Community news items related to capital punishment.
On this 19th World Day Against the Death Penalty, please join Georgia Catholics Against the Death Penalty and the Archdiocese of Atlanta for prayer and reflection on our Gospel call to promote mercy and justice.
Archbishop Hartmayer released a statement in support of House Bill 485.
In a bit of good news, a bipartisan group of Georgia House members have introduced House Bill 485 – a bill that would repeal the death penalty in Georgia.
You can read the details of the legislation here: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/59757.
We have been in touch with the sponsors of the bill. Over the coming days we will be updating our website and social media and will be sharing more information about how we can work together to ensure this bill has a chance at a hearing.
Please stay tuned!
In the meantime, please follow us on Facebook or encourage others to sign up for our mailing list.
It will take a huge effort of committed Catholics to help make this law become a reality.
Just hours after sparing Jimmy Meders, the state of Georgia announced that Donnie Lance is scheduled to be executed at 7 PM on January 29th, 2019. Should the Board of Pardons and Paroles deny his request for clemency, please plan to join with Georgians of all faiths at one of the vigil sites below. In the meantime, please keep Donnie, his family and friends, and the family and friends of Joy Lance and Dwight Wood, the victims, in your prayers.
Americus
Time: 7 PM
Location: 1324 GA Hwy 49 South, Americus, GA 31719
Contact: Elizabeth Dede
Phone #: 229-591-0114
Email: elizabeth@koinoniafarm.org
Athens
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: UGA Arch on East Broad Street
Contact: Robbie Buller
Phone #: 706-338-4572
Email: robbie@jubileepartners.org
Atlanta-State Capitol
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: 206 Washington St, Atlanta, GA 30334
Contact: Peggy Hendrix
Phone #: 404-771-8940
Email: peggyhendrix2000@yahoo.com
Augusta-Augusta Judicial Center
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: 735 James Brown Blvd, Augusta, GA 30901
Contact: Ayman Fadal
Phone #: 706-284-3002
Email: afadel97@gmail.com
Clarkesville-Courthouse (Near the Gazebo)
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: 226 Grant St, Clarkesville, GA 30523
Contact: Anne Hall
Phone #: 706-754-7011
Email: annehall987@gmail.com
Columbus-Columbus Consolidated Government Center
Time: 6 PM
Location: 100 10th St, Columbus, GA 31901
Contact: Edward Dubose
Phone #: 706-464-8539
Email: edubose252@aol.com
Dawson
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: Hwy 520 & Hwy 82
Contact: Rev. Holley
Phone #: 229-407-0101
Email: tholley@mediacombb.net
Decatur-Old Courthouse on the Square (Ponce Side)
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: 101 E Court Square, Decatur, GA 30030
Contact: Andrew Johnson
Email: ahjohnson113@gmail.com
Jackson-GA Diagnostic and Classification Prison (Death Row)
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: 2978 GA-36, Jackson, GA 30283
Contact: Mary Catherine Johnson
Phone #: 404-273-0621
Email: mcjohnson78@yahoo.com
Johns Creek-St. Brigid Catholic Church
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: 3400 Old Alabama Rd, Johns Creek, GA 30022
Contact: Cathy Schneider
Phone #: 502-592-9123
Email: cathyschneider123@gmail.com
Macon-City Hall
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: 700 Poplar St, Macon, GA 31201
Contact: Kellie Divis
Email: kjdivis@gmail.com
Marietta-Cobb County Courthouse (On the Square)
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: 12 E Park Square, Marietta, GA 30090 (on the corner of Cherokee & Roswell Street)
Contact: Debby Freel
Email: debbyfreel@gmail.com
Savannah-City Hall
Time: 5 PM
Location: 2 E Bay St, Savannah, GA 31401 (Corner of E Bay & Bull Street)
Contact: Sister Jackie Griffith
Phone #: 912-484-8378
Email: jackiegriffith@comcast.net
Six hours shy of his execution, Jimmy Meders was granted clemency by the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles. His sentence was commuted to life in prison without the possibility of parole. As a result of this wonderful news, all vigils for his execution were cancelled.
In a poll conducted by Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy from December 19 through December 23, 2019, 56% of Georgia voters favored replacing the death penalty with a sentence of life without the possibility of parole. 33% were opposed while 11% were undecided. The margin for error in the poll was +- 4 percentage points.
Respondents were asked:
Because of the constitutionally-mandated appeals, additional trials and associated housing expenses, the death penalty costs Georgia taxpayers substantially more than sentencing prisoners to life in prison with no possibility of parole. Additionally, death penalty cases can drag on for more than a decade, forcing victims’ families to endure years of uncertainty and waiting. In contrast, a sentence of life in prison without parole would offer swift and certain justice that allows these families to move on with the healing process.
Given this, would you support or oppose replacing the death penalty in Georgia with a life sentence without parole?
The results paint a clear picture – faced with an expensive and error-prone system, a majority of Georgians are in favor of eliminating the death penalty and redirecting needed money to solving other crimes, investing in education to prevent crime, and providing more services to victims and their families.
The results hold true across the entire state, with a majority in each region in favor of replacement:
| Region | Support | Oppose | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Metro | 61% | 27% | 12% |
| North Georgia | 46% | 43% | 11% |
| Central Georgia | 51% | 40% | 9% |
| South Georgia | 52% | 38% | 10% |
The results were similar across age ranges, with a higher number of those under 50 favoring replacing the death penalty:
Women more strongly favor replacement, though a majority of men are in support:
The State of Georgia has scheduled the execution of Jimmy Meders for January 16th, 2020 at 7 PM. If carried out, this would be the first person put to death in Georgia this year. Should a stay not be granted, and If you are able, please consider joining with Georgians of all faiths at one of the vigils below.
