Upcoming Events

» September 15, 2008 - Berkeley, CA

Panel Discussion on the Death Penalty at Anna's Jazz Island 2120 Allston Way Berkeley, CA 94704 7-9pm

Exciting Speakers: Elizabeth Zitrin, Death Penalty Focus Board Member, Aaron Owens, wrongfully convicted of a double murder in Alameda County, and Judy Kerr, lost her brother to homicide, Spokesperson and Outreach Coordinator for California Crime Victims for Alternatives to the Death Penalty

The program will be followed by Q & A.

» September 20, 2008, 3:00-5:00 pm - Oakland, CA

"COPE" Support Group w/ Special Guest David G. Rogers, MFC #3973. Starbucks coffee and refreshments will be provided. Located at the East Bay Community Foundation, 353 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza. FREE PARKING at Clay St. Parking Garage (14th/15th behind City Hall).

For more information, please visit www.1000mothers.org or contact Lorrain Taylor at 510.581.0100 or mothers1000@aol.com.

» September 26-28, 2008 - Oakland, CA

Critical Resistance 10 Conference Critical Resistance (CR) is a national non-profit organization focused on eliminating the use of prisons and punishment to "cure" complicated social problems.

There will be several workshops presented at this conference on the death penalty. More details TBA. Visit: http://www.criticalresistance.org/article.php?list=type&type=36 for more information or to register. Registration is free.

» September 27, 2008 - Oakland, CA

PURPLE Gala - As an effort to curb the detrimental impact of violence, 1,000 Mothers to Prevent Violence presents it's 1st Annual PURPLE Gala fund-raising event. Live Entertainment + Great Food + Fabulous Prizes! RSVP Today: 510-581-0100.

For more information, please visit www.1000mothers.org or contact Lorrain Taylor at 510.581.0100 or mothers1000@aol.com.

News

August 12, 2008

Maryland Commission on Capital Punishment Hears Testimony from Victim's Family Member

"Maryland and the death penalty: Two county residents will help decide the fate of capital punishment in the state" - features MVFHR Board Chair VIcki Schieber.

August 8, 2008

Victim's Family Leave Killer's "Ultimate Fate" With God

Detroit - Twenty-two years later, killer sentenced to life imprisonment - victim's family calls the life in prison sentence "the least of [the killer's] worries." Read article here.

August 6, 2008

Op-Ed in Fort Worth (Texas) Star-Telegram

"Time to end the death penalty's cycle of violence," by victim's family member Ronald Carlson.

Victims' Daughter in Maryland Wants Death Penalty Flaws Fixed

"Correct flaws, don't end capital sentence, says victims' daughter" in the Baltimore Sun.

July 30, 2008

Cost of New Death Row Featured on the Front Page of the San Francisco Chronicle

Read the article here: Death Row Cost Overrun: $40 Million

Bill Babbitt Testifies in Front of Maryland's Commission on Capital Punishment

CCV Member Bill Babbitt, who also serves on the board of directors of Murder Victims Families for Human Rights, testified at Maryland's Commission on Captial Punishment first meeting on Monday, July 28, 2008. You can read about it here:

» Baltimore Sun article
» Washington Post article
» WYPR
» Examiner article

July 25, 2008

Victims' Families in Colorado Work to Repeal Death Penalty and Redirect Funding to Solve Cold Cases

Victim's family member Howard Morton and his group Families of Homicide Victims and Missing Persons (FOHVAMP) have been working to repeal Colorado's death penalty and use those funds to solve the state's many unsolved homicides. Click here to read the story in today's Colorado Springs Gazette: "Victims' families meet to hear proposal; group wants to redirect death penalty funding"

July 16, 2008

Dawn Spears Featured on KBAY

On Sunday, July 13, 2008, Sam Van Zandt from KBAY's morning show in San Jose aired an interview with CCV Member Dawn Spears. You can listen to it here.

July 8, 2008

Bill Babbitt Featured in the Sacramento Bee

On July 6, 2008, Claire Cooper featured Bill Babbitt in her "Special to the Bee" entitled "Death penalty and race: Scales of justice may weigh heavily against blacks." Read it here.

