Get the Facts

Five Reasons to Oppose the Death Penalty

The death penalty is racist.
The death penalty punishes the poor.
The death penalty condemns the innocent to die.
The death penalty is not a deterrent to violent crime.
The death penalty is "cruel and unusual punishment."

The United States is the only country in the Western industrialized world that still uses the death penalty. Since 1990, 30 countries have abolished the death penalty. Among the 74 countries who continue to execute, a tiny group accounts for the vast majority of the world’s executions each year— China, Iran, Vietnam and the United States.

583fivereasons.pdf

Ten Reasons Why You Should Support Mumia Abu-Jamal

Mumia Abu-Jamal has been on death row for almost two decades for the killing of a Philadelphia police officer. An award-winning journalist, political activist and one-time member of the Black Panther Party, Mumia has faced one miscarriage of justice after another. So consider these ten reasons to support Mumia, and join the fight to save his life. This fight is more important than ever since Mumia has just been granted a stay of execution and is entering his last round of court appeals.

The Case of Troy Davis

Troy Davis was sentenced to death in Georgia for the 1989 killing of police officer Mark Allen MacPhail in Savannah, Georgia. Troy has spent the last two decades on death row for a crime he did not commit. He has faced three execution dates and could be facing a fourth in the very near future.

Newest Troy Davis Fact Sheet.pdf

KEVIN COOPER: JUSTICE DENIED

Kevin Cooper is an African-American man who was convicted and sentenced to death in 1985 for the murders of a white family: Doug and Peggy Ryen and their daughter Jessica and their house- guest Christopher Hughes. The Ryen’s 8 year old son Josh was also attacked and left for dead, but survived. The State of California intends to execute Mr. Cooper in the next few months.

2010_Kevin_Cooper_Facts.pdf

Rodney Reed: Innocent on Death Row?

Rodney Reed has been on Texas death row since 1998. He was convicted of killing Bastrop woman Stacey Stites in 1996. In 2005, a new evidentiary hearing in front of the Bastrop trial judge was ordered by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. In March of 2006, Judge Reva Towslee-Corbett (daughter of the original trial judge) heard testimony from several witnesses which linked Stacey's fiancée and former police officer Jimmy Fennell to the crime. The defense also showed how some of this eyewitness testimony was hidden from the defense at the time of trial. However, the judge declined to recommend that the CCA grant a new trial.

Rodney Fact Sheet.pdf

Is Kenny Collins an Innocent Man?

Kenny Collins is on Maryland’s death row. He claims he is innocent. No physical evidence, eye-witnesses, nor confession links Kenny Collins to the crime.

Kenny Collins is on Maryland’s death row. He claims he is innocent. You decide:

No physical evidence, eye-witnesses, nor confession links Kenny Collins to the crime. Kenny Collins has always maintained his innocence and continues to do so to this day. Kenny’s conviction depended upon the testimony of three unreliable prosecution witnesses.

Vernon Evans

Vernon Evans is currently on death row in Maryland. His pending execution was stayed in February of 2006. Here are five reasons to oppose the execution of Vernon Evans and a fact sheet and petition to download.

Stop the Execution: 5 Reasons to Oppose the Execution of Vernon Evans

Secondary links