All over the state, citizens of Tennessee gathered to celebrate International Death Penalty Abolition Day on March 1, marking the date in 1847 when the state of Michigan officially became the first English-speaking territory in the world to abolish capital punishment. Write-a-thons were held in Memphis, Sewanee, and Nashville. Knoxville will be holding their event on March 5th. Writers gathered in local coffee shops, at Memphis Theological Seminary, and at Second Presbyterian Church in Nashville to make their voices heard.
As of last count, 250 letters had been written, with more on the way. These letters are a critical tool in sharing our concerns about the the fairness and accuracy of Tennessee's death penalty. When constituents take the time to hand write a letter, legislators pay attention!
INTERNATIONAL DEATH PENALTY ABOLITION DAY
March 1, International Death Penalty Abolition Day, marks the anniversary of the date in 1847 in which the State of Michigan officially became the first English-speaking territory in the world to abolish capital punishment. It is a day to remember the victims of violent crime and their survivors; it is a day to remember those killed by state sanctioned violence - guilty or not- and their survivors; and it is a day for intensified education and action for alternatives to the death penalty.
This year, 2008, marks the 8th consecutive year that the Tennessee Coalition to Abolish State Killing has commemorated this time of year by making our voices heard. In 2001 and 2002 murder victims families who oppose the death penalty led TCASK rallies. This year will be the sixth that TCASK volunteers gather in churches, coffeeshops, and livingrooms across the state to write and call their elected officials.
Won't you join us this year by contacting your state legislator - a great way to celebrate International Death Penalty Abolition Day! (Even long past March 1.)