Weekly Report from the Board Meeting at Holman Prison 7.7.21
Very bad news from the U.S. Supreme Court which reversed relief granted to Matthew Reeves by the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on ineffective assistance of counsel. We appreciate Justice Sotomayor’s dissent and that of Justices Elena Kagan and Stephen G. Bryer and quote in part from the ABA Journal: “Sotomayor accused the majority of using “linguistic contortion” to reject the claim of death-row inmate Matthew Reeves. “The lengths to which this court goes to ensure that Reeves remains on death row are extraordinary,” Sotomayor wrote.” We agree! The lengths that the highest court in the land will go in order to kill is certainly extraordinary in a country that just celebrated “and justice for all!”
Our organization signed on to Alabama Arise's American Rescue Plan Funding Principal letter to Governor Ivey, cabinet officials, members of the Legislature, and the Governor's policy staff. The principals detailed in the letter represent an “effort to ensure the most humane and equitable allocation of these historic funds.” Project Hope to Abolish the Death Penalty is proud to be able to be a small part of this “effort.”
Our thanks and appreciation to Alabama Arise , The Ordinary People Society, Vine and Fig Tree and The Open Door Community for also joining us and many other organizations in demanding that FDR Safety and Clinical Pharmacology Services immediately abandon their corporate program to build nitrogen gas execution chambers and stop profiting from death. We are very grateful to Patriots Against Gas Executions which is the organization leading this effort.
Thank you to all who gave us feedback on our latest edition of Wings of Hope. It is always encouraging and helpful to know that one’s work is read and appreciated.
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!
Esther
