April 15, 2022
Dear <first name>,
We have survived the first attempt to reinstate the death
penalty in Virginia.
During the recently adjourned 2022 Virginia General
Assembly session, legislation was filed to reinstate capital
punishment for killing a law enforcement officer.
The Senate version (SB 379) was defeated in the Judiciary
Committee on a 9-6 party line vote. In the House of
Delegates, the Courts of Justice Committee never held a
hearing on the House version of the bill (HB 661).
One House Delegate told VADP that there was opposition to
the bill during discussions in the Republican caucus. That is
a very hopeful development that bodes well for defending our
abolition victory in future legislative sessions.
Last year the board of directors decided to continue VADP
to carry out two goals. The first goal was to defend death
penalty abolition in the Virginia General Assembly.
The second goal was to tell the story of our historic
abolition victory in a book. In the past year VADP Executive
Director Dale Brumfield has conducted in-depth research and
interviewed many abolition leaders from recent decades.
The book, Closing the Slaughterhouse: The Inside Story of
Death Penalty Abolition in Virginia, is now at the printer and
should be available for purchase in early May.
We welcome your help in promoting the book in your local
communities. Dale would be happy to speak at bookstores or
participate in book signing events. If you would like to help
with this promotional effort, send an email message to Dale at
<dalebrumfield@protonmail.com> or call him at # 804-304-0662.
Since the book is done, Dale decided to leave VADP at the
end of April and begin the next phase of his career.
The first goal of defending our victory, however, is
still at risk.
The speaker of the House of Delegates, Todd Gilbert, is a
strong supporter of the death penalty. The chair of the House
Courts of Justice Committee, Del. Rob Bell, is a long-time
proponent of capital punishment. Attorney General Jason
Miyares has spoken fervently in favor of the death penalty.
In the state Senate, the pro-abolition majority remains
razor thin. Governor Glenn Youngkin’s views on capital
punishment are unknown, but we cannot rely on him to veto
reinstatement of the death penalty.
So our work is not yet done. We still need your help.
During the recent legislative session, VADP and our
partners learned that 4 of the 17 new House of Delegates
members (12 Republicans & 5 Democrats) oppose reinstatement of
the death penalty. Two of those legislators are Republicans.
Our challenge in the coming months is to meet with other
new Delegates to discuss capital punishment. We want to build
up as much opposition as possible in the House of Delegates
toward reinstatement of the death penalty.
The new nonpartisan redistricting process will also have
a dramatic impact on Virginia’s political landscape. Nearly
half of the lawmakers in each chamber now live in the same
legislative district.
It is likely that the Virginia General Assembly will look
VERY different by 2024. That could either benefit or hurt the
abolition cause.
Help us continue to defend our historic death penalty
abolition victory by giving as generously as you are able,
today, using the donation form and envelope provided.
We could not have come this far, becoming the first
Southern state to end capital punishment, without your
financial support and your public policy advocacy.
We are deeply grateful ..
CPi
Best wishes,
Michael Stone
