DPF Execution Alert

Death Penalty Focus
870 Market St. Ste. 859 San Francisco, CA 94102
Tel. 415-243-0143 - Fax 415-243-0994 - http://www.deathpenalty.org
Friday, February 17, 2006

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has just denied clemency to Michael Morales. You can read his statement at: http://www.bakersfieldonline.us/news/read/3/66084

Statement from the ACLU of Northern California, Death Penalty Focus, and Amnesty International USA
in Response to Denial of Clemency to Michael Morales

The Governor has decided that the state of California should execute Michael Morales on February 21, 2006. The death penalty demeans us as a society and serves no legitimate purpose. Michael Morales should be sentenced to life without parole just like his co-defendant.

This execution will be even more disturbing as, for the first time in the history of this country, a medical doctor will be inside the execution chamber and another will be outside, assisting the execution.

The California Medical Association has denounced the use of doctors in state sponsored executions, stating, “CMA believes that a physician, as a member of a profession dedicated to preserving life when there is hope of doing so, should not participate in legally authorized executions.” Other medical organizations, including the American Society of Anesthesiology and the American Medical Association also denounced the use of medical personnel in the taking of a human life.
Judge Charles McGrath, the man who sentenced Morales to death, has called the execution “a freakish injustice” and urged the Governor to change the sentence to life without parole. Judge Kenneth Starr echoed these sentiments, calling this execution “a grievous injustice of profound proportions.”

Morales will be executed because of the false testimony of a jailhouse informant. In fact, false testimony by jailhouse informants is the leading cause of wrongful death sentences. Every commission that has studied the problem of wrongful convictions and the death penalty has concluded that a person should not be put to death based on the testimony of a jailhouse informant because there is such a great risk of mistakes being made.

For this reason, we call for all executions to be stopped while the bi-partisan California Commission on the Fair Administration of Justice investigates the causes of wrongful convictions and examines the administration of the death penalty. Among the first issues the Commission will consider is the use and abuse of jailhouse informants in death penalty cases and whether it is appropriate to continue to kill people based on their unreliable testimony.

Now is the time to put all executions on hold and to allow the Justice Commission to fully conduct its work. We cannot allow for mistakes, it is a matter of life and death.
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WE URGE YOU TO ATTEND A PROTEST OR VIGIL AGAINST THE
SCHEDULED EXECUTION OF MICHAEL MORALES
ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2006 (PRESIDENT'S DAY)


Alameda
Vigil
Christ Episcopal Church
1700 Santa Clara Avenue
Alameda, CA 94501
9pm to 12:15am
Hourly singing and prayers for the victims of violence, those on death row, and to abolish the death penalty
Contact: http://www.christchurchalameda.org or 510-523-7200

Apple Valley
Our Lady of the Desert
18386 Corwin Rd.
Apple Valley, CA 92307-2328
7:00 - 8:00p.m. Prayer Service
8:00 - midnight silent vigil
Contact vschweiger [at] sbdiocese.org

Chico
Candlelight vigil
7:00 - 8:00 PM
Children's Park – Downtown Chico
Sponsored by California People of Faith, Pax Christi, Chico Peace and Justice Center
Contact: mewfelion [at] juno.com

El Cerrito
Interfaith Prayer Vigil
St. John the Baptist
11150 San Pablo Ave.
El Cerrito, CA
7:30-8:30pm
Refreshments and Carpool to San Quentin available.
Contact: Father Joe Tran at 510-232-5659

Fresno
Vigil begins at 5:30 PM
Fresno Center for Nonviolence
1584 N. Van Ness, Fresno, CA (1/2 block south of McKinley)
Contact: maria.telesco [at] att.net

Los Angeles – Two Events
1) Rally at 6:00pm
Westwood Federal Building
11000 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90024 (Corner of Veteran)
MARCH at 8:30 P.M. from Westwood Federal Bldg. to St. Paul the Apostle Church for a vigil.
Contact: EDeBode [at] la-archdiocese.org

