At a time when Illinois legislators are debating the future of death penalty reforms, the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty will hold its annual conference in Chicago Oct. 24-27 at the Radisson Hotel, 160 East Huron. The conference, titled “Restoring Justice, Reclaiming Humanity,” is cosponsored by the Illinois Coalition Against the Death Penalty, an NCADP affiliate.
Conference highlights include a keynote address by Sister Helen Prejean (author of Dead Man Walking) ; an opening plenary examining the death penalty in Illinois; a rally and demonstration at Chicago’s Thompson Center; and a special screening of the film 12 Minutes.
Call (202) 543-9577. Registration rates are $65, with special rates available for students and seniors. See www.ncadp.org
One of the conference workshops is “SILENCE = DEATH PENALTY: Organizing LGBTI Voices Against Capital Punishment, Oct. 26 26 at 2 p.m. The workshop, organized by Chicago activists, will explore the use of homophobia, sexism and racism to seek and obtain the death penalty against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people throughout the U.S. and the world. Speakers include: Ruthann Robson, Lesbian Legal Theorist, Professor of Law at the City University of New York School of Law, Contributor to OUT Magazine; Deborah Benford, Activist & Organizer with Affinity Community Services; Robert Schultz, Death Penalty Abolition Program Coordinator of Amnesty International, Midwest Regional Office. Moderated by: Joey Mogul, Civil rights and death penalty attorney with the People’s Law Office and member of Queer to the Left.