Weekly Report from the Board Meeting at Holman Prison 2.11.26
Alabama has set 3.12.26 as an execution date by nitrogen hypoxia for Charles Lee Burton. Please contact Governor Kay Ivey and ask her to stay this execution and remind her of her statement “that all life is sacred!”Talking Points at; https://www.phadp.org/execution-alert-9 Sign the petition bit.ly/CharlesBurtonAL
https://www.charlessonnyburton.com for additional actions!
“As we enter this critical moment in Sonny’s case, our goal is to bring this community closer together by sharing timely updates, clear actions, and the information needed to keep mercy firmly in the public conversation.” Quote from Sonny’s special support team, SAVE SONNY BURTON. We will be forwarding their weekly updates so you can stay informed on how you can help.
From our Amnesty International friends in Monmouth, Wales: “Urgent Action for Monmouthshire’s Members regarding Charles’ case. I shall also be producing a podcast this week where I shall be talking about Charles’s case etc.”
These newsletters will continue as long as this fight continues. We’re grateful you’re here.
Not too surprisingly there have been several articles about this execution date for a man who did not kill anyone and who was not even present when the murder took place. From EJI: Charles Burton’s Case Reveals Arbitrariness of Alabama’s Death Penalty
Our thanks and appreciation to our friend the Rev. Jeff Hood for his book “SUFFOCATION BY DESIGN, the story of America’s newest Execution Method and also to our friend David Dodge for being instrumental in mailing a copy of the book to 40 Alabama officials! May they read it and comprehend that this violates the 8th Amendment of forbidding “cruel and unusual punishment”, and more importantly, may they care!
Stephen Cooper in his article Alabama bill calling for death penalty for sex crimes is unconstitutional on HB 41 passage writes:” And Alabamians should not be forced by Simpson or any politician to have to spend their hard-earned tax dollars litigating an uphill legal battle, in which, again, no good arguments have been advanced to surmount Kennedy v. Louisiana’s sound reasoning, just Simpson’s angry rhetoric.
“We continuously pass bills here that we know are unconstitutional, and then we have to later defend this and to lend taxpayers’ money to defend these unconstitutional bills,” Rep. Penni McClammy, D-Montgomery, wisely volunteered during the debate about HB 41. Can I get an “amen” from all you fiscally conservative Alabamians — both Democrats and Republicans?
Our Advisory Board Member Ronald Wyers has been invited to speak to a UA Honors Class on: “Perspectives on Incarceration” on March 9th.
We thank all who are working so hard and diligently to stop all killing in Alabama! And as always in closing, we thank all our generous donors who either gave by going to our website and using the “donate” button or who gave directly. Thank you also to all who took the time to read our notes, commented, liked and shared them on Facebook. Stay safe and be kind to each other.
Esther
