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Asking the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles for Clemency for Willie James Pye


PRESS RELEASE

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

March 13, 2024

Contact: Cathy Harmon-Christian, PhD

770-316-8592

Charmon-christian@gfadp.org

 

 

Clemency Petitions Delivery to State Board of Pardons and Paroles

ATLANTA, GA - Georgians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (GFADP), disability advocates, racial justice advocates, and members of the faith community will gather at 10am on Monday, March 18th to deliver petitions and letters supporting commutation of the death sentence for Mr. Willie James Pye. 


The Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles announced it will have a specially called meeting on March 19th, 2024, at 9am, to receive information for or against clemency for Willie Pye. This meeting is not open to the public. 

 

Gather outside near the corner of Piedmont Ave and Martin Luther King Jr Dr across from the Georgia Capitol Building. 2 Martin Luther King Jr Dr, Atlanta, GA 30334. 

 

 

 

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GFADP is a Georgia-based, state-wide organization of individuals and groups working together to end the death penalty in Georgia. Our network includes dozens of state and local groups and thousands of individual Georgians, including murder victims’ family members and other survivors of violent crime, law enforcement professionals, families of the incarcerated, and death row exonerees and their families. www.gfadp.org


PETITION DELIVERY

On Monday, March 18th at 10am:

Please join us for the delivery of our Petition for Clemency for Willie James Pye, signed by over 3500 people. 

We will meet outside the East Tower of 2 Martin Luther King, Jr Dr, Atlanta, GA 30334.

Press invited. 


Vigils* Scheduled for Mr Pye

March 20, 2024


AMERICUS,GA - KOINONIA FARM

7pm - prayer vigil at Koinonia Farm - 1324 GA Hwy 49 S, Americus, GA 31719

Contact: Elizabeth Dede 

229-591-0114 (c), 229-924-0391 (o)

elizabeth@koinoniafarm.org


ATHENS, GA

6-7p.m - downtown Athens in front of the UGA Arch on East Broad Street.  

Contact: John Cole Vodicka 

612-718-9307

johnvodicka@comcast.net


ATLANTA, GA

6:30pm - meet on the steps of the Georgia Capitol, across from Central Presbyterian, on Washington St

Contact: Kimberly Johnson

205-903-1361 

mtsjohnson@gmail.com


AUGUSTA, GA

6:30-7:30 pm - entrance of the Augusta Judicial Center at the corner of Walton Way and James Brown Blvd (9th St.)

Contact: Ayman Fadel

(706) 284-3002‬

afadel97@gmail.com


BLAIRSVILLE, GA

6:30-7:30pm - St Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 3717 Hwy 515, Blairsville, GA 30512

Contact: Annie Grace Bassage

206-310-8730

agbassage@gmail.com

 

CLARKSVILLE, GA

7-7:30pm - silent vigil in the Gazebo on the square in Clarksville

Contact: Helen O’Brien

706-968-2490

helenobrien23@gmail.com


COMER, GA

6-7pm - prayer vigil at Cliff Yarbrough Memorial Park - Comer Quaker worship group is hosting this vigil with the support of Jubilee Partners. 

Contact: Angie Martin

comerquakers@gmail.com


DECATUR, GA

6:30pm -  on Ponce in front of the old Courthouse – intersection of Ponce and Clairmont

Contact: Andrew Johnson

(770) 301-6986‬

ahjohnson113@gmail.com


JACKSON, GA

6:00pm - in front of the Georgia Diagnostic & Classification Prison, where the execution will take place; please bring your photo ID; cars will be searched upon entry to the prison grounds. GA Diagnostic Prison, 2978 Hwy 36 West Prison Blvd, Jackson, GA 30233. 

