Abolish the Death Penalty

Message from Amnesty International USA

Dear Felix,

You are one of Amnesty International USA's most dedicated online activists and we need you to protest a terrible injustice.

Did you know that at one time there was no death penalty in the United States? The Supreme Court ruled that the death penalty was arbitrary, capricious and discriminatory - as random as being struck by lightning. But things changed with the Gregg v. Georgia ruling on July 2, 1976 and the death penalty was reinstated. In the 30 years since the Gregg decision over 1,000 people have been executed and we have become increasingly aware of how arbitrary, capricious and discriminatory our death penalty system still is.

Raise your voice and call for an end to this outmoded, outlandish and outrageous system of injustice on the 30th anniversary of the Gregg decision.

Three things we're asking you to do:

Write a letter to the editor,
Organize an event with your friends and family, or
Organize a public event with other concerned citizens.
How? Find out at www.amnestyusa.org/abolish/gregg/act.html. We'll give you a special grassroots organizing kit, a study guide on the Gregg decision, and a way to promote your local events.

We know this is harder than just clicking and sending an email. But we believe that you have the will and heart to go the extra mile, and will stand with us to uphold our basic human rights.

In solidarity,
Sue Gunawardena-Vaughn
Director, Program to Abolish the Death Penalty
Amnesty International USA