Oct 9th, 2009
Posted by Nahal Zamani, Human Rights Program at 2:42pm	Capital Punishment, Death Penalty

World Day Against the Death Penalty

Tomorrow marks World Day Against the Death Penalty, and it is only fitting that a global call was issued to abolish the practice. We join the ambassadors of the European Union (EU) who gathered today to call on all nations to abolish the cruel practice.

Ambassador John Bruton, the head of EU delegation to the U.S., stated: "The EU not only considers capital punishment to be cruel and inhumane, but it also fails to deter criminal behavior and represents an unacceptable denial of human dignity and integrity. Miscarriages of justice are inevitable in any legal system – and any miscarriage of justice that results in the death penalty is irreversible."

In a statement released today, John Holdridge, Director of the ACLU Capital Punishment Project noted:

The need to end this barbaric practice is underscored by the fact that eight men were released from death row in 2009 and that new evidence has come forward that a man executed in Texas in 2004 could not have set the lethal fire for which he was condemned to die, meaning that an innocent man almost certainly has been put to death at the hands of the state.

The death penalty remains the penalty of the poor. The practice is plagued by many problems, including racial and geographic bias in the decisions to try cases. Recently, the ACLU presented a statement before the Human Dimension Implementation Meeting (HDIM) of the Organization for Security and Cooperation of Europe (OSCE) in Warsaw, Poland, highlighting the human rights violations that plague the death penalty system in the U.S.

The U.S. needs to end this practice, in order to restore our country's standing and image in the world as a beacon for human rights and democratic values. The ACLU calls upon President Obama and the 35 states around the country that still permit the death penalty to put an end to this costly practice that does not make us any safer.

Learn more about the ACLU Capital Punishment Project at: www.aclu.org/capital/index.html

Permalink |	Capital Punishment, Death Penalty

1. Christian American Patriot Says:
   Oct 9th, 2009 at 4:39pm

   To get rid of the Death Penalty is like giving the rest of us the Death Penalty. When haineious crimes are commited (which is not a small number), you cannot expect the taxpayers to pay for those people's incarceration for the rest of their lives. That would be more expensive than keeping the Death Penalty. Prisons would definately be over crowded and it shows others that you can commit violent crimes and not suffer the worst punishment "death". It all comes down to this: When people stop believing that God exists and that He sent His only Son-Jesus to die for our sins so we can live eternally with Him and that we need to Repent from our sins and to live for Christ, then all Hell breaks loose and we will continue to have these problems. Our own history show that in 1910, those who migrated here were converting to Christianity and the crime was almost non-existent. It was at the point to whether we should still have a police force. Learn from our history and the history of mankind as it is written in the Bible.

2. No Money Says:
   Oct 9th, 2009 at 5:42pm

   Don't do the crime if you can't handle the punishment. The ACLU should help America rid the expense of housing and providing for prisoners of such viscous crimes. Reduce their rights to appeal court decisions. This Country can no longer provide free housing when so many good American's do without proper shelter, food, and health care. The ACLU needs to reconsider their position unless a prisoner can provide sufficient evidence for review.

3. Liberal Hater Says:
   Oct 12th, 2009 at 2:53pm

   Liberals and especially the ACLU go out of their way to protect 1st degree murderers on death row. These guys are the worst of the worst and should die with the same fear and agonizing pain that their victims suffered. Now here is the irony of the hypocrisy that comes from liberals. They protect murderers while at the same time they take away that same protection from helpless babies who have scissors stuck into the back of their heads and their brains suctioned out or they have acid poured on their helpless bodies all in the name of reproductive rights.

   I mean this is the insanity of liberalism. Liberals worry about murderers feeling a little pain but they love it when babies are subjected to horrific agonizing deaths.

   Hell was created for lowlife scum liberals like this.

