“We in the Garden State are on the verge of a series of victories. Our bill to convene a Capital Punishment Study Commission to conduct one of the country’s most comprehensive death penalty reviews is on the verge of passing. Thanks to a recent Federal Circuit Court decision that delayed executions in New Jersey for at least two years, the study will be completed before any execution could potentially take place.
“New Jerseyans for a Death Penalty Moratorium has grown in three years from a handful of members to a group with a membership base of over 8,000. In 2002, our budget was in excess of $100,000. With EJUSA’s help, we conducted conferences and activities throughout New Jersey, produced a video and a White Paper about capital punishment in our state, sent four mailings to our members, accomplished over forty visits to many of our state legislators, and commissioned a poll which indicated that a majority of New Jersey residents agree with our position.
“None of these achievements would have been possible had it not been for the support of EJUSA and the dedication of its Field Office Organizer, Celeste Fitzgerald. The EJUSA formula of putting people on the ground to work with local activists, combined with back-up from a well-respected national organization, has been a winning one.
“It has taken years to get us to this point; we can anticipate more years of struggle to finally eliminate the scourge of state executions. Knowing that our friends and partners at EJUSA will continue to support and inspire us on this journey ensures our ultimate success.”
