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The Indiana Information Center on the Abolition of Capital Punishment (IICACP) exists to expose the injustice associated with the application of the death penalty in Indiana. IICACP is open to anyone who is opposed to the death penalty.
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On March 1st, 1847, the State of Michigan became the first English speaking territory in the world to abolish the death penalty. On March first, 2006 members of Amnesty International, Bloomington Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, Indianapolis Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, the North Meadow Circle of Friends and the Sisters of St. Francis of Oldenburg sponsored this celebration the alternative sentences available for capital trials. Paula Sites was recognized as the Abolitionist of the Year, her comments follow: I am so fortunate to be able to do this work that I believe in, and to share in it with so many wonderful people, some who are here, and many who are not. I draw strength from every one of you. This has been a difficult year, with six men killed by our state, in our names, and I am grateful for the strength you give me. We are gathered here to celebrate life. And yet, we live in a society that does not even seem to value life. That exalts power and wealth above everything else. We have a federal budget that takes away health care and child support and education support from the poorest of our citizens in order to provide tax cuts to the wealthiest among us. That funds a war in which we trade the lives of American men and women for oil, and we simply don’t count the Iraqi people who are being killed week after week after week. And then we wonder why so many children grow up with no real sense of hope or purpose. Why they are drawn to deal drugs when drug dealers are among the only adults they see who are “making it” in terms our society values. Or why they take handguns to school to resolve their conflicts. It is good to be here with people who cherish life, and who know that killing is wrong. Together, we can raise our society’s standards of decency. We have already helped to stop the execution of juveniles, and the mentally retarded. As Jessie told you, our next battle front is to stop the execution of people who suffer from mental illness. I hope you will join us in that fight. With your help, I believe we can end that barbaric practice, as well. Maybe not next year, maybe not in five years, but I believe we will win that battle. And I hope we won’t stop there. We can make this a more humane nation. A nation that provides for all of its people. That provides health care for every man, woman, and child. That provides mental health care for those who need it. That educates our children, and gives them hope and opportunity. That ensures every working adult a living wage. A nation that does not torture its enemies. And a nation that would not dream of killing its own people. We are gathered here in the state house, with our leaders working all around us. I ask you to hold them accountable. Let’s demand real answers to our real problems, not hollow promises like the death penalty. Don’t let them distract us with their politics of division, scapegoating gay men and gay women like me and my partner of nearly 25 years. We have to put aside our prejudices. And we have to be willing to pay our fair share, so that all Hoosiers, and all Americans, can share fully in this life we hold so dear. We can make that happen. We can change the world we live in. Maybe not next year. Maybe not in five years. And most definitely not any one of us acting alone. We need one another, to pick each other up when we get tired and discouraged. And to remind each other that what we are fighting for is good and decent and right, and so very necessary. I’ll tell you something. I am tired, and I am discouraged. But I know that I am not alone in this struggle. I thank you for being here. I thank you for the work you are doing to end the death penalty in this state and in this nation. And for all the work you are doing to celebrate life. Thank you. |
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