Sponsor Kimber ~ Starvin' for Justice Fast & Vigil
Donation protected
Those of you who know me know how passionate I am about the abolition of the death penalty in the United States. In late June, I will be stepping outside of my comfort zone and traveling to Washington, D.C. to participate in the 26th annual Starvin' for Justice Fast & Vigil sponosored by the Abolitionist Action Committee.
What will this entail?
-A four-day vigil from 8:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. maintaing a constant presence outside the U.S. Supreme Court where I will help create visibility and have the opportunity to share our message and information with visitors to the court.
-An all-night vigil outside the Supreme Court from Monday night until Tuesday morning
-A 4-day fast
-An Abolition Teach-In and Q&A every night where I will get to learn from death row exonerees, death row family members, murder victim family members, as well as leaders and organizers in the local and national abolition movement
How can you help?
-Help sponsor my fast and vigil. Your money will go directly to cover the cost of my transportation and lodging during the event. Any donations in excess of my expenses will be given to the Abolitionist Action Committee.
-If you prefer to make a tax-exempt donation, you may donate directly to the Abolitionist Action Committee in my name here: http://abolition.org/fastandvigil/sponsor.html
-Share my GoFundMe page with others so I can help reach my goal.
-Pray! Pray for safe travels, a safe fast, and for our message to be heard and support to grow for abolition of the death penalty.
Why is this important to me?
-Because it makes no sense to kill people who kill people to show that killing people is wrong.
-Because our justice system is far too fallible and imperfect. Since 1973, 166 people have been exonerated from death row (thank God) before they were executed. Studies show that at least 4% of people on death row are actually innocent. We have killed innocent people. We will continue to kill innocent people.
-Because in this country, the death penalty has resulted in us experimenting on human beings with random drugs that make them writhe around suffering for two hours - and regardless of what they did to their victim(s) - two wrongs don't make a right.
-Because we have turned the death penalty into psychological and sometimes physical torture that violates the 8th amendment.
-Because studies have shown the death penalty is not a deterrent.
-Because most victims' families report that in the end, it did nothing to help them heal or bring them peace. Instead, the lengthy appeals process (which is clearly necessary - see above) causes them to contantly relive their pain.
-Because in this country - we frequently don't respect victims' wishes. Often, victims' families who specifically state they are against the death penalty...who specifically request life in prison...are ignored, and the death penalty is pursued/given anyway.
-Because all it does is create a whole new set of victims - the loved ones of those on death row.
- Because it has often unspoken but serious consequences for those who work in corrections and are made to supervise or assist with killing inmates they have gotten to know as human beings.
- Because it is so randomly applied in this country and depends vastly on your geography and your jury. A serial killer in one state gets life - and someone who hired a friend to kill their boss gets death in another.
- Because its usage in the United States has been proven to be racially biased. People of Color, especially African Americans, make up a disproportionate percentage of death row.
- Because whether you get the death penalty or not often depends on socioeconomic status and if you are able to pay for a good lawyer.
- Because despite what most people believe, it actually costs more than life in prison.
- Because it takes away any chance the person has of redemption, of making a positive difference, and of coming to Christ. (And it happens. I have seen it happen.)
- Because Jesus taught me to love my enemies and pray for them, to show mercy and grace, and to never ever seek revenge.
I have hope that in my lifetime, the death penalty will be abolished in this country. We are better than this.
Thank you for your support of my activism.
What will this entail?
-A four-day vigil from 8:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. maintaing a constant presence outside the U.S. Supreme Court where I will help create visibility and have the opportunity to share our message and information with visitors to the court.
-An all-night vigil outside the Supreme Court from Monday night until Tuesday morning
-A 4-day fast
-An Abolition Teach-In and Q&A every night where I will get to learn from death row exonerees, death row family members, murder victim family members, as well as leaders and organizers in the local and national abolition movement
How can you help?
-Help sponsor my fast and vigil. Your money will go directly to cover the cost of my transportation and lodging during the event. Any donations in excess of my expenses will be given to the Abolitionist Action Committee.
-If you prefer to make a tax-exempt donation, you may donate directly to the Abolitionist Action Committee in my name here: http://abolition.org/fastandvigil/sponsor.html
-Share my GoFundMe page with others so I can help reach my goal.
-Pray! Pray for safe travels, a safe fast, and for our message to be heard and support to grow for abolition of the death penalty.
Why is this important to me?
-Because it makes no sense to kill people who kill people to show that killing people is wrong.
-Because our justice system is far too fallible and imperfect. Since 1973, 166 people have been exonerated from death row (thank God) before they were executed. Studies show that at least 4% of people on death row are actually innocent. We have killed innocent people. We will continue to kill innocent people.
-Because in this country, the death penalty has resulted in us experimenting on human beings with random drugs that make them writhe around suffering for two hours - and regardless of what they did to their victim(s) - two wrongs don't make a right.
-Because we have turned the death penalty into psychological and sometimes physical torture that violates the 8th amendment.
-Because studies have shown the death penalty is not a deterrent.
-Because most victims' families report that in the end, it did nothing to help them heal or bring them peace. Instead, the lengthy appeals process (which is clearly necessary - see above) causes them to contantly relive their pain.
-Because in this country - we frequently don't respect victims' wishes. Often, victims' families who specifically state they are against the death penalty...who specifically request life in prison...are ignored, and the death penalty is pursued/given anyway.
-Because all it does is create a whole new set of victims - the loved ones of those on death row.
- Because it has often unspoken but serious consequences for those who work in corrections and are made to supervise or assist with killing inmates they have gotten to know as human beings.
- Because it is so randomly applied in this country and depends vastly on your geography and your jury. A serial killer in one state gets life - and someone who hired a friend to kill their boss gets death in another.
- Because its usage in the United States has been proven to be racially biased. People of Color, especially African Americans, make up a disproportionate percentage of death row.
- Because whether you get the death penalty or not often depends on socioeconomic status and if you are able to pay for a good lawyer.
- Because despite what most people believe, it actually costs more than life in prison.
- Because it takes away any chance the person has of redemption, of making a positive difference, and of coming to Christ. (And it happens. I have seen it happen.)
- Because Jesus taught me to love my enemies and pray for them, to show mercy and grace, and to never ever seek revenge.
I have hope that in my lifetime, the death penalty will be abolished in this country. We are better than this.
Thank you for your support of my activism.
Organizer
Kimber Mae Perrotta
Organizer
East Hampton, CT
