War and occupation of Iraq continue. Violence, atrocities pile up. More evidence of the killing of unarmed civilians comes to light as the death toll climbs both for Iraqi civilians (estimated by a study published in the Lancet Medical Journal to be at 100,000 more than a year ago) and for US Troops nearing the 2,500 mark. The wounded multiply. The deficits balloon. Post Tramautic Stress Disorder sets in taking its toll on individuals, families, communities. The madness of war threatens to overwhelm.
And then, as we look closely, we see acts of courageous nonviolent resistance shining through, providing seeds of hope. People are taking big risks. GI Resistance is intensifying. Christian Peacemaker Teams and others provide a glimmer of a third way, an alternative, effective way to approach violence and conflict.
First U.S. Army Officer Publicly Refuses Deployment
Royal Air Force Doctor Receives 8 Months Prison Sentence
Retired generals are Speaking Out
Christian Peacemaker Teams & Others Pioneer New Way
read the entire article
|
Botched Execution in Ohio |
A few thoughts ... from the outside ...IJPC regularly stands in witness outside the SOCF in Lucasville where Ohio executes. On May 2nd, Ohio executed Joe Clark. “It don’t work .. it don’t work” cries Joe Clark as the State of Ohio attempts to execute him at 10 am .... 11:26 he is pronounced dead. Standing outside the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility .... holding a candle in prayer .... listening to a gentleman from Yellow Springs toll a bell ...
15 minutes .. 30 minutes ... 45 minutes ...
some 60 minutes later we still wait. What could be going on inside there? Was there a legal delay? Did a witness or press person faint? No movement outside the prison. No witnesses or body being removed. The Ohio Highway parole even grew weary and went into their cars to rest. Finally, word came from the inside. They cannot find a good vein.
Over an hour and a half Joe Clark lay strapped to the gurney as prison employees try to inject the lethal cocktail. Press representatives hear moans from Clark. Ohio has botched its 21 st execution.
What went wrong? Mistakes happen even under the best conditions with trained professionals in hospital settings. Yet in this case, personnel with limited training are carrying out this complicated medical procedure. I think of the horror on the faces of students from Xavier University when they realize the cause of this “delay”. I think of the witnesses who wait behind the closed curtain but hear Joe Clark’s groans of pain. I think of Joe and the psychological torture this must be. I think of the Lucasville staff. Botched executions traumatize wardens, corrections officers, and others who carry them out. Regulations must be properly designed to protect from such trauma.
Then I think of Jeff Hill. He has a stay due to the lethal injection lawsuit in Ohio. [Judge Frost, April 28, 2006] The courts have seen a recent flurry of activity around the constitutionality of lethal injection as it is currently administered. Given that states have adopted regulations and are carrying out executions without proper training, research, or knowledge, the time for review is long overdue. Judge Frost’s order notes “the mounting evidence calling Ohio’s lethal injection protocol, and the same or similar protocols employed by other states, increasingly into question.” With three scheduled execution dates in Ohio this summer and two more vulnerable – this botched execution renews my resolve for a time-out on execution in Ohio. Death is different. There are a lot of questions and confusion out there about how this process works, and it is only reasonable that we should review what we’re doing and make changes to reduce errors.
But lets be clear—lethal injection challenges and botched executions while they focus on the legality of the process can divert our conversation from the real discussion – we cannot humanely execute. The death penalty system [Ohio included] is riddled with error including racial disparity, prosecutorial misconduct, geographic disparity, cost issues, innocence and more. The cases currently before the courts do not challenge the death penalty itself, nor do they challenge the concept of lethal injection. Rather, they are requesting a review of protocols arbitrarily developed and known to be faulty. This review process does nothing to end the death penalty or address the real flaws in the system. Ohio needs a moratorium on executions while a fair and thorough study of the system is conducted.
|
Good News: Update - Jeff Hill Case |
The Chronological Facts:
On April 28th, Judge Frost granted a stay for Jeff due to the pending lethal injection lawsuit in Ohio.
The State, through the Attorney General’s Office, chose not to appeal Jeff’s stay Therefore the Parole Board indefinitely postponed the May 17th clemency hearing.
