Join us for an enlightening and thought-provoking discussion on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, at noon Pacific, 3 p.m. Eastern, as we delve into the crucial issue of California’s racially discriminatory and unconstitutional death penalty statute. This free, hour-long webinar is a must-attend for anyone interested in criminal justice reform and the fight against systemic racism in the legal system.
Event Details
Date and Time:
Tuesday, June 25, 2024
Noon Pacific / 3 p.m. Eastern
Duration:
Approximately one hour
Registration:
The webinar is free of charge.
Panelists
The discussion will be moderated by Stephen F. Rohde, a distinguished constitutional lawyer, lecturer, writer, political activist, and chair emeritus of the ACLU Foundation. He will be joined by a panel of experts who bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the conversation:
- Patricia Okonta: Assistant Counsel, NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund (LDF)
- Avram Frey: Deputy Director, ACLU Criminal Justice Program
- Jessica Oats: Attorney, Office of the State Public Defender
- Morgan Zamora: Prison Advocacy Coordinator, Ella Baker Center
These esteemed panelists represent the organizations that filed a landmark lawsuit in April, challenging California’s death penalty statute in the California Supreme Court on the grounds of racial discrimination.
The Issue at Hand
The lawsuit argues that California’s capital punishment system is fundamentally flawed and racially biased. Statistics reveal that Black defendants are about five times more likely to be sentenced to death compared to similarly situated non-Black defendants, while Latino defendants are at least three times more likely to receive the death penalty. These disparities underscore the urgent need to address racial biases within the state’s judicial system.
The lawsuit seeks to have the California Supreme Court declare the state’s death penalty statute unconstitutional, effectively putting an end to future capital prosecutions, trials, and death sentences.
Why Attend?
This webinar offers a unique opportunity to gain insights from leading experts in the field of criminal justice and civil rights. Attendees will learn about the intricacies of the lawsuit, the racial disparities in the application of the death penalty, and the broader implications for justice reform in California and beyond.
The discussion promises to be both enlightening and motivating, providing attendees with a deeper understanding of the systemic issues at play and the legal strategies being employed to combat them.
We hope you will join us for this important webinar on June 25, 2024. By participating, you will be part of a crucial conversation that could lead to significant changes in California’s criminal justice system. Register now and be prepared for an hour of impactful dialogue on a pressing social justice issue.