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MORATORIUM ADVOCATES DECRY GARZA EXECUTION

Citizens Group Criticizes U.S. Failure to Seriously Examine Racial Disparities in Federal Death Penalty

Failure to Heed International Law Also Cited By CMFE

Washington D.C. In response to this morning’s execution of Juan Raul Garza, Citizens for a Moratorium on Federal Executions -- the group that successfully lobbied President Clinton for a stay of Mr. Garza’s execution in December and recently urged President Bush to impose a moratorium on all federal executions -- issued the following statement:

“The failure of the Bush Administration to seriously examine the issues raised by the case of Juan Raul Garza is indefensible and calls into question the commitment of the U.S. government to ensure equal protection of the law in the federal death penalty process. At a minimum, Mr. Garza’s execution should have been delayed to permit the full investigation of the troubling evidence that mar the federal death penalty process, which Attorney General Ashcroft has now indicated he will undertake.

Furthermore, the Administration’s apparent disregard for the serious questions of international law that Mr. Garza’s case raised reflect a narrow view of international relations that contradict the President’s stated goal of an effective partnership with our allies.

We hope that, upon reflection, the President and the Attorney General will acknowledge the deep-seated problems inherent in the federal death penalty process and urge them to reconsider the need for an immediate moratorium.”

Members of Citizens for a Moratorium on Federal Executions include former Justice Department officials, civil rights, and civic and religious leaders, and both opponents and supporters of the death penalty.
 

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