, William Nieves, Thomas Kimbell, Jr., and Harold Wilson. Despite these exonerations, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has not implemented any policies or procedures that would render the conviction of an innocent. This report is not intended to cover all aspects of Pennsylvania’s capital punishment system and, as a result, it does not address a number of important issues, including for example, cost and deterrence. Although some counties may be in compliance with some or even many of the recommendations contained in this report, the report focused on assessing laws and practices on a statewide basis. Consequently, while the report may highlight county rules and practices, and while individual counties may comply with various recommendations, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, as a state, may be in partial compliance or fail to comply with those recommendations. Furthermore, some of the “Areas for Reform” and “Recommendations” found in the Executive Summary may not be pertinent to certain counties.”

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Thanks for your suppport of Amnesty International.

Anyone interested in lobbying against U.S.-sponsored torture and for the restoration of the civil liberties and protections abandoned by the Military Commissions Act of 2006 is invited to join in a discussion of lobbying strategies.

Jay O'Hara of Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) will be discussing lobbying against torture and other post-9/11 civil liberties violations.

Monday, March 5th at 7:00pm
Goshen Monthly Meeting
814 North Chester Road (southeast corner of Paoli Pike and Rt. 352)
West Chester, PA

On October 7, 2006, buses will be leaving from communities throughout Pennsylvania to converge in Harrisburg for a rally calling for a moratorium on the death penalty in Pennsylvania. The event will take place on the steps of the Pennsylvania General Assembly and will feature speakers from murder victim family members, community organizations and more.

The death penalty is an unfair system that claims innocent lives. Over 120 people have been released from death row due to wrongful convictions and over 95% of death row inmates were unable to afford their own attorney. It is time for a humane justice system in Pennsylvania!

Visit this link for more information on how to Get on the Bus and make your voice heard.

On April 11, Amnesty International USA announced that Gurbandurdy Durdykuliev, prisoner of conscience from Turkmenistan, was freed. He had been forcibly confined to a psychiatric hospital since February 2004 for expressing his political views.

Amnesty International USA Press Release

In light of this wonderful news, the action on Durdykuliev has been removed. Thanks to those who participated in the action either at our meetings or through this website.

Amnesty International Group 342, West Chester, Pennsylvania, is a local chapter of Amnesty International USA.

Amnesty International members worldwide are leading the struggle to defend human rights and save lives. A winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, Amnesty International has made a difference for over 40 years. Pressure from letters, faxes and emails written by our members has helped free more than 40,000 political prisoners worldwide.

We meet on the third Wednesday of every month at 7:30 pm at West Chester Friends Meeting. Our meetings are open to visitors and the public. We welcome members from throughout Chester and Delaware Counties. Come join us!