Death Penalty Focus Action Items & Events

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

1) Action Items

Stanley Tookie Williams "Teach-In Week" for Teachers, Youth Organizers, and Youth Ministries
November 14th - 21st

This event is a part of the effort to seek clemency for Stanley Williams. Williams, once a leader of the Crips street gang, has dedicated his life to ending gang violence while on death row at San Quentin. He is scheduled to be executed by the state of California on December 13th. The basis of the clemency petition is that Stanley's personal redemption and his message of education, self-discipline and peace have had a positive impact on young people around the world. If California executes this man, what message will that be sending to the young people that Williams is trying to help?

The "Tookie Teach-In Week" is scheduled for November 14th through the 21st. The topics that could be discussed during the teach-in week include: gangs, drugs, peer pressure, redemption, civic responsibility, forgiveness, rehabilitation and the death penalty. We have developed materials to assist you with the "Teach-in" including: a short biography of Stanley Williams, Stanley's protocol for peace, his apology for co-founding the Crips, his letters to Youth #1 and #2, excerpts from his books and sample lesson plans on the death penalty. A suggested reading list is also included with this packet.

You can access all of the "Teach-in" materials in .pdf format at: http://www.deathpenalty.org/pdf_files/CurriculumTookieWeek.pdf

We hope the "Teach In" will generate media attention and the legal team plans to video tape participating classes where permitted and appropriate. Please email mailto:stefanie [at] deathpenalty.org or call 415-243-0141 to let us know how your class/group is participating and whether you would allow taping.


2) Upcoming Events

NOVEMBER 4, 2005
Panelists Share Stories About Their Personal Experience with the Criminal Justice System
Sponsored by Amnesty International USA Group #452
Begins at 7:30pm

Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura
5654 Ralston Street
Ventura, CA

Panelists include:
Tom Goldstein - wrongfully imprisoned in California for 24 years
Carol Duncanson - lost a close family member to murder
Rita Barker - lost a loved one to execution by the State of California
Rev. Jan Christian - Moderator

Admission: FREE
Co-sponsored by Death Penalty Focus and Social Action/UUCV
For further information call: Susan Bronn (805) 981-0837 or Bob Gips (805) 643-6605


NOVEMBER 5, 2005
Catholics and the Death Penalty
Two murder victims' family members share their stories of having children murdered and confronting the death penalty.

->Bud Welch's daughter was murdered in the Oklahoma City bombing. He is now President of Murder Victims' Families for Human Rights.

->Vicki Schieber's daughter was murdered in Philadelphia, PA.

Mission Basilica of San Juan Capistrano
7:30 pm
Parish Center, Room D
31520 Camino Capsistrano
Orange County, CA

RSVP to: delialachenauer [at] hotmail.com or call 949-218-2679.


November 12-13, 2005
Amnesty International USA Western Regional Conference
Holiday Inn Golden Gateway
San Francisco, CA

Death Penalty Panel: Sat. Nov. 12 - 2pm-3:30pm
Death Penalty Workshop: Sun. Nov. 13 - 1:15pm-2:45pm

For more information or to register:
Call 310-815-0450, email aiusala [at] aiusa.org, or visit
http://www.amnestyusa.org/events/western/regionalconference.html
Registration fees: $25 general, $15 students/seniors/limited income


November 16, 2005
California People of Faith Working Against the Death Penalty
San Francisco Chapter Organizing Meeting
11:30am-1pm
870 Market St. Room 1186
San Francisco, CA



NOVEMBER 30, 2005
Cities Against the Death Penalty and Global Day of Action
Throughout the world, more than 300 CITIES will illuminate a symbolic monument as a demonstration of their opposition to the death penalty, including Santa Cruz, CA. Protests against the scheduled execution of Stanley Williams are being organized to coincide with this global day-of-action. More Deatils: TBA.

This event is organized by the Community of Sant'Egidio and actively supported by the main international human rights organizations of the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty (Amnesty International, Ensemble Contre la Peine de Mort, ACAT, International Penal Reform, FIACAT, Death Penalty Focus, etc.).

Cities will include: Rome, Tokyo, Lyon, Brussels, Barcelona, Florence, Venice, Buenos Aires, Austin, Madrid, Dallas, Antwerp, Vienna, Naples, Paris, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Reggio Emilia, Bogotà, Santiago de Chile and more than 100 others.

For more information on how to involve your city: http://www.santegidio.org/no_death_penalty/2004/pdm20041119_en.htm



DECEMBER 4, 2005
Screening of Redemption: The Stan Tookie Williams Story
San Francisco/ Bay Area
Details: TBA







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