Rep Harold Dutton speaking on Lobby Day

Death Penalty Issues Lobby Day was held on March 15, 2005. People from around the state came to Austin to tell their elected representatives to "Stop Executions". Participants spoke with their legislators (or members of their staff) on death penalty issues, including a moratorium, life without parole, abolition and other issues. There was a lobby training workshop where we provided participants with talking points and tips for meeting legislators.

Video of TV coverage of Death Penalty Issues Lobby Day rally at the capitol on March 15. There are reports from two different TV stations on this file. They mostly have to do with the Life without Parole hearings held on March 15. The report with the shots of the rally are in the second story that aired on KEYE, which appears about three minutes into the clip. This is a large 84 MB file, so it is only accessible if you have a broadband connection.

Special guests included Jesse Quackenbush, the attorney for Johnny Garrett. Garrett was executed by Texas in 1992, but there is now strong evidence that he was innocent. Garrett was a juvenile offender executed before the recent Supreme Court ruling that found such executions are unconstitutional. Other speakers at the press conference or rally included State Senator Leticia Van De Putte, State Representative Ruth Jones McClendon, State Representative Elliott Naishtat, Martha Cotera, Scott Cobb, Abe Bonowitz, Hooman Keshavars Hedayaty, Lily Hughes, Carol Byars, Sister Elizabeth Riebschlaeger and Omar Neal.

Lobby day was organized by TMN and co-sponsored by CEDP, TCADP, TDPAM and State Representative Harold Dutton. We thank everyone who donated money, energy and time to make Lobby Day a success.

Schedule for Lobby Day

• 9:30 - 11 AM Lobby Training Workshop Conducted by Les Breeding. Location: William P. Clements Building, Room 103. 300 W. 15th Street, Austin. Parking is available either at meters along the streets or a short walk away at the Capitol Visitors Parking Garage at 1201 San Jacinto located between Trinity and San Jacinto Streets. Parking is free for the first two hours and $.75 for each half hour thereafter (maximum daily charge: $6.00). Map of the Capitol Complex.
  

• Noon Press Conference with among others Jesse Quackenbush, the attorney representing the family of Johnny Garrett, who was executed by Texas in 1992. Many people now believe that Garrett was innocent. Garrett was 17 at the time of the crime for which he was executed and he was a person with mental retardation. Also speaking were Rep Harold Dutton, State Rep Ruth Jones McClendon and Martha Cotera.

• 1 PM Rally on South Steps of Capitol with 280 boxes representing lost evidence with State Senator Leticia Van De Putte.

• Afternoon: Visits to Legislative offices to meet with legislators or their aides. Committee hearings in Senate Criminal Justice Committee and House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee.

• 4 PM Meet in the Capitol Cafeteria to socialize and exchange information about what everyone learned during their visits with legislators.