Death Penalty convocation scheduled

On Sunday, Dec. 8, the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana, along with Terre Haute Death Penalty Resistance and Death Penalty Action will host a convocation focusing on the death penalty.

The International Human Rights Day Death Penalty Convocation will begin at noon at Hellmann Hall, St. Benedict Church, 111 S. 9th St., Terre Haute. Doors will open at noon and speaking engagements will begin at 1 p.m.

Speakers will include Sisters of Providence Sister Barbara Battista, Death Penalty Action’s Abraham Bonowitz, author Chris Brown, Indiana Abolition coalition member Karen Burkhart, Journey of Hope … From Violence to Healing founder Bill Pelke, as well as others, including family members of Rodney Reed, who was to be executed in Texas earlier this year before the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals stayed the execution.

A press conference will take place at 5:15 p.m., followed by a march and vigil to the Southern District of Indiana Federal Courthouse in Terre Haute. Food and fellowship will be offered at the church at 7 p.m.

The event has been organized by Terre Haute Death Penalty Resistance and Death Penalty Action and supporters include the Sisters of Providence, Indiana Abolition Coalition, NAACP Greater Terre Haute Branch, Indiana Catholic Conference, Abolitionist Action Committee, Catholic Mobilizing Network, Council of the Wabash Valley, Journey of Hope … From Violence to Healing, the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, Amnesty International USA, Pax Christi USA and others.

For more information or to endorse and help promote events, email info@deathpenaltyaction.org or click here.