Requiem for the Death Penalty

Please join us for a historic series of events entitled:

 “Requiem for the Death Penalty”

 April 2012 marks the 20th anniversary of the resumption of executions in California.  Since then 13 people have been executed.

We encourage you to join us in honoring those who have fought against the continued use of capital punishment and to participate in a series of educational and cultural events on this important issue.

Here are the dates to save:

April 21 (Saturday) 6–9 PM:
Reception at 111 Minna Gallery, San Francisco
to honor attorneys John Grele, David Senior, and Richard Steinken for challenging California's lethal injection procedures - as constituting crue land unusual punishment - for the past 6 years. Emcee: Scharlette Holdman; Jeannie Sternberg and Gary Sowards will present awards; guest artist Malaquias Montoya; live jazz ensemble featuring Harrison Goldberg (sax) and Alma Owens-Delucchi (vocals); refreshments. ($25/$30 at door)

April 22 (Sunday) 3–5:30 PM:
Interfaith Gathering of People of Faith
Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology
2301 Vine Street (@ Arch St.), Berkeley. (Free)
Survivors of victims of violence will share their views of the death penalty. Following the panel discussion, there will be an interfaith memorial service of healing.

April 23 & 24 (Mon/Tues) 7 PM:
Staged readings of Michael Kroll's play "Just Like a Dog"                                                                    Shotgun Players Ashby Stage
1901 Ashby Avenue, Berkeley (@ Ashby BART)
Inspired by the playwright's witnessing a gas chamber execution 20 years ago, this is a fictional story of an impending execution and two people from opposite perspectives, both broken and floundering, who become each other's lifeline back into the world.  *Starring: Attorneys Cliff Gardner, Scott Kauffman and Andy Love, as well as mitigation specialists extraordinaire Scharlette Holdman and Charlie Pizarro! ($15/$18 at door)

Additionally, at several venues around the Bay Area we will show:

"Procedure 769: Witnesses to an Execution"
an award-winning documentary by Dutch filmmaker Jaap van Hoewijk, focusing on those who witnessed the execution in 1992. Scheduled showings, with questions and answers afterwards:

April 3 (Tuesday) 5:30–7:30 PM:
San Francisco Public Library
100 Larkin Street (Civic Center), San Francisco (Free)
(Panel discussion to follow)

April 17 (Tuesday) 7–9 PM:
Newman Hall (in the Lounge)
2700 Dwight Way (@ College Avenue), Berkeley (Free)

April 22 (Sunday) 10:30 AM–12:30 PM:
Landmark Shattuck Theater
2230 Shattuck Avenue (@ Kittredge St.), Berkeley ($5/$7 at door)

For More Information: www.requiemforthedeathpenalty.com

For Tickets: requiemforthedeathpenalty.eventbrite.com

Co-Sponsored by:

National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty

American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California

California Attorneys for Criminal Justice

California People of Faith

Death Penalty Focus

RioVida Networks

Editorial: Report cites numerous failings in applying death penalty read full story