July 1, 2008

CCV Members Feautured in the Media

Following the release of the Commissions report on the death penalty, several CCV members were interviewed throughout California.

» Bill Babbitt on KPFK's Uprising
» Bill Babbitt in the Daily Journal
» Judy Kerr on KTVU
» Judy Kerr on KQED's Perspectives
» Aqeela Sherrills on KTLA

June 30, 2008

Commission Report Highlights Many Problems with California's Death Penalty and Encourages Californians to Consider Alternatives

Sacramento -The California Commission on the Fair Administration of Justice issued the state's first comprehensive report on California's death penalty today. The 116 page report identifies many problems with the state's death penalty, concluding that it is "dysfunctional" and quoting the Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court who said the system may "fall of its own weight" if nothing is done.

During a series of hearings around the state, the Commission heard from a growing segment of advocates who oppose the death penalty: family members of murder victims whose personal experiences with the system have lead them to become ardent, outspoken advocates for alternatives to the death penalty.

Fifteen survivors of murder victims opposed to the death penalty testified at the Commission's three public hearings in Sacramento, Los Angeles and Santa Clara. These witnesses, who are active with the coalition California Crime Victims for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (CCV), are also available for comment this week.

Many CCV family members told the Commission that funds now spent on the death penalty would be better used helping victims, solving unsolved murders, and preventing violence. Others emphasized the negative impact of the death penalty appeals process on survivors of murder victims.

Witnesses included:

* Nick and Amanda Wilcox (Grass Valley), who testified on the anniversary of their daughter Amanda's murder. Amanda was working at a mental health clinic when she was killed by a patient. The Wilcoxes have become leading advocates for expanding treatment for the mentally ill to prevent violence.

* Barbara Zerbe Macnab (San Francisco), who testified that, despite her mother's pleas for clemency, two men were executed for the murder of her father when she was just eight years old, causing even more anguish to their family.

* Aba Gayle, who testified that, despite her requests, the Placer County District Attorney continues to pursue lengthy appeals seeking to reinstate the death sentence for the man who killed her daughter Catherine. At the time of the trial, Aba Gayle supported the death penalty. Ten years later, she realized that holding on to the anger and anticipating the execution would not help her heal.

* Vera Ramirez-Crutcher (Ventura), who testified about the anguish she experienced when her son David was murdered trying to protect his girlfriend, but who has always opposed the death penalty on religious grounds.

* Dawn Spears (San Jose), who became the primary caretaker of her three grandchildren when her daughter Tameca was murdered, testified that she is opposed to the death penalty, as was her daughter.

"I am pleased that the Commission reported noted the moving testimony of the people who have personal experience with the system," said Judy Kerr, spokesperson and victim liaison for California Crime Victims for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (CCV). "Ours is an important voice in this debate." Family members of murder victims were instrumental in the persuading the New Jersey legislature to end the state's death penalty.

Aundré Herron, a former prosecutor who now represents people on death row and whose brother, Danny, was murdered remarked, "The death penalty does not help us heal; rather than honoring my brother, executing his killers would have forever tied his memory to an act of revenge."

"Californians should consider how we can best help the survivors of murder victims rebuild their lives and prevent more murders?" asked Kerr. "I believe the first step is to replace the death penalty with permanent imprisonment."

California Crime Victims for Alternatives to the Death Penalty and the Family Violence Law Center Hold a Vigil for Silence the Violence Day

On Wednesday, June 18, 2008, the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights held Silence the Violence Day. The Silence the Violence project is a grassroots, anti-violence movement based in Oakland, CA. On Silence the Violence Day, people all across the Bay Area, around California and across the United States, held simultaneous vigils to call for peace in their own neighborhoods, advocate for the creation of effective violence prevention programs, and to honor the lives of those lost to violence. 25 events took place in the Bay Area.

California Crime Victims for Alternatives to the Death Penalty and the Family Violence Law Center held a vigil at the MacArthur BART station. Here are some pictures:

Judy Kerr speaks on Silence the Violence Day.

Lorrain Taylor sings a beautiful song for us.