The Exonerated DVD Available at Public Libraries Statewide

Sponsored by the ACLU of Wisconsin Foundation

Madison, WI -- With Wisconsin voters poised to make a decision on a controversial advisory referendum on the death penalty on the ballot this November 7th, Wisconsin residents now have free access to a powerful film at their local library.
The Exonerated DVDs are being donated to 100 of the largest libraries across the state made possible by the generous contribution of an anonymous donor to the American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin Foundation a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Copies will be available through residents’ local library system and through interlibrary loan.
The Exonerated tells the gripping true story of six death row inmates who, in the face of new evidence, were exonerated before their execution. This screen adaptation of the long-running critically acclaimed off-Broadway play is told through the words of the exonorees taken from interviews, official court notes, and testimony.
Directed by Bob Balaban, the film stars Susan Sarandon, Danny Glover, Delroy Lindo, Aidan Quinn, Brian Dennehy and David Brown Jr. portraying the exonerees. The description of each wrongful conviction presents a strong statement on the limitations of the American criminal justice system and specifically the flaws of today’s death penalty system in the United States.
“I was very moved by the film,” said Stacy Harbaugh, ACLU of Wisconsin Community Advocate for the Madison area. “After seeing it, viewers can understand what is at stake when states enact the death penalty. The death penalty goes too far, especially when it doesn’t make our community safer, costs too much, is applied in a discriminatory manner, and when innocent people can be executed.”
The Exonerated was honored with twenty-nine Academy Award nominations, eighty-seven Golden Globe nominations and one hundred and twelve Emmy nominations. For a background of the original play, director and writer interviews, and more about the exonerees’ stories, visit the interactive website for the film at: http://www.courttv.com/movie/
Wisconsin was the first U.S. state to abolish the death penalty 153 years ago. ACLU of WI is a member of NoDeathPenaltyWI, the coalition to stop the reinstatement of the death penalty in Wisconsin. Go to http://www.aclu-wi.org. For more information on the coalition, go to http://www.NoDeathPenaltyWI.org. The ACLU of WI is a 501(c)(4) citizen organization with over 9,000 members in Wisconsin dedicated to defending the civil liberties and civil rights of all Wisconsin residents. ###

Read the press release in .pdf

Sing a Thon for Life!

The event was organized by super volunteer, and Milwaukee's Poet Laureate Peggy Hong . It was a tremendous success raising money and awareness for the NO Death Penalty WI campaign. Groups and individuals sang for 24 hours straight!

More pictures!

Statement of the American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin on Death Penalty Referendum

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 17, 2006

MILWAUKEE -- The Wisconsin State Senate has put an advisory referendum on the death penalty on Wisconsin’s November election ballot. The American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin opposed the referendum because it is a step in the direction of reinstating the death penalty in our state. It now urges a vote against the death penalty.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin responded to the State Senate’s 18-15 vote by commending senators on both sides of the aisle who put Wisconsin’s finest values first.

ACLU of Wisconsin executive director, Chris Ahmuty called upon all fair-minded Wisconsinites to set aside political partisanship and rancor during the campaign on the referendum.

ACLU members and others who oppose the death penalty will be going to the polls in November determined to keep state sanctioned killing from returning to our state. Proponents of the death penalty who are counting on fear to change our state will be in for a surprise.

The ACLU of Wisconsin is a citizen organization dedicated to defending the civil liberties and civil rights of all Wisconsin residents. There are approximately 9,000 ACLU members in Wisconsin. --30-

Press Release in .pdf

ACLU of Wisconsin Statement on Assembly Vote for Death Penalty

MILWAUKEE May 5, 2006 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE The ACLU of Wisconsin on behalf of its statewide membership wishes to thank Wisconsin Assembly members from both sides of the aisle who late last night voted against an ill-conceived resolution calling for an advisory referendum on the death penalty.

The legislature’s proper deliberative process will not be advanced by putting a bogus question before the voters. Public sentiment is moving away from state sanctioned killing to support for life imprisonment without parole, but the proposed resolution does not present this latter option.

The ACLU of Wisconsin hopes that members of the State Senate will recognize that Wisconsin doesn’t need the death penalty and that the proposed referendum doesn’t help responsible legislators decide important public policy.

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Press Release in .pdf

ACLU of WI Testimony Against the Death Penalty Referendum at the WI State Legislature

Read the Spring 2006 Capitol Watch Update