Barry Scheck, co-founder of The Innocence Project, was the Keynote Speaker at the Day of Innocence Rally

Additional Speakers

Ray Krone, an innocent man who was the 100th person exonerated from Death Row in the nation

Former Texas Death Row Chaplain Reverend Carroll Pickett

Jeanette Popp, prominent Texas Death Penalty opponent, whose daughter Nancy DePriest was murdered in Austin in 1988.

Chris Ochoa, an innocent man who was wrongfully convicted of the murder of Nancy DePriest. Chris served 12 years before being exonerated and freed in 2001.

Joyce Ann Brown, an innocent woman wrongfully convicted and sentenced to life in prison for a 1980 murder in Dallas based on testimony from a witness who identified her from a photograph.

State Representative Harold Dutton has introduced both a moratorium bill and a bill to abolish the death penalty in Texas. This is the first time that an abolition bill has been introduced in the Texas Legislature in recent history. Dutton is hosting a Day of Innocence at the State Capitol on March 25 to promote both the abolition bill and the moratorium bill. We are inviting people from around the state to come to Austin to lobby their legislators and participate in the activities of the day. Call and make appointments with your legislators prior to coming to Austin.

A "teach-in" on the death penalty will take place at 9 a.m. on March 25 in Austin to prepare people to talk to their legislators. The teach-in will be done by the Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty and will be held at the Stephen F. Austin Bldg., 1700 North Congress, Rm. 118. Handouts that can be given to legislators will be provided to attendees.

A hearing on the abolition bill will take place in the State Capitol in room E2.016 at 2 p.m.

9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Teach-In Stephen F. Austin Bldg., 1700 North Congress, Rm. 118, Austin, Texas

Lunch on your own

1 p.m. Press Conference in the House Speaker's Committee Room

2:00 p.m. Hearing Starts on Abolition Bill, Rm. 2.016 at the Capitol

Afternoon - Meet with Lawmakers or Aides
Contact your lawmakers for an appointment to meet with them prior to the 25th.

6:00 p.m. Rally at the south steps of the Capitol

For additional information, call Dave Atwood in Houston at 713-529-3826 or Scott Cobb in Austin at 512-680-7806. Or Email us at admin@texasmoratorium.org

We need some volunteers to help us prepare some signs, ribbons and such for the Day of Innocence. Please come help out, if you can, this Sunday, March 23 at Protex on S. 1st in Austin at 1:30. We should be done within two hours if we have enough helpers. Protex address is 1506 S. 1st.