6/20/2001: SOS: Will CUADP Close Its Doors?

Sent to the Abolition Movement
Please excuse cross-posts

SOS: Will CUADP Close Its Doors?

Citizens United for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (CUADP) has been an
active organization since March of 1997, run entirely by volunteers, on a
shoestring budget. I want to thank the many individuals and organizations
who have contributed to our efforts. Together, we have managed to make a
significant impact in the fight to stop state killing. Unfortunately, we
have been unable to regularly attract the kind of funding necessary to move
CUADP to the next level. Too often we are paying last months' bills with
this months' income. Sometimes when I look at the bank balance, I feel
like giving up. Yes, we are used to taking risks and operating close to
the wire. But that's getting old. My board members tell me that without
the realization of consistent/proper funding, CUADP may even have to close
its doors. Certainly, a restructuring is in order, and once we get past
the Fast & Vigil, CUADP will undertake a critical analysis and make some
significant adjustments.

CUADP is not going away, but there will be some changes. Your ideas are
welcome. That said, here's what we've been up to, our immediate plans, and
how you can help.

--abe

***

20 June 2001

Dear Friends,

Citizens United for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (CUADP) works to end
the death penalty in the United States through aggressive campaigns of
public education and the promotion of tactical grassroots activism. Our
mission is to enhance visible and vocal opposition to state killing by
lifting up and supporting the efforts of grassroots anti-death penalty
activists.

Just of few of the many headlines of the past few months speak for
themselves...

(Tour of Florida with Bud Welch and the Journey of Hope ...From Violence to
Healing, Inc.)
April 7: The Pensacola News Journal: DEATH PENALTY OPPONENTS SPEAK OUT
April 13: Florida Today: GROUPS OPPOSE DEATH PENALTY

(Terre Haute in May)
May 14: The Terre Haute Tribune Star: ABOLITIONISTS SAY SYSTEM FLAWED
(This AP story went GLOBAL!)

(Ohio in May when McVeigh got a stay - again, with the Journey...)
May 16: The Dayton Daily News: GROUP TRAVELS TO SPEAK AGAINST DEATH PENALTY
May 16: The Cincinnati Enquirer: DEATH-PENALTY OPPONENTS GATHER

(Terre Haute Revisited)
June 9: Greencastle Banner-Graphic: 'CIRCLE OF SILENT WITNESS' SET
June 12: The Terre Haute Tribune Star: FORGIVE - BUT DON'T FORGET

(And Next Week)
June 29 - July 2: Washington, DC: ACTIVISTS DECRY 25 YEARS OF STATE KILLING

Most recently, CUADP led the movement by actively promoting grassroots
activism in response to the federal blood bath of two killings in eight
days. We worked for more than a year with the Terre Haute Abolition
Network to plan and implement a program of action which clearly reflected
the abolitionist message of non-violence. Here's a recent comment from the
coordinator of the Terre Haute Abolition Network:

"Quite seriously, I believe that your assistance/presence here
along with the Journey has been a huge part of our organizing
successes. You bring us tangible assistance with banners,
speakers, etc., but you also bring us an intangible energizing
force, one which renews commitment, spirits, hearts. (Thank
you, thank you, thank you)" --Suzanne Carter

CUADP worked with Bud Welch to write and publicize a statement from him
that encouraged activists to "send a clear message to our Government - and
to the people of this nation - that ... our society should not tolerate a
government with the power to kill its own citizens." CUADP tracked and
promoted the fact that activists spoke out in more than 30 states, and for
the past ten days, we have been dealing with an overwhelming response from
people throughout this country who want more information and who want to
join our movement. (Visits to our web pages jumped more than 400%, and the
phone rings non-stop.) These responses are a direct result of activists
using banners, signs and t-shirts which include CUADP's toll free phone
number and web address.

Next week, CUADP will again provide coordination services to the
Abolitionist Action Committee (AAC) for "Starvin' for Justice," the 8th
Annual Fast & Vigil to Abolish the Death Penalty at the US Supreme Court
(June 29 - July 2, 2001). The Fast & Vigil is one of the most significant
events on the annual abolitionist calendar, and this year is special
because we will be highlighting the 25th anniversary of the Gregg v.
Georgia decision with the theme, "25 years of blood on all our hands." For
more information on this event, please visit <http://www.cuadp.org> and
click on the Fast & Vigil icon.

But all this work has depleted our financial resources. We certainly had
not planned on two trips to Terre Haute: Because of the stay, the first
trip gave us the opportunity to make an impromptu swing through Ohio and
assist Ohioans to STOP Executions in protesting what would have been their
first (involuntary) execution in almost 40 years. The second trip became a
scramble from Boston, where we were participating in Murder Victim's
Families for Reconciliation's "Healing the Wounds of Murder" conference.

About six weeks ago, I needed a dental procedure that I could not
afford. I sent out an e-mail message *just* to the CUADP & FADP update
e-mail lists, and within minutes I had a gift of $250. Within 24 hours I
had received pledges of more than $2,000 - more than enough to cover my
immediate medical needs. Words cannot express my appreciation for the
support I received: My spirit was buoyed by the response - as was my
resolve to keep the fight going. I pray that CUADP will receive similar
support so that we can continue to help make the difference in our movement.

CUADP needs your help at this time. Here are some of the regular budget
items which you could help us cover:

Mail information packets to callers: $1 for each packet
Fuel for the Abolition-Mobile (the car): $25/tank (avg.)
Brake job for the Abolition-Mobile: $300
Toner for the copier: $125
Ink for the printer: $26
Mobile phone: $200+/month - for the maximum plan of 2,000 minutes.
800 line telephone bill: $150/month (avg.)
Plane ticket to MVFR conference: $201.50
Professional web pages design & hosting: $200/month (avg.)
Food for full time volunteers (staff): $125/week
Office expenses/space: $400/month
Postage: $350/month (avg.)
A roll of stamps: $34

Here are some of the costs we are hoping to cover for the Fast & Vigil next
week:

Print 5000 Fast & Vigil handouts: $400
Juices and other liquids for participants: $300
Travel to DC for F&V Coordinators: $200
Security (to allow access to United Methodist building after hours and on
the weekend): $800
New banners for Fast & Vigil: 8x$60 = $480 + shipping

******

Checkbook activism IS a vital component of this work!

USE OUR SECURE SERVER to donate on the web! Go to
<http://www.cuadp.org/support.html> or call us at 800-973-6548 to put your
contribution on a Visa, MasterCard, Amex or Discover card! Or make your
check or money order payable to CUADP and send to:

CUADP
PMB 335
2603 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Hwy
Gainesville, FL 32609

Thank YOU!

--abe

Abraham J. Bonowitz
Director

PS: We need your help now, but please also support your local and state
abolitionist organization(s) and the National Coalition to Abolish the
Death Penalty.

PPS: We also seek your advice. What suggestions do you have that can help
CUADP become more effective. How can we be more helpful to you? How can
we better use the monies raised, and can you suggest others who we should
ask for assistance?

(the small print)
CONTRIBUTIONS TO CUADP ARE NOT TAX DEDUCTIBLE
A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL
INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE [FL] DIVISION
OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL FREE 800-435-7352
(FL only) OR 850-413-0840. REGISTRATION DOES NOT
IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION
BY THE STATE.

Click Here to make a contribution to CUADP