4. this is bullshit Says:
   Oct 12th, 2009 at 10:18pm

   there may be flaws in it but it can be refined before you abolish it. many of the people that get put to death deserve it completely.yes it is tragic to the few that didnt but that dont add up to the many that did.if it is completely done away with then oue jails will become even more overcrowded & since u damn pussies think that these scum-of-the-earth deserve the same treatment as free citizens then taxes will become even more outrages because hardworking, law abiding people will have to pay for the privleges you people think that criminals deserve when most of the people paying for it cant afford it themselves. it makes me sick to see all you cry baby liberals whining about protecting the minorities and the criminals but dont give a shit about the MAJORITIES.stop all your damn crying because its turning this country and its people into weak bitches.if you got rid of the death penalty then the cruelest & most sinister muderers,rapists,etc. will, once convicted, probably live a better life in prison than the did when they were free & that is just STUPID.GROW A SET OF BALLS & STOP WHINING ABOUT "HUMAN RIGHTS." the way i see it if you do something & get convicted of prison time then you have just forfieted your rights as a citizen because you failed to abide by the laws set in place for citizens so i personally dont give a shit if there are 30 people in one cell. they chose to break the law & they should have to suffer consequences.

5. David Says:
   Oct 13th, 2009 at 9:49am

   As long as people do not pay heavily for their crimes (death penalty, etc.), they will further push the envelope of crimes committed. If you cannot be sentenced to death for murdering someone, then tell me: What is the difference between killing 1 person or 20 people if each penalty is a life sentence? Yes, you can only apply the death penalty once, but you no longer incur the costs, which are paid as much by the victims' family as the regular public, of caring for the prisoner, with the added benefit of knowing that they can never duplicate their crime. And if you can prove to me that I do not incur any such costs of holding the prisoner, or that no accused murderer has ever been or will ever be set free to repeat their crime, then I might, just might even think about the implications of allowing someone to live, even though it was proven beyond reasonable doubt that he knowingly and willfully took the life from another person. And in case you don't fully understand the impact of that last sentence: The victim was neither robbed from to recoup, molested to heal, or anything they could forget; they were PUT TO DEATH. And if there is one thing no one knows for certain, it is about what it means to be dead - be it a chance at redemption in heaven, aimless souls wandering the universe, or the eternal nothing of no longer existing. What is certain, however, is that this is a crime which the victim cannot come back from. Do you understand? The victim CANNOT EVER RETURN to their lives, their family, their way. To this planet and the humans on it, they are NO LONGER EXISTENT, except in memories, and that is not enough; never, ever will that be enough. No, I will not honor any 'thing' that is "against the death penalty", until you can eradicate murder and wrongful deaths from this universe. And guess what, you can't.

6. David Says:
   Oct 13th, 2009 at 10:01am

   Did you just delete my comment?

7. Paen Says:
   Oct 13th, 2009 at 12:50pm

   Ever notice that those who claim that big governement can't be trusted also want to give the same governement the right tio execute people.
   Maybe these folks should think through what they are saying rather than just parroting Fox News and their T.V.evangilsts tell them.

8. ABDULLA Says:
   Oct 17th, 2009 at 6:38pm

   I think that we should have death penalty for the people who make more crimes,which can't be forgiveable.But death penalty is not only the solution for the crimemaker to get rid of him.There should be certain boundary in this act.

9. Cajunman Says:
   Oct 19th, 2009 at 4:19pm

   ACLU, go to a 3rd world country and preach what your preaching here and see what kind of response you will get. Let's get rid of the Death Penalty, close down all the prison's, and let the criminals out in the street, and give them their rights back!! ACLU, the first time one of these criminals attack you, rob you, kill someone you love, then lets see what your response will be. These laws were in place for a reason, "to keep America safe".

10. queen b Says:
    Oct 19th, 2009 at 8:36pm

    Yes, I believe that the death penalty is cruel and unusual punishment. If you look at the facts, has the death penalty stopped or deterred future vicious crimes, NO! So, has it purpose been served. I believe in an "eye for and eye" but vengeance is God and he shall repay. I believe that the death penalty is an easy way out for the perpretrators because they don't have to suffer with the acts they committed. They no longer have to face the victim's family, and they no longer have to comtemplate on the consequences of their actions. Taking another life will never compensate for the senseless and inhumane act of murder nor bring the person back. Yes, family might feel some sort of relief that their love one's death did not go unpunished but in reality you still will harbor the hurt and pain knowing they are not there with you anymore. I believe those who commit murder should work out the rest of their days supporting the family with dog labor. Eventhough, that still might not deter future crime but it prevents us from acting as God.

