This month’s newsletter contains
- an apology to the Texas Greens for omitting their position in support of a moratorium,
- updates on the upcoming elections,
- information about the Thomas Miller-El case,
Feb. 19, 2002 Dear Moratorium Supporter, We have a busy month. Primary elections are March 12, and a there are some important opportunities to keep the media spotlight on the Texas death penalty. Primary elections: For starters, a correction: last month we said that no Texas gubernatorial candidate had declared support for a moratorium. We were wrong and we apologize. Rahul Marajan, Green party candidate for Texas Governor, is a proud moratorium supporter. More information on the Texas Green party is available at www.txgreens.org. Secondly, TMN is surveying on issues related to capital punishment all the statewide candidates and the legislative candidates who have primary opposition. We’ll report on the results in time for next month’s primaries. By the general election, we hope to post the positions of all the candidates on our website. Even if the candidates choose not to respond, at least our questionnaire reminds them that there are people who care about their opinions on capital punishment issues. Be sure to get out to candidate forums or just call up the campaign headquarters and ask the candidates to state their positions on a moratorium and on other capital punishment issues. To locate the campaign addresses of Democratic candidates: http://www.txdemocrats.org/campaigns2002-enter2.htm To locate the campaign addresses of Republican candidates: http://www.texasgop.org/filings2002/ To locate the campaign addresses of Green candidates: http://www.txgreens.org/election2002/candidates2002.htm To locate the campaign addresses of Libertarian candidates: http://www.tx.lp.org/database-ro/candidates/index.html Two points of good news; good time for letters to editors: First, the U.S. Supreme Court is granting Thomas Miller-El a reprieve from his Feb. 21 execution date to consider problems concerning the jury selection in his trial. As the Associated Press explained: Prosecutors used their power to challenge specific jurors as a way to eliminate 10 out of 11 potential black jurors before Miller-El’s trial, his lawyers claim. Miller-El is black. The only black juror chosen told prosecutors he regarded execution as ‘too quick’ and painless a method of punishment. ‘Pour some honey on them and stake them out over an ant bed,’ the man said. Miller-El’s case is perfect reason why we need a moratorium. Even if his guilt is not in question, it clear that his defense never had a fair chance to argue for punishment less severe than execution. Secondly, since the United States’ reinstatement of the death penalty in 1973, 99 prisoners have been exonerated and released from death row. The 100th is expected to be exonerated any day now. Both Miller-El’s case and the 100th exoneration (when it happens) are perfect occasions to write a letter to the editor of your local daily. We have included letters to the editors addresses below, as well as some talking points on Miller-El’s case. Remember to keep letters concise. Addresses: Austin American Statesman: letters@statesman.com Austin Chronicle mail@austinchronicle.com Houston Chronicle hci@chron.com San Antonio Express News letters@express-news.net Dallas Morning News letters@dallasnews.cm Waco letters@wacotrib.com El Paso jlaird@elpasotimes.com Amarillo opinion@amarillonet.com Fort Wort Star Telegram letter@startelegram.com Talking Points for Letters to the Editor on Thomas Miller-El: 1. The clemency process in Texas does not work. a. Governors George Bush and Rick Perry have given the final okay on over 100 executions b. During their time as Governors, only 1 person has been granted clemency. That’s compared with two people this year alone in North Carolina. c. The Pardon and Parole Board which oversees all petitions for clemency in death penalty cases is made up of 18 people, in six different offices. They are not required to meet or talk about a case, and only have to fax in their decision. This is not justice. 2. The Dallas County District Attorney’s office in Mr. Miller-El’s case was racist when choosing his jury. a. The D.A.’s office routinely excluded jurors based on race during the 1980s (time period of Miller-El’s trial) b. The D.A.’s office circulated instructions to its attorneys to exclude the following people from a jury: Jews, Negroes, Italians, and Mexicans. c. Miller-El’s jury consisted of 11 white and one black juror d. The one black juror made clear his support for the death penalty and his desire to have criminals tortured if found guilty 3. Mr. Miller-El was not physically competent to stand trial. a. He was suffering from a gunshot wound and had difficulty communicating with his attorneys during the trial b.Miller-El was hospitalized three times during the course of his trial 4.Mr. Miller-El’s case is just one example of how the death penalty system in Texas and America is not working. A moratorium on executions is needed to ensure that no innocent people are executed and to figure out why the system is broken. We’ll be writing again soon with results of our candidates poll. Best wishes, Texas Moratorium Network P.S. You can subscribe to receive this newsletter via email directly.