The ABA's call shines a spotlight on the crisis of due process in the US legal system. The quality of representation affored to poor defendants is grossly inadequate.
Race continues to play a centeral role in determining who lives and who dies.
Meanwhile, ambitious public officials forward their careers by prosecuting and executing those with little political clout. The ABA has created a significant politcal opening. In conjunction with other abolitionist groups, Equal Justice USA is organizing a grassroots response-a national campaign to urge local city conuncils, churhes, civic groups, etc to pass resolutions urging their governor and state legislators, as well as their members of Congress and President Clinton, to enact moratoriums on the state and federal level. Urge your local city council, your church and other institutions and organizations in your area to pass a resolution calling for a moratorium on all executions. Equal Justice USA has agreed to keep the national tally of organizations and institutions joining the call for a moratorium.