Protest the Execution of James Elledge

Next week, just past midnight on Tuesday, August 28, our State of Washington will kill James Elledge.

Opposition to the death penalty is fundamental to Friends. The policy statement of the Friends Committee on Washington Public Policy (FCWPP) reads:

“We seek the abolition of the death penalty because it denies the sacredness of human life and violates our belief in the human capacity for change. This irreversible penalty cannot be applied equitably and without error. Use of the death penalty by the state powerfully reinforces the idea that killing can be a proper way of responding to those who have wronged us. We do not believe that reinforcement of that idea can lead to healthier and safer communities.”

We urge Friends to follow the Spirit in -> supporting a repeal of the death sentence within our state, and throughout the nation, -> supporting, as an intermediate step and realizable immediate goal, a legislative moratorium on executions within Washington along with a study of the implementation of this extreme penalty as it now stands -> writing legislators and newspaper editors in response to this occasion, and -> participating in events marking this tragedy. 

A FCWPP interest group at Pacific Northwest Quarterly Meeting (September 22-24) will use the death penalty as a case study in grass roots action. 

FCWPP supports building coalitions with other groups who share our goal to abolish capital punishment. The following events have been publicized by The Washington Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty: 

From: Mary Robinson <>
Date: Fri, Aug 17, 2001, 11:19 PM

List of Events Marking the Scheduled Execution of James Elledge on August 28, 2001, 12:01 a.m.

SEATTLE. The Archdiocese of Seattle will be holding a press conference on Friday, August 24th, 10:00 a.m. at the Chancery to talk about its reasons for opposing the execution of James Elledge. Contact:

Kevin Glackin-Coley
Director of Detention Ministry
Archdiocese of Seattle
910 Marion Street
Seattle, WA 98104

SPOKANE. Sunday the 26th – Worship service at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, 33rd and Perry, 7:30pm. This is planned by the church and by the social justice ministry of Catholic Charities.

SPOKANE. Monday the 27th – Vigil at 7:30pm at the local office of the WA Attorney General, 1116 W. Riverside. After that brief vigil, there will be a walk to the Community Building at 35 W. Main. The building will remain open until midnight with a video at 9:00, music and readings at 10, and comments on legal elements of the execution from Mary Pat Treuthart at 11. A brief service and lighting of candles just before midnight.

Contact: Rusty Nelson
Peace and Justice Action League of Spokane Community Building
35 W. Main #120M
Spokane, WA 99201-0107
509-838-7870

SEATTLE. Vigil/protest/leafleting across from Westlake Mall. August 27th from 7 p.m. to dusk. Public welcome. Sponsor; Washington Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty. Contact: Mary Robinson (206) 622-8952. e-mail:

OLYMPIA. Execution-eve vigil on the steps of the State Capitol Building from 7:00 p.m. Monday evening August 27 to a few minutes past midnight Tuesday morning August 28. Co-sponsored by WCADP and FOR. Contact:

Glen Anderson 
Olympia Fellowship of Reconciliation
5015 15th Ave SE, Lacey WA 98503
(360) 664-6252 work
(360) 491-9093 home
http://www.scn.org/wwfor/DeathPenalty.html
Glen Anderson 
Alice Curtis 

WALLA WALLA. Monday evening August 27 to a few minutes past midnight Tuesday morning August 28, vigil/protest at the site of the execution, the penitentiary.