In response to death row inmate Vernon Lee Evans' planned execution, and in an effort to raise general awareness about the issue, the chapter of the AU Campaign to End the Death Penalty has organized Death Penalty Awareness Week for March 21-25.
"This week is about education, activism and mobilization to stop a pending execution," said Sedira Banan, a junior in the School of International Service and the College of Arts and Sciences and co-head and co-founder of AU Campaign to End the Death Penalty. "The death penalty is one of the most severe denials of civil liberties and yet the vast majority of Americans are largely uninformed about this unjust system."
Each day of the week offers an event designed to encourage involvement by appearing to the emotions, social consciousness and intellects of students, Banan said.
"We choose events that foster education, reflection and discussion across campus," she said.
The week will focus on Vernon Lee Evans, a black man who was convicted on Maryland state charges and sentenced to death for the murders of two white Baltimore County hotel workers, David Peichowicz and Susan Kennedy, in 1983.
"The death penalty is tainted with race and class bias---it is overwhelmingly a punishment reserved for America's poor, 95 percent of the over 3700 people under death sentence could not afford a private attorney, and for racial minorities, 55 percent [of people on death row] are people of color," Banan said.
"This week is an incredible means to educate the community on why his case demonstrates some of the most serious flaws of the system and may allow us to garner support in the efforts to mobilize against his execution," she added.
Thursday's event will include a "Live! From Death Row" discussion with Evans in the SIS Lounge.
"[The death row discussion] is an event which has been performed across the nation and allows inmates to tell their story to the outside world and deeply affect an intently-listening audience," Banan said.
Rachel Good, a junior in SIS and co-head of AU Campaign to End the Death Penalty, said the chat event would be the most poignant because it "really brings the issue to heart."
The Maryland Campaign to End the Death Penalty is holding a rally on behalf of Evans on April 9 outside the prison facility where Maryland 's death row is located in Baltimore.
AU's Campaign is also doing petition drives to Maryland Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, postcard drives, letters in newspapers, parish and community outreach, phonebanking and rallies.
"Additionally, we want to involve the faith communities in our efforts as they have effectively acted to stop execution in other states recently," Banan said.
Good said she expects a large response from the student body, citing more support from campus organizations and increased publicity. Last year about 100 people turned out for the death row chat and speakers drew about 50 to 60 students, she said.
Ivy Slavis, a sophomore in the College if Arts and Sciences, is a member of the AU Campaign to End the Death Penalty group.
"My biggest issue I have with the death penalty is the racist aspect of it...You are more likely to be on death row if you committed a black on white crime than a black on black crime," Slavis said. "Basically, our main goal right now is working to stop executions in Maryland,"
Banan agreed that better-coordinated publicity improves campus involvement and turnout.
"We've refined our organizing approach...and have more substantive events and one event involves co-hosting with several departments and offices," Banan said.
Banan said the event is important both as a call to action and as a learning experience.
"College is not just about books, papers, and the classroom. It also entails learning about controversial issues, engaging in critical reflection and debate, and taking an active stance against injustice," Banan said. "Ultimately, it's up to the campus community to realize that this is an issue that...necessitates action."
The death penalty is banned in 12 states and the District of Columbia, and many others have reformed death penalty policies to make convictions more difficult, according to the Death Penalty Information Center's website.
Most of these have come in the form of immunity for mentally retarded persons and juveniles, while others have made sentencing jury-dependent instead of judge-mandated.
This tide of reform is mainly in response to changing public opinion regarding the death penalty, as more and more criminals are being exonerated by DNA evidence, a total of six in 2004.
An October Gallup Poll stated that general public support for the death penalty was 66 percent, a 14 percent decrease from 10 years ago. Kansas and New York have recently declared their death penalty statues unconstitutional.
Liz Menscher, a sophomore in the School of Public Affairs, feels that the death penalty should be on a case-by-case basis. "For instance, Scott Peterson and Timothy McVeigh deserve the death penalty for what they did," Menscher said. "It all depends on the severity of the actual crime and who the crime is committed against."
As of last Thursday, there were 3,455 people on death row in the US, according to the Death Penalty Information Center. There will be one less on the week of April 18, when the state of Maryland plans to execute Evans.
Death Penalty Awareness Week events:
Monday, March 21 8 p.m., SIS Lounge "The Death Penalty and Its Discontents" a panel discussion with experts.ÿ
Tuesday, Marchÿ22 9 p.m., Amphitheater "A Night of Remembrance" a candlelight vigil.ÿ
Wednesday, March 23 1:30-3:30 p.m., Kay Spiritual Center "Exonerated by DNA," with Kirk Bloodsworth, the first man exonerated by DNA evidence.ÿ
Thursday, March 24 8 p.m., SIS Lounge "Live! From Death Row" Live discussion with death row inmate Vernon Lee Evans.ÿ
Friday, March 25 5 p.m., meet in front of Kay Spiritual Center "Rally for Justice," a rally of the AU community.