Contact: Mary Catherine Johnson

‭(404) 273-0621‬

mcjohnson78@yahoo.com


JOHNS CREEK, GA

7pm - Saint Brigid Catholic Church, 3400 old Alabama Road, Johns Creek, GA

Contact: Cathy Schneider

502-592-9123 

cathyschneider123@gmail.com


MACON, GA

6:30pm - on the sidewalk in front of Macon City Hall, 700 Poplar St, Macon 31201

Contact: Karlan Holik

‭(229) 224-8391‬

karlanholik@gmail.com


MARIETTA, GA

6:30-7:30pm - Marietta Square in front of the Marietta Courthouse

Contact: Debby Freel

‭(404) 641-7719‬

debbyfreel@gmail.com

 

SAVANNAH, GA

5-6PM - meet in front of city hall and stand on the corners of Bull and Bay Street with signs

Contact: Sr Jackie Griffith

872- 205-5862‬

jackiegriffith@comcast.net


*You are welcome to wear t-shirts and carry signs such as GFADP, NOT IN MY NAME, or STOP EXECUTIONS NOW, etc. 


It's time to act

Dear GFADP Supporters, 


The state of Georgia has called for the execution of Willie James Pye on Wednesday, March 20th at 7pm. 

Here are some things I want you to know about Mr Pye and his trial, which took place nearly 28 years ago.  

We have an opportunity right now to send a message to the Georgia Board of Pardons and Parole to grant clemency and stop the execution of Willie James Pye.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PETITION TO GRANT CLEMENCY FOR WILLIE PYE

 Georgia is a dangerous outlier with regards to its failure to protect people with intellectual disabilities from the death penalty.

There are three substantial aspects of the case that the jury did not hear during Mr Pye's trial:

For nearly 30 years, Mr. Pye has remained a non-violent presence in jail and prison.

Click here to sign the petition to grant clemency for Willie Pye

Join us today to fight for Mr Pye's right to life. 

Cathy

M Cathy Harmon-Christian, PhD (she/her)

Executive Director

Georgians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (GFADP)

charmon-christian@gfadp.org

770-316-8592

GFADP is working to end capital punishment in Georgia and around the world.  We are a strong, diverse, statewide, grassroots movement which:

30th Anniversary GFADP Journey of Hope Speakers' Tour!

The 30th Anniversary GFADP Journey of Hope: From Violence to Healing Speakers' Tour across Georgia takes place Jan 25-Feb 6th.

 

Witness healing and hope in action. Join Georgians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (GFADP) and Journey of Hope: From Violence to Healing for our 30th Anniversary Speakers’ Tour, with events being held across the state of Georgia. 

 

Journey of Hope speakers include murder victim family members, exonerees, and family members of those on death row who will share their experiences encountering violence and how they have come to healing and advocating against the death penalty. We hope you will join us for one or more events to hear these powerful stories. 

 

Here is a list of all the public events, by date. Click on an RSVP link to find out more about individual events and to RSVP. All are welcome!


GFADP Day at the Georgia Capitol Wed, Feb 7th, 8am-3pm

On Wednesday, Feb 7th, Georgians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (GFADP), Conservatives Concerned About the Death Penalty, the Catholic Mobilizing Network along with Journey of Hope and many others will gather at the Georgia State Capitol to advocate with our legislators on the importance of passing a bill regarding the death penalty and those with intellectual disabilities.  

The schedule is as follows:

Georgia Faith Leaders will be delivering a letter opposing the executions of those with intellectual disabilities. To sign on to this letter, follow this link: GEORGIA FAITH LEADERS LETTER SIGN ON

Please RSVP to let us know you will be with us for this important Day at the Capitol!


Thank you for attending our 2023 Community Book Read, You Shall Not Condemn: A Story of Faith and Advocacy on Death Row by Jennifer M McBride on August 26, 2023. This event was co-sponsored by GFADP and New Hope House. We were glad to see so many familiar and new faces at All Saints Episcopal Church as well as those watching via the livestream.


The link to the recording is: https://vimeo.com/858249867?share=copy


As well as the author, panelists included Kelly Gissendaner's lead defense lawyer; the executive director of New Hope House and board member of GFADP; a state senator and lead organizer in the #KellyOnMyMind campaign; and a friend of Kelly's and graduate of the Certificate in Theological Studies at Lee Arrendale State Prison.

Copies of Jenny's book are still available on Amazon.


T-shirts are on sale for just $20! Support GFADP in style!

If you are interested in a T-shirt, please contact gfadp@yahoo.com


GFADP IN ACTION!

Executive Director 

M. Cathy Harmon-Christian, PhD
Contact information can be found HERE