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+ 11 -~ <br />I ~ ~ 1 vJ <br />4 <br />~ ' ! ~ f ; ~ f`' SCP 2 9 <br />1 1 ~ ~~ ~ i 1999 <br />t • <br />~. J ~. ~ ,. <br />People of Faith Agc~in.rt the De~ztla Peizalty, <br />September 28, 1999 <br />Orange~County Board'of.Comiriissioners <br />P:O. 'B'ox 8181.`. <br />Hillsborough, NC 27278 <br />Dear Corrunissoriers <br />Agrowing international movement is.now calling on local governments'to support a moratorium on <br />execution's. Recently; the city councils of Carrboro (unanimously); .Chapel Hill (unanimously), and purham <br />(8-3) •passed~resolutions supportXnga moratorium on executions: We vuould like o ask the Orange County <br />Board of Commissioners to do the same'at its meeting on Tuesday, October 5, 1999. We ask that the enclosed <br />resolution be included. at or near the top of the agenda for that meeting. <br />• A moratorium is akin.to a temporary cease fire"in time of war. It is ari opportunity to examinehow the <br />death penalty is unfairly practiced; One of the most compelling reasons that death penalty advocates and <br />• opponents are joining;in support of a moratorium is the fact that so far at least $O;:people in Arimerica have been <br />.released from death row since 1970 because they were,proven to be innocent, in many; cases by investigators <br />outsidethe judicial., system.;More and more death row inmates"are being proven innocent. In Wilkesboro, <br />N.C., on May .14, 1999; a superiorcourt judge .overturned Charles 1Vlunsey's death sentence because he <br />recognizes that 1Vtunsey was falsely convicted,:that prosecutors~knowingly.withheld exculpatory evidence; and <br />that there is overwhelming evidence that Munsey,' is innocent: ,(Tragically; Mr.1Vlunsey died of pneumonia in <br />prison this month while awaiting a new_ trial.) <br />A:number of political leaders who favor the death penalty ink principle, as well as the American Bar.'' ", <br />Association,.-.have begun"advocating for a~moratorium.;Recentiy, the Nebraska state legislature approved a two- <br />.,:, year moratorium that was co-sponsored by,a Republican,advocate of the death penalty..The introduction of <br />Carrboro'.s moratorium resolution was facilitated by'a~pro-death penaltymember of the,Board;of Aldeimen. <br />Durham's resolution was.: introduced by a Republican: Orange County congregations that have passed <br />.moratorium resolutions include Chapel, Hill Friends lYIeeting; Holy Family Catholic Church (Hillsborough), <br />and University Presbyterian Church (Chapel Hill); several others are' expected in upcoming weeks:,So far,' <br />scores .of Orange County residents'have signed a petition calling on the United Nations'to pass amoratorium <br />resolution next year. ~ .. <br />People of Faith Against the Death Penalty and North Carolinians Against the Death Penalty ask you to <br />join your constituents wlio are calling for a moratorium. Thank you for your consideration. Should you„have <br />, any questions, please. call, me `at 933-7567: <br />- SinceJrely, <br />-6~1.G(~ ~L~.---~ _ <br />St hen Dear <br />Executive Director <br />157'/= EasrFranlcl'in St..Chapel Hill, North. Carolina z75s4" <br />,Phone/Fax 919~933.75~7 _ <br />~~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ A• PRO G.12A DI O~P TRH L'' NO RTH ~~GAROLINA ~.,C-0UNGI.L ~OP C•HURC,IiES ~ ~~ <br />