2) LA Catholic Worker Vigil
LA Criminal Courts Building
300 N. Spring at Temple
Los Angeles, CA
4pm-6pm
Contact: LA Catholic Worker at 323-267-8789 or cponnet.stcamillus [at] usa.net

Modesto
Candlelight Vigil and Execution Watch
Meet in front of the Stanislaus County Jail, 12th and H Sts.
Modesto, CA
Starting at 11:00 p.m.
Contact: Pam Franklin at pamf [at] pc-intouch.com

Occidental
Vigil
8 pm until midnight
St. Philip's Church
3730 Bohemian Highway
Occidental CA
Contact: detained [at] sonic.net

Orange
Circle of Orange
Chapman and Glassell Streets
5PM – 8PM
City of Orange
Orange County
Contact: janurban [at] adelphia.net

Palo Alto
Vigil against the scheduled execution
4 PM – 7PM
Bring candles, signs, and warm clothing.
Some participants may choose to carpool to San Quentin.
Corner of El Camino Real and Embarcadero Road.
Palo Alto, CA
Contact: marycklein [at] yahoo.com

Pasadena
Vigil Against the Death Penalty
All Saints Church
132 N. Euclid Avenue
Pasadena, CA
8:30-10:00 PM
Contact: mtermaat [at] earthlink.net

Redwood City
Ecumenical vigil
7-9pm
St. Matthias Church
1685 Cordilleras Rd.
Redwood City, 94062
Contact: sober76 [at] earthlink.net

Riverside
Prayer Vigil for the Culture of Life
St. Catherine of Alexandria Catholic Church
Brockton & Arlington
Riverside, CA 92506
9:00pm - 12:30am
Contact: don [at] deacondon.us

Sacramento
VIGIL FROM 10PM to 12:30AM
State Capitol Building
11th & L Streets
Contact: ejeggers [at] aol.com or (916) 607-4541

San Bernardino
Diocesan Pastoral Center
1201 E. Highland
San Bernardino, CA 92404
6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Silent Candle light vigil
7:00 - 8:00 p.m. prayer service
Contact: jarnquist [at] sbdiocese.org

San Diego
Vigil
Hall of Justice
330 West Broadway
San Diego, CA 92101
3:45pm - 7pm
Contact: SGhelardi [at] aol.com

San Francisco – FOUR Events

1) San Francisco to Marin – 25 Mile Walk for Abolition
The 25 Mile Walk For Abolition begins promptly at 7am rain or shine at the Palace of the Legion of Honor, in Lincoln Park, 100 -34th Avenue, San Francisco, 94122. We walk peacefully as a large group over the Golden Gate Bridge, proceed through Sausalito, Mill Valley, Larkspur, Greenbrae, into San Rafael and end at the main east gate of San Quentin at 6pm. You can join the Walk at designated rallying points. Escort vehicles accompany the walk.
You will need comfortable shoes, warm layered colorful clothing, flashlight. Back pack with a change of socks, shoes, extra clothing etc. We stop for refreshments. Escort cars carry back packs and walkers in need of rest.

Rallying Points:

6:45am Palace of the Legion of Honor, in Lincoln Park, 100 34th Ave, San Francisco, 94122. Walk leaves promptly at 7am.
8:00am South End of Golden Gate Bridge.
8:55am North End of Golden Gate Bridge.
10:40am Head of Bay Trail in Sausalito leading to Mill Valley
11:45am Miller Avenue and Camino Alto for lunch and demonstration.
2:30pm St. Sebastian Church, 373 Bon Air Road, Greenbrae. Rest Stop. Drinks provided.
3:15pm St. Paul’s Church, 1123 Court Street, San Rafael. Rest Stop. Refreshments provided.
6:00pm East Gate of San Quentin State Prison.

For further information, please contact: Lyle Grosjean (510) 895-8203 or wejustwalk [at] aol.com. To find out the exact location and progress of the Walk, please call (510) 368-3368.

