A promise fulfilled......
*via email*
Karen,
Six months ago, I made a promise to Troy Davis while he was on his deathbed. I told him that we would end the death penalty in the United States, once and for all.
Today, I want to let you know that, because of you, we are even closer to ending the death penalty in this country. In a 20-16 vote, the Connecticut Senate voted to repeal the death penalty in the state. The bill will now go to the Connecticut House of Representatives, where it is considered to have a high level of support, and then to Connecticut Governor Malloy, who has said he will sign it into law.
Our fight against the death penalty in Connecticut has been in full swing ever since the unjust execution of Troy Davis. In November 2011 -- two months after Troy's execution -- his sister, Kim, joined me in Stamford, Connecticut to advocate for the repeal of the death penalty. Last week, I returned to the State Capitol to reinforce our message: The death penalty has no place in Connecticut, or the United States.
Today's victory would not have been possible were it not for the voices of thousands of advocates like you who stood tall against capital punishment. Across the country, state legislators know how valuable your voice is, and they have heard our call to end this imperfect, inhumane practice loud and clear.
We are winning the fight against the death penalty.
In addition to Connecticut's victory today, Illinois, New Jersey, and New Mexico have all abolished the death penalty in the past few years, bringing the total number of states opposing the practice to 17. If 26 states repeal the death penalty, we can make a case to the U.S. Supreme Court to outlaw the practice nationally.
With your help, we will end the death penalty. Please continue to stay engaged -- text TROY to 62227 to help us carry out Troy Davis' last wish of ending the death penalty in America.
Thank you,
Ben
Benjamin Todd Jealous
President & CEO
NAACP
* I believe Troy Davis is smiling down on us...in spite of all the hell we're dealing with now*
peace~
