[WCADP-list] Execution Alert: Six executions planned around the U.S. in July

Thu Jul 7 11:55:13 PDT 2005

1. Virginia:  Robin Lovitt scheduled to die 7/11/2005

2. Georgia:  Robert Dale Conklin scheduled to die 7/12/2005

3. Oklahoma:  Michael L. Pennington schedule to die 7/19/2005

4. Arkansas:  Ricky Dale Newman scheduled to die 7/26/2005

5. Indiana:  Kevin Conner scheduled to die 7/27/2005

6. Texas:  David Martinez scheduled to die 7/28/2005

There are six executions scheduled this month.  Your effort on behalf of men
can mean the difference between life and death.  Please take a moment to let
the Governors and others know that good women and men from across the
country are watching them.

1. Virginia:  Robin Lovitt scheduled to die 7/11/2005

Gov. Mark Warner

E-Mail:  http://www.governor.virginia.gov/Contact/email_form.html

Phone:  804-786-2211

Fax:  804-371-6351

Parole Board

Phone:  804-674-3081

Richmond Times-Dispatch

E-Mail:  news at timesdispatch.com

Phone:  804-649-6000

Fax:  804-819-1216

The Virginia-Pilot

E-Mail:  letters at pilotonline.com

Phone:  757-446-2314

Fax:  757-446-2051               

Suggested Text (from Abolitionist Jerry Ward):

Governor Warner, I ask you to stop your state's execution of Robin Lovitt.
Mr. Lovitt is scheduled to die next Monday, 7/11/2005, for the Nov. 18, 1998
stabbing death of Clayton Dicks.

Mr. Lovitt's case presents several major challenges to your state's death
penalty procedures.  The DNA testing of both Mr. Lovitt's clothes and the
presumed murder weapon, a pair of scissors, came back inconclusive.  His
supposed confession was presented by a jailhouse snitch, a notoriously
unreliable source of information.  

Important evidence from Mr. Lovitt's siblings about the physical and sexual
abuse all the children suffered was not allowed.  It is clear that Robin
Lovitt has not yet received his constitutionally guaranteed fair trial.
Governor Warner, you can not allow the state of Virginia to kill this man!

Former Attorney General of the United States Janet Reno, as well as myriads
of scholars, can find no evidence that the death penalty deters capital
crimes. In fact, the warden of the famous Sing Sing prison believes that the
death penalty exacerbates the violence in his facility by setting an example
of cold-blooded killing.  Recent studies show that the largest increase in
capital crimes is in the state of Texas, the state which executes the most
people.

Please, Governor Warner, stop this killing of Robin Lovitt.

2. Georgia:  Robert Dale Conklin scheduled to die 7/12/2005

Gov. Sonny Purdue

E-Mail:  http://www.gov.state.ga.us/contact_dom.shtml

Phone:  404-656-1776

Fax:  404-657-7332

Pardons and Parole Board

Phone:  404-656-5651

Fax:  404-651-6723

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

E-Mail:  letters at ajc.com

Phone:  404-526-5151

Fax:  404-526-5746

The Augusta Chronicle

E-Mail:  letters at augustachronicle.com

Phone:  706-823-3366

Fax:  706-722-7403

Suggested Text (from Abolitionist Jerry Ward):

I ask you, Governor Purdue, to use your public influence to help stop your
state's execution of Robert Dale Conklin.  Mr. Conklin is scheduled to die
next Tuesday, 7/12/05, for the March 28, 1984 stabbing death of George
Crooks.  

Mr. Conklin has not yet received his constitutionally guaranteed fair trial
from the state of Georgia.  He was allowed insufficient time and resources
to prepare an adequate defense to the charges against him.  Circuit Judge
Rosemary Barkett commented in reviewing an appeal of this case than "In
light of the complexity of this case, the severe limitations on time and
resources imposed by the trial court made it impossible for Conklin to
receive adequate assistance".   Governor Purdue, you cannot let this
execution go forward!   

Former Attorney General of the United States of America Janet Reno, as well
as myriads of scholars, can find no evidence that the death penalty deters
capital crimes. In fact, the warden of the famous Sing Sing prison believes
that the death penalty exacerbates the violence in his facility by setting
an example of cold-blooded killing. Recent studies show that the largest
increase in capital crimes is in Texas, the state which executes the most
people. 

Please, Governor Purdue, stop the killing of Robert Dale Conklin.

