Many times I have testified to Washington State legislative committees. In 2020 I did this again. I’m attaching below a slightly longer version of what I said. This document summarizes a strategically smart three-step process to convince people (legislators, the public, etc.) why it is important to abolish the death penalty — and why abolishing it would not endanger the public.
A major obstacle in convincing the public and legislatures to abolish the DP is their fear that it protects our safety. My third point in this testimony points out that we could abolish it without endangering public safety. It is strategically important to make this point. My legislative testimony was shorter than this document, but this third point is important to convey to people in order to overcome their fears.
Here is what I wrote. I invite you to share this with people whose states still allow the death penalty:
Since the late 1960s Glen Anderson has devoted his life to working as a volunteer for peace, nonviolence, social justice, and progressive political issues. He has worked through many existing organizations and started several. Over the years he has worked especially for such wide-ranging goals as making peace with Vietnam, eliminating nuclear weapons, converting from a military economy to a peacetime economy, abolishing the death penalty, promoting nonviolence at all levels throughout society, and helping people organize and strategize for grassroots movements to solve many kinds of problems. He writes, speaks, and conducts training workshops on a wide variety of topics. Since 1987 he has produced and hosted a one-hour cable TV interview program on many kinds of issues. Since 2017 he has blogged at https://parallaxperspectives.org He lives in Lacey near Olympia WA. You can reach him at (360) 491-9093 glen@parallaxperspectives.org
