Current Actions

• (No Title)

  Thank Nebraska's Champions for Repeal.
  

  A minority of lawmakers prevented a vote on legislation to repeal the death penalty through filibuster – despite an apparent majority who would have voted yes for repeal.
  
  A few of that majority have been particularly key to the campaign for repeal in Nebraska, and have made it clear that the death penalty is a full-scale failure. It is critical that the key leaders for repeal know that the nation is watching - and is excited by what they see. 

  Sign this open letter thanking these Senators for their work to end Nebraska's death penalty.
  

• (No Title)

  

  Say 'Thank You' to the Champions of Repeal!
  

  Debate has closed on LB543 with a 28-21 vote on a cloture motion. The motion needed 33 vote in order to stop the filibuster and take an up-or-down vote on the repeal bill. It is unlikely the bill will be placed on the agenda again this session.
  

  Several legislators who had previously supported the death penalty stood up to speak in favor of repeal. Likewise, a number of new senators who have struggled with their positions made deeply empassioned speeches about their recognition that the system is broken beyond repair and needs to end.

  Take the time to thank those senators who stood up for justice and supported repeal - the Champions of Repeal.
  

  It's really easy. Just edit the letter to represent your stance on the death penalty, scroll down, fill out your information below, and click send. It will automatically be sent to all those who took a stand.
  

• (No Title)

  Thank Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley
  

  Governor Martin O'Malley just signed a bill into law, making Maryland the sixth state in six years – and the 18th overall – to repeal its death penalty.

  Several weeks ago, when the Maryland Assembly voted favorably on the repeal bill, O’Malley confirmed that next year’s budget will reallocate some of the savings from death penalty repeal to expand services for families of murder victims.
  
  His office has already kicked off the program by circulating a survey to victims’ service providers to identify gaps in support - so they can hit the ground running when the budget takes effect. 

  Please take a minute to thank the Governor for his leadership on death penalty repeal and for affirming his support to victims' families.

• (No Title)

  Tell lawmakers in the House to say YES to repealing the death penalty.
  

  Delaware's Senate voted 11-10 on legislation to repeal the death penalty. The bill now moves on to the House. An end to Delaware's death penalty is within our reach!
  

  It only takes a minute to contact your leaders in Delaware's State House and it could make all the difference.

  If you don’t live in Delaware, help by spreading the word to your network through email, Facebook and Twitter.

• (No Title)

  Tell your Senators to support death penalty repeal!
  

  LB 543, a bill to replace the death penalty with life without parole, is still alive in the Nebraksa Unicameral.

  Tell your Senator that you support this important legislation.

  It's really easy. Just edit the letter to represent your stance on the death penalty, scroll down, fill out your information below, and click send. It will automatically be sent to your Senator.

• (No Title)

  Tell Kansas Lawmakers to Get Back to Our Roots and Repeal the Death Penalty!
  

  On January 30, 1907, Kansas became one of the first states to legislatively repeal the death penalty.

  Commemorate the anniversary by calling on Kansas lawmakers support repeal today.
  

  Now it’s time that we end it for good!

• Contact your legislators about the death penalty!

  

  The fight to end the death penalty in Montana is not over, even though the 2013 legislative session is adjourned.

  We are still fighting, and we still need YOU to contact your legislators, and tell them you want to see an end to the broken, failed death penalty.

  It's really easy. Just fill out your address information below, edit the letter to represent your stance on the death penalty, and click send. It will automatically be sent to your state legislators.

  You can make an impact! Your elected officials want to hear from YOU. YOU can influence your legislator's vote. YOU can help ensure that our bill passes and justice stands.

• (No Title)

  

  Help end the death penalty in Washington!

  Maryland is about to become the 18th state in the country without the death penalty.  Let's make Washington next!
  

  Tell your elected officials that you support legislation to repeal the death penalty!

  It's really easy. Just edit the letter to represent your stance on the death penalty, scroll down, fill out your information below, and click send. It will automatically be sent to your state legislators.

• (No Title)

  The West Memphis Three are free.

  But they're still awaiting justice. 

  The case of the West Memphis Three spawned a world-wide movement to free three men - Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin, and Jessie Misskelly - who were wrongfully convicted of killing three young boys. (Learn more about the case.)
  

  Now, 20 years later, the WM3 are free - but with the stain of a criminal conviction on their record for something they did not do.
  

  Ask Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe to finish the job and pardon the West Memphis Three.

• NEBRASKA: It's time to re-evaluate the death penalty!

  Nebraska has a long history of moving away from the death penalty. Whether one supports, opposes, or is uncertain about the use of the death penalty, serious questions remain about the system's fairness, cost, and effectiveness. Two years ago, the Nebraska Legislature changed the state's method of execution to lethal injection over the objections of legal authorities, medical experts, judges, law enforcement officers, and families of those who have lost loved ones to murder. More than a dozen states have found that the death penalty is up to 10 times more expensive than sentences of life without parole, however in 2009, the Legislature refused to study the cost of Nebraska's death penalty system.
  
  Some of our political leaders are now attempting to move forward with an execution, which would be the first in Nebraska in more than 13 years. We must ask why the state is pursuing this faulty course despite so many unanswered questions. Why the rush to test a new method of execution? Why spend hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of dollars seeking an execution when the state is in the throes of a budget crisis? Why continue this broken, bloated government program?
  

• End the death penalty in Montana!

  

• Send a letter to your legislators

  Let your voice be heard in the statehouse by telling your representatives how you feel about the death penalty.

  Enter your zip code below, and you will be automatically taken to a sample letter based on whether your state has an active campaign for repeal or moratorium or if your state doesn't have the death penalty.

  See our sample talking points to get started, but be sure to put your letter in your own words.

  Tips for writing your letter:

  • Your name and address will be automatically added at the bottom of the letter, ensuring your representatives know you live in their district.
  • Add information specific to your state.  See if there are relevant bills moving through your state legislature and ask your represenatives to support them.
  • Focus on what motivates you most: Which of the death penalty's flaws truly worry you?