International Death Penalty Abolition Day

by Matt Kelley · 2009-03-01 08:37:00 UTC
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Today is a day of action to abolish the death penalty around the world. Chosen to mark the anniversary of the day that Michigan became the first U.S. state to abolish the death penalty, the group Citizens United for the Abolition of Death Penalty calls on us all to do something today - large or small - to help end the practice of capital punishment in our state or country.

As in many movements, this isn't the only day devoted to this issue. October 10 is also known as World Day Against the Death Penalty. So while this does scatter the action a bit, the more days of observance the merrier when we're up against such an entrenched policy.

If you can take 30 seconds to mark this day of action, send an email to the Maryland Senate urging Senators to vote this week to repeal the state's death penalty. Maryland has the best shot of any state this year the abolish capital punishment, and this week's vote on the Senate floor will be crucial. Here's the latest:

The bill to abolish capital punishment in Maryland failed to gain a majority from the Senate Judiciary Committee on Friday, with a 5-5 vote. But it will go to the full floor anyway.

Gov. Martin O'Malley has been pushing hard to end the death penalty in the state. On Wednesday, he led a march of death penalty opponents in Annapolis (pictured above).

O'Malley said this week he thinks he has 22 of the 24 votes needed to pass the Senate. Your voice can make the difference. Take action today.

Matt Kelley is the Online Communications Manager at the Innocence Project and a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. Follow him on Twitter @mattjkelley.
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