11. Steve Says:
    Oct 20th, 2009 at 10:09am

    Follow the money folks. Executing hardened criminals doesn't put a red cent into the ACLU coffers, putting the un-born to death does. Follow the money.

12. boo aclu Says:
    Nov 7th, 2009 at 6:51pm

    death penalty is fair

13. How people of the 21st Century love to punish Says:
    Nov 8th, 2009 at 4:00pm

    Police Accused in Wrongful Death
    By Seana Sperling

    In 2001, I interviewed a Chicago woman who claimed the Police murdered her son.
    “I can’t call the Police. How do I trust these people again?” A Chicago woman no longer feels comfortable calling 911 after the shooting of her son by Police two years ago. The Police of Downer’s Grove, Illinois, shot Greg Palma after a four-hour standoff where he had barricaded himself in his apartment.

    A host of unanswered questions still surrounds the case. Ms. Palma, Greg’s mother, has contacted many agencies, enlisted the help of lawyers and spent thousands of dollars, trying to make sense of her son’s death. According to Palma, the authorities completely disregarded her son’s basic human rights, used excessive force and even went so far as to lie about events to defend their actions.
    The following is from the office of Palma’s lawyer.

    (FAX from office of Robert J. Klein Attorney at Law, April 17, 2001.)
    “This Federal case involves what we believe is a “wrongful death,” in that the Downer’s Grove Police Department, Officer James Edwards, shot and killed our client, Gregory Palma, while (GP was) exiting his home and turning himself into the Police at an agreed and specified location. The Police claim that Mr. Palma made a run for it while carrying a sawed off shotgun and that he shot at the officers causing them to return fire and subsequently kill him. I believe that the evidence will show that the “alleged “sawed off shotgun,” was never discharged.”

    Ms. Palma said that on April 21, 1999, the woman who lived in the downstairs apartment from the Palma residence called the Downer's Grove Police claiming Greg was trying to break into her apartment with a chainsaw and a shotgun. Palma said she arrived on the scene at approximately 5:30 to 6:00 PM. “A battalion of Policemen arrived along with a SWAT Team. I asked the Police to (let me) speak to my son who was barricaded in our apartment. I told them I would get him out for them, but the Police refused to let me speak to Greg and they detained me across the street at Lincoln Center. I explained that Greg was handicapped and had no criminal record, but they refused to let me near the apartment. I thought Greg was afraid of being hurt or killed,” Palma said. Earlier that morning, she said that Greg had asked her not to go to work that day because he feared the Police would kill him. “At the time I thought Greg was suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome because of a terrible accident that he’d had in 1997.”

    “Around 9:00 PM the police told me Greg had “put his guns out,” she said. “Greg owned two rifles and a small gun--all registered so the police knew that he had guns. Then I was told that Greg had been handcuffed and was on his way to the Downers Grove Police Station where I was to meet him. As we were walking toward the front door on our way out of Lincoln Center, the Police detained me an additional two to three hours in the corridor. I kept asking about my son and they kept telling me that Greg was fine and this was routine. When they finally took me to the station I was informed that my son was dead. I was not allowed to go near my son or my apartment.”

    News Release from Downer’s Grove Police Department, April 22, 1999:
    At approximately 5:50 PM on Wednesday April 21, 1999, officers from the Downer’s Grove Police Department responded to a 911 call at a duplex at 928 Maple in Downer’s Grove. The female caller, who lived in the downstairs apartment, indicated that the male resident of the upstairs apartment was attempting to force entry into her residence.

    When officers arrived at the scene, the subject, Gregory J. Palma, age 35, had returned to his upstairs apartment and was breaking out windows. He also displayed a firearm. The Downer’s Grove SWAT Team was called in and negotiators made contact with the subject. The DuPage county Sheriff’s Office, Illinois State Police, and the Darien and Westmont Police Departments also responded.

