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Stop the Execution of a Mentally-ill Man in Virginia

Stop the Execution of a Mentally-ill Man in Virginia
Percy Walton, who suffers from serious mental illness, is scheduled to be executed in Virginia on June 8. There is also evidence that Mr. Walton has at least borderline mental retardation and the mental age of a young child. If the crimes for which he was sentenced to death had been committed five weeks earlier, Percy Walton would have been 17 years old and his execution would be illegal under US and international law. By all accounts, Percy Walton is less developed intellectually than most 18-year-olds.
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RESOURCES ONLINE

The Program to Abolish the Death Penalty updates the information below on a regular basis. Follow the links below for the latest information on these topics:
Pending Executions | Case Updates | Select State and National Updates | Upcoming Events

DEATH PENALTY NEWS

30 Years After Gregg
July 2, 2006 will mark the 30th anniversary of the landmark Gregg v. Georgia ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court, which upheld newly revised death penalty statutes after having called this punishment "arbitrary, capricious and discriminatory" just four years earlier. Executions resumed in 1977, and since then more than 1,000 condemned prisoners have been executed, while about 3,400 sit on death rows throughout the United States.

The 30th anniversary of the Gregg decision provides an excellent opportunity for grassroots activists to call for a thorough and frank assessment of whether the expectations of a fairer and less arbitrary death penalty have, in fact, been fulfilled.
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More News!
For special case updates, the latest news stories, and more visit our blog and join the discussion.
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2006 National Weekend of Faith in Action on the Death Penalty!
Mark your calendars! Amnesty International USA's National Weekend of Faith in Action on the Death Penalty (NWFA) will take place October 20-22, 2006. The NWFA is an occasion for faith communities, interfaith groups, human rights activists, and individuals to examine the death penalty from the perspective of their own faith traditions and values. It’s also an opportunity to discuss personal views in a safe and comfortable space. Set aside some time that weekend for an activity or event that focuses on the death penalty, using the ideas and resources provided by AIUSA as your guide.

How to get started:

• Read more about the NWFA and check out some of the activities that took place last year
• Register as a participant, using a quick and easy form
• Start planning your activity or event for October (a NWFA Organizing Packet will be sent to all registered participants this summer; it contains a wealth of ideas and resources)

posted by Annamarie at 1:03 AM