We received great news on Valentine’s Day! FDR SAFETY WITHDRAWS FROM CONTRACT WITH ALABAMA TO APPROVE SAFETY OF NEW EXECUTION PROTOCOL FOLLOWING ACTION BY FAITH LEADERS! From the Press Release from Worth Rises sent out minutes after it was released you know that FDR Safety was tasked with developing a new execution protocol for nitrogen hypoxia. You know the details and the great lesson taught which is that we all can make a difference in our corner if we come together and don’t give up. We are so very grateful to Worth Rises, to the Rev. Kevin Riggs and Faith Leaders of Tennessee and to all who were part of this successful effort, and there were many! May the abolition of the death penalty in its entirety be next!

We are making good progress on our next Wings of Hope but there too there is more work to be done.

We are being contacted by out of state attorneys as well as by men at Holman for information regarding our work on Alabama’s lack of an equal protection clause. It is encouraging that this issue is recognized as a powerful argument.

We are not a partisan organization however once more with the primaries fast approaching we are reaching out to family and friends asking them to inform themselves on the candidates and to make sure that they are registered.

We also decided to reach out to the EU dignitaries who signed on to the letter protesting the execution of the mentally disabled. We are certainly appreciative of that particular action but will ask whether they could become even more pro-active and speak up often about their opposition to the death penalty.

We were honored but also a little sad to attend Jim Carnes* zoom retirement party and left this message on his Kudoboard: “Thank you for many years of friendship from all of us of Project Hope to Abolish the Death Penalty. We shall miss you and your kindness and concern! Our very best wishes for this new chapter of your life!” Jim was the Communications Director of Alabama Arise from 2003-2022.

In closing and as always, we continue to 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. You encourage us and make all the difference. Stay safe and wear a mask!

                                                                                                       Esther