Jeff’s family stands united against his execution. They issued this statement : “In 1991, while under the severe influence of drugs, Jeffrey tragically killed his mother, Emma Hill. The moment he realized the events of his mother's death, Jeffrey expressed and continues to express deep remorse. The families of Jeffrey Hill and the late Emma Hill have requested that the sentence of Jeffrey Hill be commuted. THIS FAMILY HAS SUFFERED ENOUGH – PLEASE GRANT JEFF CLEMENCY! Let our voice be heard, another death in our family will only add more suffering and grief to the burdens we have already borne.“
We continue to collect petition signatures - thanks to the many volunteers who have gathered over 2,000 signatures - but let us not weary - we must continue to collect more signatures while we have this unexpected time! The Jeff Hill Clemency Campaign continues to collect supporters to share his story and gather petition signatures. If you can distribute informational leaflets on this case, volunteer at the Findlay Market booth to collect petition signatures, or circulate an online petition—WE NEED YOUR HELP ... Contact IJPC at 513579-8547. Download and sign on at www.ijpc-cincinnati.org or go directly to www.petitiononline.com/jeffhill/petition.html
| |
Discouraging News: Execution Alerts |
Rocky Barton – July 12 Rocky Barton of Warren County is scheduled to be executed by the State of Ohio on July 12, 2006. Mr. Barton requested the death penalty as a sentence. Within his trial he refused to let his attorney’s present mitigating evidence and has now waived appeals. download petition
Darryl Ferguson - August 8 Darryl Ferguson of Dayton, Ohio is scheduled to be executed by the State of Ohio on Tuesday, August 8, 2006 at Southern Ohio Correctional Facility. Mr. Ferguson will have a mandatory clemency hearing on Friday July 14, 2006. There have been issues of mental illness surrounding this case; however Mr. Ferguson has waived any and all future appeals. If this continues he will become the sixth inmate since 1999 who has voluntarily given up all appeals. download petition
|
|
|
Before You Enlist/Truth–in-Recruting - The Truth-in-Recruiting campaign continues. In May we were warmly received at Holmes High School in Covington. Holmes has 1200 students and a JROTC program. Over 400 students took our materials. Despite our “Before You Enlist” banner and normal, civilian clothing, a number of students mistook us for military recruiters, saying emphatically that they would not be entering the armed forces and they didn’t want any information from recruiters. Over the summer, our materials will be available weekly on Saturdays at Findlay Market and via our website. Join us at our Peace Meeting on June 21 at 7pm at Peaslee and help us delve deeper into the truth-in-recruiting work
Findlay Market Tabling - Spend your Saturday at Findlay Market! On April 29, 2006 the new “Non-Profit Table” at Findlay Market got kicked off. Literature on issues such as Ohioans to Stop Executions, Truth in Recruiting, Peace Camp, Interfaith Workers and many more were distributed. The table is open to progressive groups (not affiliated with a political party) throughout the season. The table will be located on the Northwest side of the Main Building. We will need to schedule people during the time periods of 9-11, 11-1 and 1-3 on any Saturday during the season. Also be prepared to bring any materials needed to give out to the people of Cincinnati. For more information or to schedule a time contact info@ijpc-cincinnati.org
Nonviolent Communication Practice Group has begun and will meet monthly. If you are interested in joining, you are welcome to come to our next meeting on Thursday, July 13 from 11am12:30pm at the Peaslee Neighborhood Center.(215 East 14th St),About eleven people attended our first, orientation practice session. If there is more interest, we might split into smaller groups. We will be using the Nonviolent Communication: A Language for Life book writtenby Marshall Rosenberg and the Nonviolent Communication Companion Work Book :A Practical Guide for Individual, Group, or Classroom Study written by LucyLeu. They can be purchased together for a 33% savings in the Getting Started Pack at www.cnvc.org/ for $24.95. In July, we will delve into Chapter 1. If you have any questions or interest, please contact Kristen at 513-579-8547 .
Troops Home Fast - On July 4, 2006 Troops Home Fast, an anti-war hunger strike, will begin in Washington DC in front of the White House. This hunger strike will take place to commemorate the dead, the wounded, and those still fighting the unjust war in Iraq. This is event is sponsored by Code Pink, Women for Peace and they are inviting people around the world to join the effort and support this open-ended fast by fasting for at least one day either in Washington or in their own communities. To take part in this event you can fast as an individual in your own community, join the group in Washington DC, or organize a rolling fast (each person fasting for one day) in a public place such as a congressional office, recruiting station, federal building, or a church. To sign up to fast in Washington or to learn more about Troops Home Fast visit www.codepink4peace.org
Declaration of Peace - The Declaration of Peace is a pledge to declare peace by taking action to bring home all US troops from Iraq and establish a comprehensive, concrete and rapid plan for an end to the US war in Iraq by September 21, 2006, International Peace Day. If these goals are not reached by this day the group is asking the public to declare peace by engaging in nonviolent action in cities and towns across the U.S. and Washington DC during the week of September 21-28. Should the efforts still be ignored, nationally coordinated nonviolent activities will continue until the US withdraws from Iraq. To participate in the Declaration of Peace pledge become a Declaration signer! Then, take part in activities leading up to Sept. 21 such as vigils, rallies, marches, national phone-ins and email campaigns. Call upon the Bush Administration and Congress to end the war! Finally you can prepare for the activities in September by attending public Declaration signings, attending nonviolence training sessions, and other public events dealing with the Declaration for Peace. Events occurring during the week of September 21-28, 2006 will include such things as marches, rallies, demonstrations, as well as some forms of nonviolent civil disobedience. To find out more please visit www.declarationofpeace.org
Billionaires for Bush - Want to take a more humorous look at the current Administration while still doing your part to fight the many injustices occurring? You may want to become a Billionaire for Bush! This national group, with a local Cincinnati-Dayton chapter, is a doit-yourself grassroots media campaign using humor and street theater to expose politicians who support corporate interests at the expense of everyday Americans. The organization claims to “highlight, unspin, and reframe the economic issues that affect people's lives. Armed with tuxedos, evening gowns, hard facts and a humorous spin, we will re-engage those citizens outside of the process and reignite those within it.” See www.bilionairesforbush.com
|
|
|
|
