The first Abolitionist Conference of Texas welcomed dozens of people from around the state who were able to network and attend workshops and panel sessions on prison related issues. The conference was followed by a press release and successful banner action demanding that Harris County D.A. stop supporting Death Penalty prosecutions and setting execution dates. (Read here).
Future actions:
TXA, along with our friends from Campaign to Fight Toxic Prisons, are launching 90-minute trainings on Abolitionist theory and organizing(Abolition 101) Death Penalty (Abolition 102) and Prisoner Support (Abolition 103).
Contact us to host a training for your organization!
Houston: Abolition 103: Prisoner Support Workshop and Monthly TXA Social
Friday June 7th, 7-9pm at Montrose Center (401 Branard)
https://www.facebook.com/events/468207357260794/
Austin: Events being planned for June 20th/21st, coinciding with the meeting of the Board of Criminal Justice, who oversee TDCJ. Stay tuned or get in touch!
Upcoming Executions:
Write the Board of Pardons and Paroles, and call or tweet the governor about the upcoming execution of Ruben Gutierrez(#999308) on July 31st. This is also set to be the 1500th U.S. execution. Please help us speak out!
There have been serious issues of insufficient legal assistance and refusal to test DNA evidence in Ruben’s case. According to an Austin Chronicle from last year, “Gutierrez has been on death row for nearly two decades, after he was found guilty of killing 85-year-old Escolastica Harrison, the owner of a mobile home park, during a robbery in 1998. Though he’s admitted to planning the robbery, Gutierrez maintains he had no hand in Harrison’s murder. In July, after a lengthy appeals process – including a nine-year fight for additional DNA testing, which was ultimately denied in April – Gutierrez’s lead attorney requested to withdraw representation, citing a lack of trial experience needed to move Gutierrez’s case forward.”
To write/call about upcoming executions:
**See our guide here
Contact the Board Members of the Board of Pardons and Paroles by email at:
bpp-pio@tdcj.state.tx.us
Contact Governor Greg Abbott, who has the last say over commutations:
Telephone
(512) 463-1782 – Information and Referral and Opinion Hotline
**You can leave a message here**
(512) 463-2000 – Office of the Governor Main Switchboard
(office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CST)
Twitter– @govabbott
More actions:
March for Darlie Routier coming on June 14 and 15th, 2019. (Dallas Area).
Contact teamfreedarlie.com for more information!
Fight Toxic Prisons National Convergence:
Gainesville, Florida from June 14-17th.
See event here: https://www.facebook.com/events/671997813203505/
Texas Abolitionists 