KENTUCKY
COALITION to
ABOLISH the
DEATH
PENALTY
P.O. Box 3092 * Louisville, KY 40201-3092 * 502.636.1330 * shekinah.lavalle@kcadp.org * www.kcadp.org
EMBARGOED UNTIL SEPTEMBER 17, 2015
CONTACT: BEN GRIFFITH — 502.330.4989
REV. PAT DELAHANTY -— 502.494.3294
Victims’ family members issue challenge grant
to support repeal of death penalty in Kentucky
A group of murder victims’ family members are issuing a challenge to opponents of
capital punishment to support the work of the Kentucky Coalition to Abolish the Death
Penalty.
The request is conveyed in a letter being sent statewide from Ben Griffith, a member of
Murder Victims’ Family Members for Reconciliation and secretary of the coalition board.
“Each of us has lost a loved one too soon and tragically at the hands of another
person,” Griffith writes. “But, we do not want to be complicit in the taking of another life.
And so, like you, we want the Kentucky State Legislature to repeal the death penalty as
a sentencing option. We know that the death penalty is a failed public policy and does
not serve us as we mourn our loved ones and try to heal.”
Griffith and seven other victims’ family members are challenging other death penalty
opponents to match their gift to the coalition of $1,640. The group will match up to that
amount with the goal of doubling the funds raised for the coalition.
“As the surviving family members of murder victims and as Kentuckians, we want to
send a message that not only will we not stand by as human beings are murdered by
the state in our name, but we will commit our money and time to getting the death
penalty repealed,” the letter concludes.
Father Patrick Delahanty, the coalition chairman, welcomed the family members’ action.
“To have victim family members so convinced that the use of the death penalty is
harmful to them that they are willing to help fund efforts to repeal the death penalty and
challenge others to help is very exciting,” he said. “This matching grant challenge
demonstrates how necessary it is that the death penalty be abolished so prosecutors
will stop harming family members and wasting taxpayer dollars by seeking death
sentences.”
Information about donating can be found at kcadp.org.
Hitt
Working Together to End the Death Penalty
