Co ths tad
IL LIBERTIES UNION
STEREO ss
1 Iinois Division / Five South Wabash Avenue = Chicago, Illinois 60603 » 312/236-5564
t
December 13, 1976
TO: Joyee Keller
FROM: Kathryn Mozden, Coordinator of the Death Penalty Project.
RE: Tllinois Coalition Against the Death Penalty
In August, interested individuals met and decided to form a statewide
coalition to stop reinstatement of the death penalty. To date, the
- -— --coalition numbers_ 44 -member-organizations.- both secular and religious.— —
Complete list enclosed.
We depended primarily on referrals and word of mouth in recruiting
members. Contacts initially were made by phone. I would send back-
\ ground information to those requesting it. Some organizations joined
representing their constituents. Other organizations joined repre-
senting only the board or steering committee. If there was a person
! who sat on another board, we asked that person to present the issue.
i It is my belief that a contact person within an organization is
invaluable, if one is available they should be used.
I The initial meeting was the idea of one of our cooperating attorneys.
i Since the coalition's inception, I have spent 40 hours a week working
! on it. I ama volunteer. The Alliance to End Repression, has made
capital punishment a major priority and one of their staff has devoted
a good portion of her time to this issue. It should be noted that our
legislative director, Yoshimi Golden, with the assistance of a volun-
teer have given a great deal of time and energy to this matter. The
coalition has served as a means by which the ACLU has voiced its
opinion. We hope to have created an intra-structure that will carry
on. _ Essentially, the ACLU is running the coalition. The memos, meetings,
etc. originate here.
Money that is donated to the coalition comes to our office. All money
that is earmarked for the death penalty is put aside and taken care of
by our business manager and so is not dealt with as a separate entity.
The coalition has sent out several mailings. We have used other or-
ganizations' mailing lists to reach a broad base of people. After
painstaking efforts, a pamphlet was printed. I have enclosed a. copy.
It has been distributed to our state legislators along with an
article on the cost of capital punishment. The pamphlet has also
been sent to interested individuals. The ACLU has filled a number of
speaking engagements that have come up. A group of individuals
representing member organizations of the coalition, went to Springfield
where we held a press conference and then went to lobby.
k
I
i
David M. Hamlin David Goldberger Dawn Ragan Dorothy Burstein
Executive Director Legal Director Business Manager Membership Director
AG LW
MERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION
Illinois Division / Five South Wabash. Avenue « Chicago, Illinois 60603 » 312/236-5564
Page Two
December 13, 1976
The House Subcommittee, Judiciary II conducted public hearings on
proposed legislation. * ne coalition submitted testimony at both the
Chicago and Joliet hearings.
I have included copies of previous memos. It has been my experience
that you should be as detailed as possible. For instance, we in-
cluded a list of representatives and senators listed by districts
for those who were not sure of their reps and senators. With another
memo we sent copies of two editorials, thus making it easier for
_individuals.
I hope that this will prove helpful. Thanks for the information you
sent.
David M, Hamlin David Goldberger Dawn Ragan Dorothy Burstein
Executive Director Legal Director Business Manager Membership Director
