Illinois, a signature away from abolition of the death penalty

February 14, 2011

Steve Drizin, one of the country’s leading experts on wrongful convictions and false confessions from the Center on Wrongful Convictions, is asking people to support the effort to abolish the death penalty in Illinois. Drizin and his colleague Laura Nirider submitted and an amicus brief to the Arkansas Supreme Court in support of a new trial for the West Memphis 3.

Wrongful convictions and false confessions have led to dozens of innocent men on death row in Illinois.

Recently the Illinois House and Senate have both passed a bill to abolish the death penalty. All it will take is the signature of the current Governor to make it real. Abolition in Illinois could have a ripple effect in other states.

Please spread the word. Call Gov. Quinn today! Tell him you hope he’ll sign the death penalty repeal bill. They’re just one signature away from making history as the 16th state without the death penalty!

Call one of his offices: Springfield 217-782-0244, Chicago 312-814-2121

It was eight years ago that Governor George Ryan commuted the death sentences of all those on death row. It’s time for Governor Quinn to make a historic decision of his own.