In 2006, EMCADP joined other death penalty organizations around the state in an incorporated Missourians to Abolish the Death Penalty (MADP) and we changed our name to MADP--Greater St. Louis Chapter. See the MADP site for news and developments.

Michael Anthony Taylor update:
On Monday, June 26, U.S. Judge Fernando Gaitan Jr. ruled that the state cannot execute using its current method, the three-drug "cocktail" used for lethal injection with a non-anesthesiologist mixing the drugs, one who admits to confusing numbers and making mistakes. More.

For updates--see the new site of Missourians to Abolish the Death Penalty, the statewide umbrella linking Missouri abolitionists, for all information about statewide activity including upcoming executions.

July 12, 2005: researchers have unearthed evidence suggesting that Larry Griffin was innocent of the murder he was executed for in 1995. See further information on Missouri miscarriages of justice.

See the NCADP's blog!

The 1000th execution since the resumption of executions in 1977 took place on Friday, December 2, 2005.
Reginald Clemons, co-defendant of Marlin Gray, could receive a date any time.

Missourians to Abolish the Death Penalty has unleashed a campaign for a moratorium on the death penalty in Missouri.

You can help:

Have your town council/place of worship/union/social club pass a resolution for a moratorium. We have a basic model resolution as well as Catholic, interfaith, Jewish, Episcopal, and Unitarian versions. You can start from any of them and modify as you like. Please send copies of ratified resolutions to:

Missourians to Abolish the Death Penalty (MADP)
C/O Rita Linhardt
PO Box 54
Jefferson City, MO 65102

For further information see the Missouri moratorium tabloid developed to serve as background information.

See the Quixote Center's Equal Justice USA to see a list of Missouri signers.

EASTERN MISSOURI COALITION TO ABOLISH THE DEATH PENALTY

4127 Forest Park Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63108
314-652-8062 ext. 161


Contact us

Who we are:

EMCADP is a coalition of organizations in the eastern side of Missouri and in southern Illinois, and of individuals, working to end the death penalty in Missouri. Our philosophies and reasons differ, but we are united in our determination to find alternatives to killing, whether by the state or by individuals.

If you would like to join our alert list, please email us giving us your name and address. Tell us if you prefer information by email or "snailmail".
You will receive alerts when executions are scheduled, with information on protest vigils and significant issues to include in a plea to the governor to commute the sentence. You will also receive legislative alerts.

(To find local organizations in other parts of the state, see Useful links.)

See our member organizations and our board of directors and officers.

DEATH ROW INMATE FAMILY SUPPORT
Confidential Support Network for family members of death row inmates
Contact: Mary Mifflin

Monthly meeting times:

Fourth Thursday of every month, 7:00 pm, at Tegeler Hall, 3550 Lindell.

Beginnings

The Eastern Missouri Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty was formed in 1989 after the execution of George "Tiny" Mercer, January 6, 1989, the first Missouri execution after reinstatement of the death penalty. We work with Missourians to Abolish the Death Penalty, a state-wide coalition of various local organizations, in opposing executions and in passing legislation; we also sponsor educational events in an attempt to increase public awareness of and opposition to the death penalty.

How to contact your legislators:

The Justice Project provides a way to fax all or any of your legislators, based on your zipcode, free. Do it now before you forget!

How to protest executions

When executions are scheduled, vigils and protests are scheduled:

To protest the execution, you can ask the governor to commute the sentence, 573-751-3222; fax 573-751-1495;
State Capitol, Box 720, Jefferson City, MO 65101.
Toll-free in Kansas City: 889-3186; St. Louis: 340-6900.
Email through online website (remember that handwritten letters are most effective, but email helps if you doubt you'll have time to write or call).

There is also a candlelight vigil the evening before the 12:01 a.m. execution, outside the Bonne Terre prison, 11:00pm-12:01am: 2727 Hwy K, east on K from US 67 (south from I-55, north from Farmington), at Coplin Rd., a few hundred yards from the entrance

It will be cancelled if there is a firm stay or announcement of commutation.

There are local vigils and prayer services as well:

  • Columbia: 5:00-6:00 pm, Boone Co. Courthouse; 10:00 carpool to Jefferson City;
  • Columbia, prayer vigil 6:30 pm, St. Lukes U. M. Church, 204 E. Ash;
  • Jefferson City: 11pm-12:01am, vigil, High Street across from the Supreme Court Building; 10:30, prayer vigil, St. Peter’s Catholic Church;
  • Kansas City: 4:30-5:30 pm during Central Daylight Time and 4:30-5:30 pm during Central Standard Time, J.C. Nichols Fountain in the Plaza (sponsored by WMCADP);
  • Springfield: 7-7:30 pm, St. Agnes Cathedral, 533 S. Jefferson;
  • St. Louis: 8:30-9:00 pm, College Church, Grand and Lindell; 9:00 pm, carpool to Bonne Terre
  • Cape Girardeau: 8:30, in front of Academic Hall on campus of SEMO.


It also helps to write letters to the editor of your own local newspapers and the major newspapers:

St. Louis Post-Dispatch
900 E. Tucker Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63101
(314) 340-8000 (phone)
(314) 340-3050 (fax)
email letters@post-dispatch.com

Kansas City Star
1729 Grand Av.
Kansas City, MO 64108
(816) 234-4141 (phone)
(816) 234-4926 (fax)
email letters@kcstar.com

News Tribune
P.O. Box 420
Jefferson City, MO 65102
(573) 636-3131 (phone)
(573) 636-7035 (fax)
email editor@newstribune.com