Execution Log – 09/16/13-09/22/13: 09/19,Garza,TX

TX       Robert Garza                                scheduled 09/19/2013

You can e-mail Governor Rick Perry at his website: http://www.governor.state.tx.us/contact

phone: (512) 463 2000
fax:       (512) 463 1849

other Texas contacts:

Pardons and Paroles
phone: (512) 406 5852
fax:       (512) 467 0945

Austin American Statesman
e-dress: letters@statesman.com

phone: (512) 445-3667
fax:      (512) 445-3679

Houston Chronicle
e-dress: hci@chron.com
phone: (713) 220-7491

I ask you, Governor Perry, to stop your state’s execution of Robert Garza. Mr. Garza is scheduled to be poisoned by the government of Texas next Thursday, 09/19/2013, for the December, 2003 murders Maria De La Luz Bazaldua Cobarrubias, Danitzene Lizeth Vasquez Beltran, Celina Linares Sanchez, and Lourdes Yesenia Araujo Torres.  Mr. Garza had no direct participation in this tragic crime; he was convicted and sentenced to death under the unparalleled Texas ‘Law of Parties’.

Members of a gang to which Mr. Garza belonged perpetrated this crime; Robert Garza had no direct involvement.  He admits to knowing of the crime and not acting to stop it.  That behavior is punishable by death, according to the draconian laws of your state.  Further, the Law of Partiers is demonstrably racist, targeting populations more likely to be involved in gangs with no regard to actual culpability.  The law allows punishment  that is completely out of proportion to the crime and is racist in its application.  You must stay this execution so your state can reconsider its rash and illegal action in Robert Garza’s case.

Former Attorney General of the United States Janet Reno, as well as myriads of scholars, can find no evidence that the death penalty deters capital crimes. In fact, the warden of the famous Sing Sing prison believes that the death penalty exacerbates the violence in his facility by setting an example of cold-blooded killing. Recent studies show that the largest increase in capital crimes is in the state of Texas, the state which executes the most people. As for vengeance, that is the Lord’s, not the government’s.

Please, Governor Perry, stop this killing of Robert Garza. If this execution goes forward, look around this country for the black armbands worn, and the church bells tolled, in protest of this injustice.

Thank you.