Weekly Report from the Board Meeting at Holman Prison 6.5.24

Governor Ivey set 7.18.24 as the execution date by lethal injection for Keith Edmund Gavin. Gavin’s attorney had asked the court not to authorize the execution, arguing the state was moving Gavin to the “front of the line” ahead of other inmates who had exhausted their appeals. Talking Points are at: https://www.phadp.org/execution-alert-keith-edmund-gavin-7-18-24/  and most importantly, please sign the petition: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/stop-the-execution-of-keith-gavin-in-alabama  

Governor Ivey set 9.26.24 as the execution date for Alan Eugene Miller, who survived a 2022 lethal injection attempt.  His attorneys have asked the federal judge to block the execution from going forward, seeking to bar the use of nitrogen hypoxia as the method of execution  claiming it amounts to cruel and unusual punishment, which is barred by the U.S. Constitution. Talking Points are at: https://www.phadp.org/execution-alert-alan-eugene-miller-9-26-24/ and most importantly please sign the petition: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/stop-the-execution-of-alan-miller-in-alabama  

We discussed the article “What happened when I tried to get Kenneth Smith's autopsy report” by Beth Shelburne.

  We are proud to be once more one of the sponsors of the Fast and Vigil Starvin’ for Justice. Here are the details: Visit Abolition.org to learn more about Starvin' for Justice: Fast and Vigil - the upcoming  31st Annual Fast & Vigil to Abolish the Death Penalty at the US Supreme Court. June 29-July 2 (NOTE: Many people come just for one day or even one evening event. Those who attend the entire event from start to finish plan to be in DC by 7pm on June 28 and depart after 2am on July 3.) 

We are delighted that The Art of Resistance, the exhibit of art from Alabama’s death row is now officially open at the Tennessee Valley Museum of Art in Tuscumbia and is already getting some press. It will remain there until June 27. A smaller pop-up version of the exhibit will travel to churches in Birmingham and Tuscaloosa in July. We will keep you updated. This project was made possible by the Alabama State Council on the Arts and the National Performance Network (NPN) Southern Artists for Social Change grant, with funding from the Surdna Foundation's "Radical Imagination for Racial Justice" Initiative. For more information, visit www.npnweb.org. Thank you Dr. Katie Owens-Murphy!

And yes, the latest edition of Wings of Hope is in process!

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