On June 2, 2009, the 200th execution under Texas Governor Rick Perry took place. Since he became governor of Texas in December 2000, Perry has allowed more executions to proceed than any other governor in U.S. history.   There are protests planned in cities in Texas, Canada and Europe.

In Texas demonstrations were carried out in Austin, Huntsville and Houston. Other demonstrations were held in Albuquerque; Paris, France; Leipzig, Germany, Brussels, Belgium, and Montreal, Canada.

In Houston, activists gathered at “The Old Hanging Tree” located at the former site of a county courthouse. This 400-year-old oak tree was likely the site of lynchings in the 1800’s and is now a recognized historic site by the City of Houston. In Huntsville, the protest was held outside of the death house, the Walls Unit, where the execution was carried out. In Austin, a demonstration was held at the Texas Capitol on the sidewalk at 11th and Congress.

In Paris, there was a protest June 3 on the Place de la Concorde, Tuileries/US Consulate side from 6pm to 7pm. In Leipzig, Germany, activists organized by Amnesty International placed 200 white paper crosses and 200 candles outside the US Consulate on June 2. Leipzig is a sister city of Houston. In Brussels, Belgium, protesters with banners came and stood in front of the US Embassy until the Embassy called the police who forced the protesters to leave. In Montreal there was a Die-In organized by Amnesty International where the 200 executions were reenacted.

The Texas anti-death penalty community asked people around the world to focus their attention on Texas and join us in protesting the 200th execution carried out under Rick Perry. Altogether, Texas has executed 439 people since 1982, including 152 under former Texas Governor George W. Bush.

Dr. Jerry Williams (above), a SFA sociology professor spoke at the Walls Unit protest in Huntsville.

Williams' sister was brutally murdered and her killer only spent 15 years in prison. He explains why he doesn't believe in execution. "I hated him. I wanted to see him die. I wanted to see him suffer in prison. And I thought justice would be done only in the way, but what I realized over time was that my hate really diminished me. It damaged me and did nothing for him," explained Williams.

Vote for us to win a $25,000 social media makeover from Communicause, which would allow us to improve our website and build a network of Texas anti-death penalty websites using social media.

Texas House of Representatives Passes "The Kenneth Foster, Jr Act"

House Bill 2267, "The Kenneth Foster, Jr Act", passed the Texas House of Representatives Friday, May 15. Sponsored by Rep. Terri Hodge (D - Dallas), the bill would eliminate the death penalty as a sentencing option under the controversial Texas Law of Parties. It would also require separate trials of co-defendants in capital cases. The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration.

The Texas Law of Parties gained national prominence in 2007 during the high profile case of Kenneth Foster, Jr., whose death sentence was commuted by Governor Rick Perry following a national grassroots movement to halt his execution.

"It is my hope that in the future no other families have to deal with the emotional, psychological and financial hell associated with having a loved one on death row for a murder they factually did not commit, like my family has had to deal with for the last 13 years," said Terri Bean, sister of Texas death row inmate Jeff Wood. Wood was sentenced to death under the Law of Parties.

"This bill, when passed, will make me even prouder to be a resident of Texas," said Kenneth Foster, Sr., father of Kenneth Foster, Jr. "Our family knows first hand the injustices of the Law of Parties, and Rep. Hodge's bill is a step in the right direction."