Death Penalty

Amnesty International's Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held this week-end (April 25-28th, 2008) in Washington, DC.

It will be the occasion for activists from all over the world to gather, share their vision of a fairer world and above all go on seeking solutions together. The meeting will feature talented speakers (such as AIUSA Secretary General Irene Khan) who will share their experiences and speak out against human rights violations.

The AGM this year will feature not one, not two, but THREE exciting Death Penalty events!

On Friday the 25^th, campaign team staff will lead a workshop titled "messages that connect with death penalty supporters" (from 2:00 to 3:30 pm).  This workshop will challenge activists to move beyond their comfort zone and engage in more emotionally-charged arguments waged by our traditional opposition.

Immediately following the workshop (from 3:45 to 5:00 pm), a screening of the film "At the Death House door" will be followed by a panel discussion with specialists: the two filmmakers Peter Gilbert and Steve James, former Texas prison chaplain Rev. Carroll Pickett (who is featured in the film), and former Texas prosecutor Sam Millsap. Death Penalty Abolition Campaign Director Sue Gunawardena-Vaughn will moderate.

Saturday's panel session, titled "Preaching beyond the choir: engaging ‘unusual suspects' in the Death Penalty Debate" will focus on new campaigning strategies to help activists reach out to new constituencies. Panelists, including moderator Virginia Sloan, President of the Constitution Project, Laura Porter, Director of Organizing at Equal Justice USA, Ronald Hampton, Executive Director of National Black Police Association, and Sam Millsap, former Texas District Attorney, participants will build on their knowledge of death penalty issues while developing communication, messaging and organizing skills to put to use in their respective states.

For a detailed program click here.

We're looking forward to seeing you!

Mathilde

DPAC intern