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Please Forward to Editors
NOTE: Melendez is fluent in English and Spanish
PHOTO-OP!
P R E S S R E L E A S E
from
C I T I Z E N S U N I T E D FOR A L T E R N A T I V E S
TO THE DEATH PENALTY (CUADP)
19 February 2004
CONTACT: Abe Bonowitz: 561-371-5204
MEDIA AVAILABILITY: ANTI-DEATH PENALTY SPOKESMEN AVAILABLE IN LOS ANGELES
DEATH ROW SURVIVOR, VICTIM'S FAMILY MEMBER, ACTIVIST CONTINUE NATIONAL
SPEAKING TOUR
Three weeks into the "Journey of Hope Abolition Day '04 Tour," a 14 week
national anti-death penalty public education tour, three anti-death penalty
activists have been resting in Los Angeles and will tonight jump into the
spotlight in an event sponsored by Homies Unidos at the UCLA Labor Center
in downtown Los Angeles. The trio are available for media interviews on
Friday and on until Tuesday night when they head south to San Diego.
MEET
* Juan Roberto Melendez Colon, who survived almost 18 years on Florida's
death row for a crime he did not commit. NOTE: Melendez is fluent in
English and Spanish.
* Bill Pelke, President and Co-Founder of the victims rights group Journey
of Hope ...From Violence to Healing, Inc.
* Abe Bonowitz, a former death penalty supporter who is now a leading
anti-death penalty activist and director of the national group, Citizens
United for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (CUADP), and
* Governor, the canine mascot of the movement to abolish the death penalty.
Biographical Information and background is
at: http://www.cuadp.org/abdaytour04/SpeakerBios.htm
These spokesmen, traveling with a van and trailer emblazoned with
anti-death penalty messages, are available for interviews, radio call-in
programs, etc. To schedule one or more of these individuals for
interviews, please call 561-371-5204.
The Journey of Hope Abolition Day '04 Tour centers around March 1st, which
is International Death Penalty Abolition Day, the anniversary of Michigan
becoming the first English speaking territory in the world to abolish the
death penalty (see http://www.cuadp.org/abolitionday.html ). The group
will speak in cities from Seattle to San Diego through the month of
February, then Alaska through March 22nd, and then back across the United
States, concluding in Florida at the end of April.
"We know that support for the death penalty in this country is a mile wide,
but only an inch deep," said Bonowitz. "This tour is a part of our ongoing
work to educate the public about why the death penalty is a bad public
policy. As in my own experience, once people learn the truth about how the
death penalty system fails us, most will reject the death penalty in favor
of the alternatives already available."
Biographical Information and background is
at: http://www.cuadp.org/abdaytour04/SpeakerBios.htm
LOS ANGELES AREA:
The following events are open to the public
Details are below:
- Friday, Feb. 20, 7pm, UCLA Labor Center - 675 South Park View - open to the
public
- Monday, Feb. 23, 6:30 - 9:00pm - St. Joseph Center, 480 S. Batavia, Orange.
- Tuesday, Feb. 24, Tuesday, 3 PM, USC's Topping Student Center, Room 207
- Tuesday, Feb, 24. at 7pm, St. Polycarp Catholic Church ( McLaughlin Hall),
8100 Chapman Ave. Stanton, CA 90680.
FRIDAY
"Violence is much like a very horrible game that needs players.
If no one plays, then the game is cancelled."
-Archbishop Oscar Arnulfo Romero
HOMIES UNIDOS
is very pleased to present
ABOLITION DAY '04 WEST COAST TOUR
RECONCILIATION NOT REVENGE
A dialogue about Abolition, Human Rights, and Youth.
featuring
Death Row Survivor - Juan Melendez
Murder Victim Family Member - Bill Pelke
Activist and Organizer - Abe Bonowitz
~~
Friday February 20, 2004 - 7pm
UCLA Labor Center
675 South Park View
Los Angeles CA
admission by donation
(nobody turned away for lack of funds)
Sponsored by:
Homies Unidos
in alliance with
The Journey of Hope ... From Violence to Healing
&
Citizens United for Alternatives to the Death Penalty
please email to RSVP or give us a call at 213.383.7484
Endorsed by: Journey of Hope & From Violence to Healing, Citizens United
for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, International Death Penalty and
Human Rights Activist Magdaleno Rose-Avila, All People's Christian Center,
Youth Justice Coalition, Office of Detention Ministries of LA Archdiocese,
Office of the Americas, ADELANTE ... and others
**************
MONDAY
Mark your calendars and bring your friends!!
Monday, February 23, 2004
CUADP 's "Journey of Hope... from Violence to Healing" national tour
comes to Orange County
Abe Bonowitz, director of CUADP, prolific e-mailer and full time
activist is joined by Juan Melendez, an exonerated from Florida's death
row and Bill Pelke, victim family member who worked to overturn the
sentence of his grandmother's murderer.
Come hear them speak.
At the St. Joseph Center, 480 S. Batavia, Orange. Map and flyer
attached!!
(If you have difficulty receiving the flyer, let me know - I'll mail
them to you).
On Monday, February 23rd, 6:30 PM refreshments, 7 - 9 PM presentations.
Tell all those in your sphere of influence not to miss this event as we
try to change the hearts and minds of our beloved, conservative county!
If we are to make a difference, we have to show up!!
**********
TUESDAY AFTERNOON
"Journey of Hope -
from Violence to Healing"
A Discussion on Capital Punishment
The national tour comes to USC with...
Facts about the Death Penalty
Perspective on the Death Penalty
How You Can Make a Difference.
Tuesday, February 24, 2004 at 3 PM
USC's Topping Student Center, Room 207
Hear three fascinating stories from personal experience.
Abe Bonowitz, director of CUADP, prolific e-mailer and
full time death penalty opponent is joined by
Juan Melendez, an exonerated former prisoner from Florida's death row, and
Bill Pelke, a victim's family member who worked to overturn
the death sentence of his grandmother's murderer.
Read about Melendez, Pelke and Bonowitz at:
www.cuadp.org/abdaytour04/SpeakerBios.htm
Ask them about the big Kevin Cooper case here in California
Come hear them speak.
There's nothing like their experience!
sponsored by
Catholic Center at USC
Green Network
Hillel Jewish Center
Human Rights Action
M.E.Ch.A. de USC
United Ministry
United University Church
USC Office of Religious Life
Citizens United Against the Death Penalty
California People of Faith Working Against the Death Penalty
********************
TUESDAY EVENING
Tuesday, February 24. at 7pm.
St. Polycarp Catholic Church ( McLaughlin Hall)
8100 Chapman Ave. Stanton, CA 90680.
************
SENT BY:
Abraham J. Bonowitz
Director, CUADP
<abe@cuadp.org>
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YES FRIENDS!
There is an Alternative to the Death Penalty
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.
Visit <http://www.cuadp.org> or call 800-973-6548
PMB 335, 2603 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Hwy
Gainesville, FL 32609
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