The Armband Protest Against the Death Penalty

Here are copies of the e-mails I sent to people in states with scheduled executions asking them to intervene. Please e-mail, phone or fax appeals of your own. You are welcome to cut & paste.

TX       Gregory Russeau                                scheduled 06/18/2015

You can e-mail Governor Greg Abbott at his website: https://gov.texas.gov/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 Abbott, to stop your state’s execution of Gregory Russeau.  Mr. Russeau is scheduled to be poisoned to death by the government of Texas next Thursday, 06/18/2015, for the 2001 murder of James Syvertson.

Mr. Russeau was plagued by learning disabilities as a child, leading to life-long run-ins with the justice system.  During the crime for which he was convicted, he was out of his head on cocaine, and therefore unable to control his own behavior.  Gregory Russeau is clearly mentally ill and in this country we treat our sick people rather than kill them.  You must stay this execution so your state can reconsider its inhumane action in the case of Gregory Russeau.

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 Abbott, stop this state killing of Gregory Russeau. 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.