Do you want to see an end to the death penalty? Join us!

By Kirsten Bokenkamp Senior Communications Strategist While death penalty supporters’ argument that the death penalty deters crime was long ago debunked, the reasons to stop using it are only getting stronger.  Here are just a few: -          A non-perfect and irreversible system, it has taken innocent lives -          People of color are disproportionally sentenced to death -          The use of the death penalty does not make our communities safer, nor does it reduce murder rates -          It is exorbitantly expensive -          It is uncivilized and inhumane -          141 countries no longer use the death penalty -          In 2011, the US was the only member of the G-8 group of developed nations to use the death penalty (Texas was responsible for 30% of US executions in 2011) The use of the death penalty in Texas, and the US, is on the decline. But, to finally rid our state and our nation of this practice, we need to come together as a community and raise our voices.  Join the ACLU of Texas and numerous other civil rights organizations at a community conference this Saturday, March 31, in Houston titled Civil Rights in the 21st Century: Uniting Communities for Justice. The death penalty will be just one of multiple civil rights issues that will be discussed.  We’d love to have you join us. To learn more about the conference and find out how to register please visit www.civilrightscoalition.net.