The Green Party of New Jersey Green Party Opposes Execution of Shaka Sankofa Updated September 03, 2005

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:   June 21, 2000

Contact:

Joe Fortunato, Congressional Candidate (District 8), Green Party of NJ (973-744-5958)

Hally Abbott, Chair, Green Party of NJ (201-222-8348) habbot@aol.com

Jane Hunter, Communications Committee, Green Party of NJ (732-560-0276) janemhunter@att.net

Summary

The Green Party of New Jersey joins with the many organizations and individuals who have expressed outrage and sadness at the impending execution of Shaka Sankofa by the State of Texas.  We strongly urge that Texas Governor George W. Bush immediately issue a stay of this execution, scheduled for June 22nd at 11:00 a.m.

The Green Party of New Jersey is unequivocably opposed to the death penalty and deeply disturbed that this case may be an irrevocable miscarriage of justice.  Shaka Sanofa was 17 years old when he was sentenced to death in Texas, and he was sentenced to death on the sole evidence of one eyewitness who had earlier said that Shaka was not the person he saw commit the crime.  The Green Party of New Jersey is deeply disturbed that a man who may be innocent of the crime charged is being put to death by the State.

We are also disturbed by the grossly disproportionate manner in which the death penalty is imposed upon people of color in this country and by the lack of true due process and adequate representation for those charged with a crime under our system of criminal justice.  We call for an immediate moratorium on executions as well as the ultimate abolition of the death penalty in the United Sates.