2) Prayer Vigil
7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Sisters of the Presentation Chapel
2340 Turk Blvd. (Turk and Masonic)
San Francisco, CA
Those wishing to carpool may leave from the vigil.
Contact: Sr. Nancy McLaughlin 415-664-3691 or Nmcl [at] aol.com

3) Prayer Vigil on the Eve of the Execution
2:00 p.m., concludes with evening prayer 3:30 – 3:50 p.m.
Chapel of the Nativity, Grace Cathedral
1100 California Street at Taylor
San Francisco, CA
Contact: http://www.gracecathedral.org or 415-749-6370

4) Jewish Perspective on the Death Penalty: A Panel Discussion
Program begins at 7 pm
Congregation Sherith Israel
2266 California at Webster St.
San Francisco, CA
Speakers include: Rabbi Lawrence Raphael, Rabbi Alan Lew, and Dorothy Ehrlich, ACLU of Northern California
Contact: ALevine [at] pjalliance.org


San Luis Obispo – Two Events
1) Vigil
Noon to 1pm
In front of the Government Center on Monterey St.
San Luis Obispo, CA
Contact: fnolan [at] calpoly.edu or susanimai [at] yahoo.com

2) Candle light vigil
7pm until 9pm
Mission Plaza (near the church steps)
San Luis Obispo, CA
Contact: John McAndrew (805) 904-9027 – jpmcandrew [at] earthlink.net or Ryan Alaniz (805) 544-2357

San Rafael – Two Events
1) Interfaith Service at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
1123 Court Street
San Rafael, CA
7 pm
Refreshments will be available before and after the service.
All are welcome
Carpool to San Quentin possible.
Contact: Rev. Christopher Martin or Jannick Pitot at 415-456-4842

2) Interfaith Prayer Vigil at Dominican Sisters’ Center
1520 Grand Avenue
San Rafael, CA
8 pm - 10:30pm
Carpool to the East Gate of San Quentin to join the vigil there at 11 pm.
Contact: (415) 454-6491 or mirvineop [at] sanrafaelop.org

San Quentin State Prison
Rally and vigil will begin at 8:00pm
East Gate of San Quentin Prison
You can park on Francisco Blvd. E. but expect to walk 1-2 Miles to get to the East Gate of San Quentin.
Dress warmly and bring a flashlight.
Contact: stefanie [at] deathpenalty.org or 415-243-0143

Santa Barbara
Candle-light vigil
7pm to 9pm
Meet in front of Borders
900 State Street
Santa Barbara, CA
Contact: robertso [at] math.ucsb.edu

Santa Clara to San Jose
March from the Mission Church in Santa Clara University
Starting at 4:00PM
End at the Cathedral on Market Street in downtown San Jose, CA
Contact: terrymc [at] igc.org

Santa Cruz
Vigil at the Town Clock
5-7 pm
Also meet to carpool to San Quentin
Contact: Marilyn Strayer at 831-429-1765 or marilyns [at] cruzio.com

Ventura
Candlelight vigil for the Abolition of the Death Penalty
Ventura County Government Center
Telephone Road and Victoria Avenue, Ventura, CA
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Bring a candle
Contact: DavidHoward [at] aol.com

West San Fernando Valley
Vigil from 8pm -9pm in front of the Canoga Park Post Office (corner of Sherman Way and Jordan Ave.)
Vigil from 9pm to midnight, at Emerson Unitarian Universalist Church, 7304 Jordan Avenue (one block north of Sherman Way).
Sponsored by Valley Interfaith Network for Peace & Justice
Contact: RevAnne [at] emersonuuc.org








Stefanie L. Faucher
Program Director

Death Penalty Focus
870 Market St. Ste. 859
San Francisco, CA 94102
Tel. 415-243-0143
Fax 415-243-0994
mailto:stefanie [at] deathpenalty.org
http://www.deathpenalty.org
http://www.californiamoratorium.org