Weekly Report from the Board Meeting at Holman Prison 4.12.23

We discussed the ongoing trauma experienced by victims of botched executions. We discussed it because we witness it first hand in people we are close to at Holman. “What’s going on in Alabama has been torture,” said Bernard Harcourt, an attorney who represented Doyle for decades. “These are people who’ve had to say their final goodbyes, who are led into the execution chamber, strapped into the gurney. They’re subject to pricking and prodding with needles, and are told that they’re going to be executed some other time.” What people on the outside may not understand or even worse do not want to understand is that the trauma is not over, it is ongoing! What information should we use to determine the "standards of decency" in today's society? What limits should the Eighth Amendment place upon punishment, including the death penalty, including torture, today? Surely they cannot be decided by individuals who compare what happened to giving blood and being poked three times!

As a sponsor for many years of the event Fast and Vigil to Abolish the Death Penalty outside the U.S Supreme Court in Washington, this year from June 29th to July 2nd we would like to encourage others to support this. Details can be found at www.abolition.org.

A joint research project begun by two Texas universities illustrates the confinement conditions of death-row prisoners, including areas such as visitation, health care, attorney visits, recreation, food, and opportunities for work. The Capital Punishment & Social Rights Research Initiative has created an initial infographic describing the conditions in Texas. We have been notified that Alabama will be next.

Yesterday we attended Alabama Arise Legislative Day which was very well organized and informative. It was a great opportunity not only to meet Arise very informed and also charming staff in person with who we had had a phone conference on our issue but also to greet students from Montevallo University who promised to be in touch with us. And then there was the honor to be able to thank Senator Merika Coleman for her support and being photographed with her at the press conference. As so often, we appreciated Advisory Board Member Judy Collins’company.

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. You encourage us and make all the difference. Stay safe!

                                                             Esther