    After several hours of negotiations, the subject agreed to exit the residence and surrender. He then ran from the rear of the residence carrying a shotgun. The subject fired the shotgun and struck Downer’s Grove Police Chief Graves, who was standing nearby. The bullet struck Chief Graves in the lower legs. He was treated and released from Good Samaritan Hospital.

    Officers returned fire and fatally struck the subject. He was pronounced dead at the scene. No one else was injured. The investigation is continuing.

    In response to the news release Palma had several comments. “Police Chief Graves was injured by concrete shrapnel from a bullet fired by Officer Edwards. When Officer Edward’s shot Greg, a bullet shattered the concrete steps. The Police Department’s claim that Greg had shot Police Chief Graves was defamation of character.” According to Palma, the Downers Grove Police had put out the faulty news release the day after the incident, April 22, even though they knew that Greg had not fired a gun. “Greg had no gunpowder on his hands and none of Greg’s weapons had been fired. Also, I was told he had been handcuffed and in the pictures that I took at the funeral home it shows that he had deep marks on his wrists that appear to be from handcuffs.” In regard to the windows, Palma said she had noticed that they seemed to have been broken from the outside not the inside because glass was inside along the walls.

    “They also mention “running.” Greg was disabled and had trouble walking and going up the stairs of the apartment.” a July 27, 1997 accident had crushed his pelvis, Palma said. “This happened in South Carolina when he was working on a wall and it collapsed, injuring him. Greg underwent three surgeries and Doctors pieced the pelvis together with metal plates and nails. He spent 2-1/2 months in intensive care and eight months in a wheelchair and then began receiving Disability Benefits. He also suffered 70% nerve damage in his legs. In April 1999 Greg was still under the care of Dr. Miller who specialized in pelvic fractures. He was still having a hard time walking and suffered pain from nerve damage,” said Palma.

    Palma said she wasn’t allowed to see her son’s body until three days later. She said she photographed his body and had her lawyer send the photographs, X-rays and other forensic data to Doctor Paulino Medina Paiz at the National University of Anatomy in Leon, Nicaragua. (Palma is originally from Nicaragua.) The Doctor indicated that there was bruising on the wrists and a severe contusion on the mandible among other trauma to Greg’s body. Palma believes her son was handcuffed and beaten.
    Currently Palma is facing a lawsuit. “Chief Graves is suing Greg's estate, which I am the holder of. Consequently, it is costing me money that I don't have and causing tremendous emotional stress. “I believe this is a form of harassment by Chief Graves towards me, to break me down and create more pain and stress,” Palma said.

    Over the past year and a half, Palma said there has also been subtle harassment. She said, “One of Greg’s dogs was poisoned and my flower pot at my business was knocked over for the first time in all the years I’ve had the shop.” She also said that on a few occasions complete strangers had followed her and said, “Die old bitch.” Palma said, “I never had any of these problems until the Police shot Greg. I believe they want to put a stop to my inquiries about my son’s death, but I’m not stopping.”

    Palma said that at times she feels frightened. “The power went off the other night and I was scared, but I have no one to turn to. I can’t call the Police.”

    Palma died of stomach related illness three years after this interview according to a friend of hers, Christine Lamb.

    I submitted this article to the Chicago Baffler in 2001. I hadn’t heard anything (the usual rejection letter) so I emailed asking if they had received it. They said they hadn’t and said they had recently had a fire in their office.

    In 2001, I began experiencing minor harassment from strangers on the street (community-based harassment) and onslaught of anonymous slander posted online and workplace mobbing. This has continued and the harassment has grown exponentially.

14. Anonymous Says:
    Nov 13th, 2009 at 9:28pm

    IN NEW YORK LEMIL SMITH WAS DOING TWO LIFE SENTENCES FOR DIFFERENT MURDERS...HE WAS NOT GIVEN THE DEATH PENALTY.
    P.S. HE RAPED AND MURDERED A FEMALE PRIOSON GUARD AND GIVEN A LIFE SENTENCE.
    DEATH PENALTY PREVENTS RECIDIVISM...OTHER CASES EXIST SIMILAR TO THIS ONE.

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