Delaware

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Repeal Bill SB 40 Introduced in Delaware!

Today, Senators Karen Peterson and Gary Simpson and Rep. Sean Lynn introduced Senate Bill 40. The purpose of the bill is to repeal Delaware’s death penalty. This is the second time a death penalty repeal bill has been introduced. Introduced in 2013, Senate Bill 19 passed the Senate, but was stalled in the House Judiciary Committee.

Watch Senator Peterson’s comments: WDEL 1150AM – Delaware’s death penalty put to test again.

Read News Journal story: State Sen. says top Dem blocking death penalty repeal.

Write your state legislators asking them to support Senate Bill 40 to repeal Delaware’s death penalty with no exceptions! Click here to use the email form at Delaware Repeal’s website.

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DCODP Month Meeting – Mon March 23, 5:30-7:00pm

Join us at our Monthly DCODP Meeting as we plan to repeal Delaware’s death penalty in 2015. Learn about the current campaign. Find out what you can do to help end Delaware’s ineffective, costly, and biased death penalty. Monday 3/23/15 from 5:30 to 7:00pm. LOCATION: Wilmington Friends Meeting House, 1st floor Social Room, 401 N. West St, Wilmington, DE 19801. Park in the parking lot on the 5th Street side or on the street. Ring the doorbell at the West Street entrance. Call 302-379-0488 for info. All are welcome! Invite a friend.

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DEATH PENALTY REPEAL BILL TO BE INTRODUCED

Dear Death Penalty Repeal Supporters,

We need your help to get Delaware’s repeal bill off to a good start. You are invited to join us at three important events in Dover. Come early and bring a friend.

#1 – Help fill Legislative Hall.  The bill hearing is *anticipated* for 1pm or so on Wednesday, March 25th. In the next few days, we expect the bill to be circulated for co-sponsors. NOTE: We need to fill Legislative Hall EARLY. We are calling for supporters to arrive as early as 10:30 or 11am. Please watch for further announcements.

#2 – Wednesday, March 18 at 1pm. Bill Introduction and Press Conference. Please plan to stand with the bill sponsors and faith leaders in the Senate Chambers. RSVP to abe@abolition.org if you can be with us.

#3 – Ask friends, neighbors, family, and group and church members to contact their legislators. You can point people to the action page at DERepeal.org so that we can easily track constituent contact. The message at its core is simple – “I live in your district. I urge you to support the bill to repeal Delaware’s death penalty in all cases.” We will update the language once we have a bMarch16PrayInDoverill number.

#4 – Monday, March 16, Noon – Join us in Dover and, also, share the attached e-flier for the Complexities of Color Agenda’s “Moral Monday Prayer-In” at Legislative Hall. The death penalty repeal bill is but one of a number of important issues being raised at this exciting event.

Feel free to e-mail or call Abe Bonowitz directly at any time with any questions or concerns at abe@abolition.org or 561-371-5204 or my toll free number, 800-973-6548. You can also reach DE Repeal Campaign Manager Ti Hall at ti@derepeal.org.

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Two men freed from Delaware’s death row due to prosecutorial misconduct

Prosecutorial misconduct contributed to reversing the convictions and death sentences of two men who served time on Delaware’s death row.

In January, the Delaware Supreme Court overturned the conviction and sentence of Isaiah McCoy, who was sentenced to death in 2012 for the murder of James Mumford.

In February, Jerome Wright was set free after his conviction and sentence were overturned. Jerome Wright was sentenced to death in 1992 for the murder of Phillip Seifert.

Both men may face new trials.

More information on Isaiah McCoy

More information on Jermaine Wright

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DE Repeal Project letter to legislators calling for full repeal of death penalty

“The Delaware Repeal Project has issued an emphatic call to our legislators for full repeal of the death penalty on behalf of our coalition partners and the tens of thousands of Delawareans we collectively represent.

The attached letter, which our legislators received yesterday, represents our collective agreement that the system of capital punishment is broken beyond repair. It is immoral, unethical, biased, irresponsibly costly, does not serve as a deterrent to violent crime, and does not provide care or closure for families of murder victims.”

Legislators Full Repeal_2 2 15 (2)

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DCODP Monthly Meeting – Monday January 26, 2015 at 5:30pm

Delaware legislators are back in session. Join us at our Monthly DCODP Meeting as we plan to repeal Delaware’s death penalty in 2015. Find out what you can do to help end Delaware’s ineffective, costly, and biased death penalty. Monday 1/26/15 from 5:30 to 7:30pm. LOCATION: Wilmington Friends Meeting House, 1st floor Social Room, 401 N. West St, Wilmington, DE 19801. Park in the parking lot on the 5th Street side or on the street. Ring the doorbell at the West Street entrance. Call 302-379-0488 for info. All are welcome! Invite a friend!

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Bryan Stevenson event on 12/15 in lieu of monthly meeting

Due to our monthly meeting date falling during Christmas week, we encourage attendance instead at this event on Monday, December 15 at the World Cafe Live at the Queen. Delaware’s own Bryan Stevenson, attorney and founder of Equal Justice Initiative, will give a presentation with Q&A, followed by signing of his new book Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and redemption. 5-7pm. Free to the public. Please spread the word.

Corrected-Bryan-Stevenson-image

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Law Enforcement Speakers Make Powerful Case for Ending the Death Penalty

We heard very inspiring, powerful words from Police Commissioner George Kain and retired police investigator Terry Dwyer at the DCODP Annual Meeting tonight. Both of them began as death penalty supporters. They realized through research and observation of how the legal system really works, that the death penalty is poor public policy. If you weren’t able to come tonight, you can hear them Tuesday 11/18 at the DE Repeal Town Hall meeting at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Bear, DE. They will be joined by Police Chief James Abbott and retired police officer John Breckinridge, whose partner was murdered in CT.