In many ways, 2001 was a laboratory year in which state-based moratorium strategies were tested and strengthened. 2002 offers new openings to advance the national movement.
We embark on a multi-year organizing offensive, State by State: from the grassroots to the statehouse. The aim is to improve and expand our national efforts to strategically sharpen, capacitate, and resource promising state moratorium initiatives.
Our first opportunity for a 2002 win comes in the spring of this year in the NEW JERSEY State Legislature, where a moratorium bill has been introduced with bi-partisan support. Via our Field Office and reinforcements from our national organizing staff, we will provide priority assistance to our state partner, New Jerseyans for a Death Penalty Moratorium, with a push for a victory this year.
At the same time, MORATORIUM NOW! will provide training and technical assistance to over a dozen state initiatives throughout the country, cultivating future moratorium opportunities, state by state by state. We are consolidating our organizing materials into a comprehensive Legislative Toolkit, drawing on the experience of state and national organizers around the country.
