May 28–June 4, 1998

city beat

Dead Serious

Anti-death penalty activists are traveling across the state to spread their message.

by Gwen Shaffer

		DA Lynne Abraham prosecutes 90 percent of murder cases for the death penalty—three times more frequently than the national average.

Local anti-death penalty activists are in the midst of a state-wide pilgrimage to raise awareness about what they call "government-sponsored killing."

Earlier this month, Gov. Tom Ridge signed death warrants for three more prisoners, bringing the total of warrants issued since he took office just over three years ago to 113. Here in Philadelphia, District Attorney Lynne Abraham prosecutes 90 percent of murder cases for the death penalty—three times more frequently than the national average.

Members of the Pennsylvania Abolitionists United Against the Death Penalty kicked off their "Caravan of Conscience" this past Tuesday. The first stop was Abraham's office, where the death penalty opponents have made themselves semi-permanent fixtures this year.

"We wanted to start off right where these decisions are being made," says the Rev. Jeffrey Garis, executive director of the organization. "We have a DA who arrogantly ignores the objections of the international community, the American Bar Association, and the religious community."

From Abraham's office, they journeyed to Harrisburg and demonstrated outside of the state Capitol. There they attempted to focus attention upon the governor.

"There is a segment of the population who feels the death penalty will solve our problems, that this is an effective way to respond to violence," Garis says. "Ridge sees it as a way to solidify his 'get tough on crime' stance."

While in Harrisburg, the Philadelphians were joined by anti-death penalty activists from Central Pennsylvania, New York, DC and New Jersey. That entire group continued on to Western Pennsylvania.

		"People have reached the point where they are re-evaluating the death penalty," says one death penalty opponent. "It flies in the face of redemption and [criminals'] ability to change."

On Wednesday, they rallied outside of Pennsylvania's largest maximum security prison, State Correctional Institution Greene (SCI Greene), which houses 113 of Pennsylvania's 215 death row inmates. The prison is currently the subject of a State Department of Corrections investigation, in response to brutality charges brought against 41 of its guards. To date, six guards have been fired as a result of the investigation.

But Garis says he is not satisfied with the kid-glove actions taken by the Department of Corrections, calling the investigation nothing more than "symbolic."

"We were told that the state is more or less finished with its investigation," he says. "If firing six correctional officers was the first step, I would say okay. But this is it?"

Garis adamantly believes abuse at the prison is far more widespread than is being publicly reported. He is helping organize a coalition of advocacy groups in hopes of pressuring the U.S. Department of Justice to look into the situation.

"We have contact with people who have told us it is more like 90 correctional officers involved with the abuse at that prison. On a daily basis, prisoners are subject to racial epithets from guards" who are instructed by their supervisors to "work-over" the inmates.

Garis hopes the caravan encourages more death penalty opponents to get involved and take direct action. The "tide is turning" in favor of the abolitionists, he says.

"People have reached the point where they are re-evaluating the death penalty," he says. "It flies in the face of redemption and [criminals'] ability to change."