The Coalition of Arizonans to Abolish the Death Penalty is saddened to hear about the U.S. Supreme Court's lift of the stay of execution for Jeffrey Landrigan.
"This is much bigger than just one case," said Bob Schwartz, CAADP president.
"Earlier this week, our members and others from groups across the state joined in protest of the planned execution," Schwartz said. "We were heartened to get support from many people who joined us and voiced their support by cheering or honking their car horns as they drove by our vigils.
"The coalition will continue to strive to end capital punishment in Arizona, as many states have recently done. Capital punishment is costly. Capital punishment is not a deterrent. Capital punishment has sent innocent people to death and put dozens of innocent people on death row before they were exonerated.
"We would like you to know that despite what you might hear, there are many Arizonans who oppose the death penalty. Many Arizonans would rather that prosecutors seek life without the possibility of parole, which is on the books here.
"By insisting on imposing the death penalty, Arizona adds to its reputation at one of the most backward, barbaric, hateful and repressive places on Earth.
"The civilized world has ended capital punishment," Schwartz said. "It’s time Arizona did the same."