ACLU Letter Opposing Death Penalty Amendment to the Senate Hate Crimes Provision
July 20, 2009
On behalf of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), a non-partisan
organization with more than a half million members, countless activists and
supporters, and fifty-three affiliates nationwide, we write to urge you to
oppose Senate Amendment 1615, being offered by Senator Jeff Sessions (RAL)
to the National Defense Authorization Act (S. 1390). This
unconstitutional and misguided amendment seeks to expand the reach of the
federal death penalty, including to non-homicide crimes, by adding it to a
hate crimes provision that the Senate adopted by unanimous consent on
Thursday night. 
