LACP.org
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Death Is Different
 Should California have a death penalty?
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Death Is Different
Should California impose a moratorium on the death penalty?

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Human Relations Commission

Lorraine Bradley
.....President
Shoukat Ali Hussain
.....Vice President
Philip Bartenetti
Leni Boorstin
Erica M. Kim
Rabbi Elazar Muskin
Mary Ann Pagsibigan
Warren Steinberg
David Wexler
City of Los Angeles



James K. Hahn
Mayor

Human Relations Department

200 N. Spring Street, City Hall
Room 1625
Los Angeles, CA 90012

213 / 978-1660
213 / 978-1668 fax

Rabbi Allen I. Freehling
.....Executive Director
.....rabbiallenf@mailbox.lacity.org
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Here's a very important topic that we need to carefully examine . . .
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WHEN OUR HUMAN RELATIONS NETWORK

CONVENES PROMPTLY AT 12:30 P.M. ON

THURSDAY, JULY 17
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our distinguished guest speaker will be
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STEVEN ROHDE
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Well known attorney and expert on Constitutional Law,
immediate past president of the ACLU of Southern California,
and author of Words of Freedom
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whom we have invited to speak on the subject:
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"DEATH IS DIFFERENT -- SHOULD CALIFORNIA
IMPOSE A MORATORIUM ON THE DEATH PENALTY?"
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As always, we'll convene for Lunch and our Dialogue Session in the
Library of the American Civil Liberties Union
(1616 Beverly Boulevard, Los Angeles).
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PLEASE RSVP WITHOUT DELAY!

We ask that those who are planning to be in attendance call
213 / 978-1660 no later than noon on Tuesday, July 15, and be prepared
to donate $5.00 to ACLU for pizza and beverage.

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EDITOR'S NOTE: Please also consider this related topic:

Oppose the Execution of Mentally Retarded Offenders
From: ROHDEVICTR@aol.com

The ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) opposes capital punishment for many reasons.

One of the many problems with our capital punishment system has been the execution of mentally retarded people. Last year, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that executing the mentally retarded is cruel and unusual punishment. California legislators have been afraid for years to enact such a law themselves, and California has STILL failed, even in the wake of the Supreme Court's ruling, to create a clear system to implement this decision.

It's time for California to respond to the spirit of the Supreme Court's long overdue decision: executing mentally retarded people IS cruel and unusual punishment. Support SB 3, Senator John Burton's bill to establish a clear and balanced system for making sure that we don't execute mentally retarded people.

You can take action on this alert via the web at:
http://ga1.org/campaign/sb3/8esg524jwdw

Tell your friends, family members, community members, and colleagues that they can make an important difference in ensuring that the mentally retarded are not executed in California:
http://ga1.org/campaign/sb3/forward/8esg524jwdw

We encourage you to take action by November 25, 2003 Make Sure California Doesn't Execute the Mentally Retarded

Your letter will be addressed and sent to:

Governor Gray Davis (if you live in CA)
Your Assemblyperson (if you live in CA)

----THIS LETTER WILL BE SENT IN YOUR NAME----

Dear [decision maker name automatically inserted here],

Please support for SB 3 (Burton), which sets forth the statutory framework to implement the U.S. Supreme Court decision in "Atkins" outlawing the execution of the mentally retarded.

SB 3 establishes fair, procedural mechanisms to assure that the mentally retarded will not be executed in California. The definition of mental retardation is taken directly from California law in existence for twenty years and is consistent with the "Atkins" decision. The pretrial proceeding to determine mentally retardation is consistent with the approach taken in other states. The pretrial process makes sense for numerous reasons, perhaps most importantly, if the defendant has mental retardation, and therefore is ineligible for the death penalty, the State saves the enormous cost of an unnecessary capital trial.

It is time for the California legislature to act and make sure once and for all that the death penalty is not imposed on those with mental retardation. I urge an "AYE" vote on SB 3.

----END OF LETTER TO BE SENT----

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You can sign up for ACLU of Southern California's "Take Action" alerts at:
http://ga1.org/aclu_sc_action/join.html?r=Qpqk1GK1NpaGE