3. Oklahoma:  Michael L. Pennington schedule to die 7/19/2005

Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry

E-Mail:  http://www.governor.state.ok.us/message.php

Phone:  (405) 521-2342

Fax:  (405) 521-3353

Suggested Text (from NCADP):

I am writing to you in regards to the upcoming execution of Michael L.
Pennington. Please know that my sympathies go out to the family and loved
ones of Bradley Grooms. 

However, Michael Pennington should not be put to death because there are
questions as to whether he was properly convicted. There is reason to
believe that the prosecution inappropriately excluded jurors based on race
during the selection process. There is also evidence that his defense
counsel was ineffective. 

I urge to not to execute this man while there are such troubling questions
remaining surrounding his trial. Issues such as racial disparities and
quality of legal counsel are just a couple of many major problems with the
death penalty.  I urge to support measure in Oklahoma that will - at
minimum- reexamine the death penalty system.  

Please spare the life of Michael Pennington. Thank you for your time and
consideration.

4. Arkansas:  Ricky Dale Newman scheduled to die 7/26/2005

Gov. Mike Huckabee

E-Mail:  http://www.arkansas.gov/governor/staff/index.html

Phone:  501-682-2345

Fax:  501-682-3597

Suggested Text (from NCADP):

I would like to express my sadness over the murder of Marie Choulette.  My
thoughts and prayers are with her family and loved ones.

However, I would like to state my opposition to the execution of Ricky
Newman.  Mr. Newman is severely mentally ill, and has waived all his
appeals.  The execution of the mentally ill is not acceptable under any
circumstance, and I urge you to commute his sentence.

5. Indiana:  Kevin Conner scheduled to die 7/27/2005

Governor Mitch Daniels

E-Mail:   <http://www.in.gov/gov/contact.html> www.in.gov/gov/contact.html

Phone:  (317) 232-4567

Fax:  (317) 232-3443

Parole Board

Phone:  (317) 232-5737

Journal Gazette

E-mail:   <mailto:cklugman at jg.net> cklugman at jg.net

Phone:  (317) 686-0901

The News-Sentinel

E-mail:   <mailto:nsletters at news-sentinel.com> nsletters at news-sentinel.com

Phone:  (334) 262-1611

Fax:  (334) 261-1597

Suggested Text (from NCADP):

I would like to express my sadness over the deaths Steve Wetland, Tony
Moore, and Bruce Voge.  My sympathies are extended to their loved ones. 

However, I oppose the upcoming scheduled execution of Kevin Connor.  

The death penalty is a poor response to their deaths.  As you may know,
capital punishment is generally unfairly administered.  It costs more than a
life sentence.  There is reason to believe that Conner could live peacefully
in the prison system.  Please end this cycle of violence by refusing to take
yet another life.   

I urge you to grant clemency to Connor and to support alternatives to the
death penalty such as life in prison.

6. Texas:  David Martinez scheduled to die 7/28/2005

Texas Governor Rick Perry

E-Mail:   <http://www.governor.state.tx.us/contact>
http://www.governor.state.tx.us/contact

Phone:  (512) 463-2000

Fax:  (512) 463-1849

Texas Pardons and Paroles

Phone:  (512) 406 5852

Fax:  (512) 467 0945

Austin American Statesman

E-Mail:   <http://www.statesman.com/> www.statesman.com

Phone:  (512) 445-3667

Fax:  (512) 445-3679

Houston Chronicle

E-mail:   <http://www.chron.com/> www.chron.com

Phone:  (713) 220-7491

Fax:  (713) 220-6806

Dallas Morning News

E-Mail:   <http://www.dallasnews.com/> www.dallasnews.com

Phone:  (214) 977-8494

Fax:  (972) 263-0456

Suggested Text (from the NCADP):

I am writing in regards to the upcoming execution of David Aaron Martinez.
My sympathies go out to the family and loved ones of Kiersa Paul. 

While there is no excuse for violence, it is important to be aware of the
mitigating circumstances of this case.   During his childhood he went back
and forth living with one parent and then another.  He spent most of his
teenage years living with his drug-addicted father. At the time of the crime
Martinez was living on the streets. 

The death penalty is an arbitrary punishment that is more likely to be
distributed to those who come from poor upbringings and economic
backgrounds, like Martinez, and is less likely to be the punishment for
those who commit the worst crimes. This penalty also punishes those who are
convicted for killing whites more than any other race.

I ask that you spare the life of Martinez. Thank you for your time and
consideration.

  _____  

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The Washington Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty
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Seattle, WA 98114
(206) 622-8952
www.abolishdeathpenalty.org <http://www.abolishdeathpenalty.org/> 

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