Regardless, please keep Mr. Meders, his family and friends, and the family and friends of Don Anderson, the victim, in your prayers.
Americus
Time: 7 PM
Location: 1324 GA Hwy 49 South, Americus, GA 31719
Contact: Elizabeth Dede
Phone #: 229-591-0114
Email: elizabeth@koinoniafarm.org
Athens
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: UGA Arch on East Broad Street
Contact: Robbie Buller
Phone #: 706-338-4572
Email: robbie@jubileepartners.org
Atlanta-State Capitol
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: 206 Washington St, Atlanta, GA 30334
Contact: Peggy Hendrix
Phone #: 404-771-8940
Email: peggyhendrix2000@yahoo.com
Augusta-Augusta Judicial Center
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: 735 James Brown Blvd, Augusta, GA 30901
Contact: Ayman Fadal
Phone #: 706-284-3002
Email: afadel97@gmail.com
Clarkesville-Courthouse (Near the Gazebo)
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: 226 Grant St, Clarkesville, GA 30523
Contact: Anne Hall
Phone #: 706-754-7011
Email: annehall987@gmail.com
Columbus-Columbus Consolidated Government Center
Time: 6 PM
Location: 100 10th St, Columbus, GA 31901
Contact: Edward Dubose
Phone #: 706-464-8539
Email: edubose252@aol.com
Dawson
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: Hwy 520 & Hwy 82
Contact: Rev. Holley
Phone #: 229-407-0101
Email: tholley@mediacombb.net
Decatur-Old Courthouse on the Square (Ponce Side)
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: 101 E Court Square, Decatur, GA 30030
Contact: Andrew Johnson
Email: ahjohnson113@gmail.com
Jackson-GA Diagnostic and Classification Prison (Death Row)
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: 2978 GA-36, Jackson, GA 30283
Contact: Mary Catherine Johnson
Phone #: 404-273-0621
Email: mcjohnson78@yahoo.com
Johns Creek-St. Brigid Catholic Church
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: 3400 Old Alabama Rd, Johns Creek, GA 30022
Contact: Cathy Schneider
Phone #: 502-592-9123
Email: cathyschneider123@gmail.com
Macon-City Hall
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: 700 Poplar St, Macon, GA 31201
Contact: Kellie Divis
Email: kjdivis@gmail.com
Marietta-Cobb County Courthouse (On the Square)
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: 12 E Park Square, Marietta, GA 30090 (on the corner of Cherokee & Roswell Street)
Contact: Debby Freel
Email: debbyfreel@gmail.com
Savannah-City Hall
Time: 5 PM
Location: 2 E Bay St, Savannah, GA 31401 (Corner of E Bay & Bull Street)
Contact: Sister Jackie Griffith
Phone #: 912-484-8378
Email: jackiegriffith@comcast.net
The State of Georgia has scheduled the execution of Marion Wilson for June 20th, 2019 at 7 PM. If carried out, this would be the second person executed h in Georgia this year. On Thursday, June 20th, the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles denied Mr. Wilson’s petition for clemency. If you are able, please consider joining Georgians of all faiths at one of the vigil sites listed below. Regardless, please keep the friends and family of Mr. Wilson and Donovan Corey Parks, the victim, in your prayers.
Americus
7 pm, 1324 GA Hwy 49 South
Contact: Elizabeth Dede – (229)-591-0114
Athens
6:30 pm, UGA Arch on E. Broad St.
Contact: Robbie Buller (706)-338-4572
Atlanta
6:30 pm, State Capitol, 206 Washington St.
Contact: Peggy Hendrix 404-771-8940
Augusta
6:30 pm, Augusta Judicial Center, 735 James Brown Blvd
Contact: Ayman Fadal 706-284-3002
Clarkesville
6:30 PM, Clarkesville Courthouse near the gazebo
226 Grant St, Clarkesville, GA 30523
Contact: Anne Hall 706-754-7011
Columbus
6 pm, Columbus Consolidated Government Center
100 10th St. Columbus, GA 31901
Contact: Edward Dubose 706-464-8539
Decatur
6:30 pm, Old Courthouse on the Square (Ponce side)
Contact: Andrew Johnson ahjohnson113@gmail.com
Jackson
6:30 pm, Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison
Contact: Mary Catherine Johnson 404-273-0621
Johns Creek
6:30 pm, St. Brigid Catholic Church
3400 Old Alabama Road, Johns Creek, GA 30022
Contact: Cathy Schneider 502-592-9123
Macon
6:30 pm, Macon City Hall
700 Poplar St. Macon, GA 31201
Contact: Suzanne Hobby-Shippen 478-207-7065
Marietta
6:30 PM, Cobb County Courthouse (Cherokee St./Roswell St.)
Contact: Eileen Perkins 678-628-5082
Savannah
5 pm, City Hall at Bay St. and Bull St.
Contact: Sister Jackie Griffith 912-484-8378
The New Hampshire State Senate voted to override the governor’s veto of a death penalty repeal bill today. This allows the repeal to become law and makes New Hampshire the 21st state to abolish capital punishment in the United States. We join the people of New Hampshire in celebrating this victory for the dignity of all human life.
Speaking words of contrition, Scotty Morrow became the first Georgian to be executed this year on Thursday May, 2nd. Scotty had been sentenced to die for the murders of Barbara Young and Tonya Woods in 1994. Mr. Morrow expressed remorse, and apologized to the Young and Woods family as his final act.
We are grateful for all who prayed for Scotty, his family and friends, and the family and friends of Barbara Young and Tonya Woods. Many Catholics also participated at various prayer vigils held Thursday night around the state.
Please continue to pray that our state will uphold the value and dignity of all human life, even for those guilty of violent crimes.