Friends,

Yesterday I had the distinct honor of a one on one meeting with United Nations Envoy, Philip Alston, special rapporteur on extra-judicial, summary or arbitrary executions and his team of three. During Mr. Alston’s brief visit to Montgomery he and his team met with State officials and others as part of a fact finding mission on different aspects of the death penalty. The findings will be part of a special report to be presented to the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

During our meeting a wide range of topics was covered and included aspects of the death penalty in Alabama, legislation, grass roots organizing, church groups, racism, economics, phadp’s mission as well as state and national politics. In searching how best to describe the meeting, I would say that we spoke the same realistic language.

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Mr. Alston and his team have now moved on to Texas and in closing I would like to quote a very knowledgeable friend who said to me yesterday: Whatever the outcome, it was good for Alabama.

Esther

Esther Brown, Executive Director