Justice Day on the Hill
On Wednesday April 2nd, 2008, activists from across the state will gather to tell our legislators directly that our death penalty system is broken and their constituents expect them to take action to repair it. Face-to-face meetings with constituents are the best way to influence legislators, and we need each and every person to make the trip!
Following up on our hundreds of letters written March 1, 2008, we will tell our lawmakers our concerns: that Tennessee's death penalty should be carefully studied on the issues of cost, arbitrary and unfair proceedings, targeting the mentally ill, racial disparity, and whether Tennessee can guarantee that an innocent person would never be executed.
We will ask them to continue to support a complete study of the entire death penalty system as enacted by 2007 Tennessee Public Acts, Chapter 549. We will thank the supporters of the bills (105 SB 1911 and 105 HB 2162) that made the committee possible - and the committee members, including Sen. Jackson (Dickson), Rep. Coleman (Murfreesboro), Sen. Bunch (Cleveland), and Rep. Dunn (Knoxville), who are examining these serious problems.
Justice Day will begin at 8:00am central time and finish at 3:30. The TCASK staff will set up meeting for you as a part of a group and provide materials, talking points, and lunch for all attendees. We can even find places to stay on the night of April 1st if anyone coming from out of town wants to come in the night before. Email isaac@tcask.org for details.
Learn to Lobby!
Whether you need to educate your legislator on the costs of the death penalty or advocate for your child's school, learning to lobby will help you communicate your message to decisionmakers.
You might be loathe to associate with "Lobbyists," but TCASK offers training to help you effectively communicate your needs to the men and women who represent you in our government.
TCASK's Nashville Chapter will host a training session March 11, 2008. See the TCASK Nashville Chapter Meetup site for more information.
Email isaac@tcask.org for details on other lobby training sessions.
Watch the Death Penalty Study Committee in action!
Video archives of the previous meetings are available online from the state legislature Web site: