For Whom the Bells Toll
A Program of People of Faith Against the Death Penalty
A Program of People of Faith Against the Death Penalty
For Whom the Bells Toll is a program coordinated by People of Faith Against the Death Penalty to encourage congregations to ring their bells at 6:00 pm for two minutes on the day of an execution in the United States.
To view a current schedule of upcoming executions, please click here.
If bells are not available, a banner can instead be displayed on the day of an execution. We encourage faith communities to share the meaning of tolling their bells in an effort to educate members of their faith community and local media.
Participants in For Whom the Bells Toll join an email list and will receive regular updates about approaching executions in the United States. PFADP can assist with ways to inform the congregation’s broader community about the purpose of the bell ringing.
How to get involved:
If you would like more information about For Whom the Bells Toll please contact Amanda Lattanzio at amanda (at) pfadp (dot) org or 919.933.7567.
Or you can sign-up directly by following this link: http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/1576/signUp.jsp?key=5043
The history of the program:
The idea of ringing bells on the day of an execution was developed when Bishop Walter Sullivan of Richmond, Virginia heard about Jaime Cardinal Sin of the Philippines encouraging Catholic churches in the Philippines to toll their bells in response to the execution of a Filipino citizen. Starting on November 9, 1999, Bishop Sullivan encouraged all churches in his diocese to toll their bells on the evening of every execution until the death penalty was abolished in the United States.
Sister Dorothy (Dot) Briggs founded the national program that we know today and PFADP assumed responsibility of the program in 2009. Before PFADP adopted the program, For Whom the Bells Toll was a program of Citizens United for the Rehabilitation of Errants (CURE).
The history of tolling bells:
The tolling bells will be a reminder to all who hear them that all of us are diminished by continuing acts of state-sponsored murder. The churches, monasteries, abbeys, temples and synagogues that join in this effort will go a long way toward stopping the death penalty in this country. The campaign will continue until the death penalty is abolished in this country.
Throughout history, bells have been used to warn people of dangers such as marauders or approaching storms. They have been used to celebrate happy occasions such as weddings and to mark sorrowful occasions such as deaths.
Bells have been tolled to gather village residents for meetings. In 1945, many church bells tolled to announce the end of World War II.
How to help:
If your place of worship has a bell:
• On the date of an execution, toll the bells at 6:00 p.m. for 2 minutes.
If your place of worship does not have a bell:
• Hang a black drape outside the doors of the building on the day of the execution.*Banners will be coming soon.
• *Hang our banner either inside or outside your place of worship.
• Tie black ribbons on poles outside the building.
Whether there is a bell or not:
• Include information in your bulletin.If you need help or advice with anything, do not hesitate to contact us. You can email Amanda Lattanzio at amanda (at) pfadp (dot) org or call 919.933.7567.
• Encourage others to join the campaign.
• Conduct a prayer vigil or period of silence for the person being executed, the victim(s), and the families of both.
• Explain your activities to local media.
If you have not signed up yet to join For Whom the Bells Toll, please do so by following this link: http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/1576/signUp.jsp?key=5043
The current execution schedule is as follows:
Please note the scheduled executions in the state of Pennsylvania. These dates are not considered to be serious and stays of execution will most likely result. We have included the dates in the schedule but have noted that stays are likely. If an execution in the state of Pennsylvania is considered to be serious, we will let you know.
Additionally, we would like to inform you that Kevin Keith, who is scheduled to be killed by the people of Ohio on September 15, is widely believed to be innocent. Please take action by signing the following online petition, http://www.change.org/petitions/view/relief_urgently_needed_for_innocent_man_on_ohios_death_row
There is also a petition calling for Teresa Lewis, who is scheduled to be killed by the people of Virginia on September 23, to have her sentence commuted to life in prison without parole. Please visit the following page to sign the petition, http://www.saveteresalewis.org/petition.html
SEPTEMBER
9 - Alabama
Holly Wood is scheduled to be killed by the people of for the murder of Ruby Lois Gosha.
10 - Washington
Cal Brown is scheduled to be killed by the people of Washington for the murder of Holly Washa.
14 - Pennsylvania*
Anthony Dick is scheduled to be killed by the people of Pennsylvania for the murders of Creed Vincent and James Dick.
*Stay likely
16 - Pennsylvania*
Brentt Sherwood is scheduled to be killed by the people of Pennsylvania for the murder of Marlee Rose Reed.
*Stay likely
16 - Kentucky
Gregory Wilson is scheduled to be killed by the people of Kentucky for the murder of Deborah Pooley.
23 - Virginia**
Teresa Lewis is scheduled to be killed by the people of Virginia for the murders of Julian Clifton, Lewis Junio and Charles J. Lewis.
**Sign Ms. Lewis' petition here, http://www.saveteresalewis.org/petition.html
29 - California
Albert Brown is scheduled to be killed by the people of California for the murder of Susan Louise Jordan.
OCTOBER
6- Ohio
10:00 AM EDT
Michael Benge is scheduled to be killed by the people of Ohio for the murder of Judith Gabbard.
14 - Texas
7:00 PM EDT
Gayland Bradford is scheduled to be killed by the people of Texas for the murder of Brian Williams.
14 - Oklahoma
Donald Wackerly II is scheduled to be killed by the people of Oklahoma for the murder of Pan Sayakhoummane.
16 - Oklahoma
Jeffrey Matthews is scheduled to be killed by the people of Oklahoma for the murder of Otis Earl Short.
19 - Pennsylvania*
Kenneth Hairston is scheduled to be killed by the people of Pennsylvania for the murders of Katherine and Sean Hairston.
*Stay likely
20 - Pennsylvania*
Cletus Rivera is scheduled to be executed by the state of Pennsylvania for the murder of Officer Scott Wertz.
*Stay likely
20 - Missouri
Roderick Nunley is scheduled to be killed by the people of Missouri for the murder of Ann Harrison.
21 - Pennsylvania*
Jerry Chambers is scheduled to be killed by the people of Pennsylvania for the murder of Porchia Bennett.
*Stay likely
21 - Texas
7:00 PM EDT
Larry Wooten is scheduled to be killed by the people of Texas for the murders of Grady and Bessie Alexander.
NOVEMBER
4 - Alabama
Phillip Hallford is scheduled to be killed by the people of Alabama for the murder of Charles Eddie Shannon.
9 - Tennessee
Stephen West is scheduled to be killed by the people of Tennessee for the murders of Wanda and Sheila Romines.
16 - Ohio
10:00 AM EDT
Sidney Cornwell is scheduled to be killed by the people of Ohio for the murder of Jessica Ballew.
DECEMBER
7 - Tennessee
Billy Ray Irick is scheduled to be killed by the people of Tennessee for the murder of Paula Dyer.
2011
FEBRUARY
17 - Ohio
10:00 AM EDT
Frank Spisak is scheduled to be killed by the people of Ohio for the murders of Rev. Horace Rickerson, Brian Warford and Timothy Sheehan.
MARCH
10 - Ohio
10:00 AM EDT
Johnnie Baston is scheduled to be killed by the people of Ohio for the murder of Chong Mah.
CONTACT:
ALABAMA
Governor Bob Riley
State Capitol
600 Dexter Avenue
Montgomery, AL 36130
Phone: (334) 242-7100
Fax: (334) 353-0004
Email at: governorbobriley@governor.state.al.us
Web form: http://governor.alabama.gov/contact/contact_form.aspx
CALIFORNIA
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 445-2841
Fax: (916) 558-3160
Email at: http://gov.ca.gov/interact#email
KENTUCKY
Governor Steve Beshear
700 Capitol Avenue, Suite 100
Frankfort, Kentucky 40601
Phone: (502) 564-2611
Fax: (502) 564-2517
TDD: (502) 564-9551 (Telecommunications Device for the Deaf)
Email at: http://governor.ky.gov/contact/contact.htm
MISSOURI
Governor Jay Nixon
P.O. Box 720
Jefferson City, MO 65102
Phone: (573) 751-3222
Email at: http://governor.mo.gov/contact/
OHIO
Governor Ted Strickland
Governor's Office
Riffe Center, 30th Floor
77 South High Street
Columbus, OH 43215-6108
Phone/General Info: (614) 466-3555
Fax: (614) 466-9354
Email at: http://governor.ohio.gov/Default.aspx?tabid=150
OKLAHOMA
Governor Brad Henry
State Capitol Building
2300 N. Lincoln Blvd., Room 212
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
Telephone: (405) 521-2342
Fax: (405) 521-3353
Email at: governor@oklaosf.state.ok.us
Web form: http://www.gov.ok.gov/message.php
PENNSYLVANIA:
Governor Edward G. Rendell
225 Main Capitol Building
Harrisburg, PA 17120
Phone: (717) 787-2500
Fax: (717) 772-8284
Email: governor@state.pa.us
Web form: http://www.governor.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/contact/2998/e-mail_the_governor%27s_office/465341
TENNESSEE:
Governor Phil Bredesen
Governor's Office
Tennessee State Capitol
Nashville, TN 37243-0001
Phone: (615) 741-2001
Fax: (615) 532-9711
Email: phil.bredesen@state.tn.us
TEXAS:
Governor Rick Perry
Office of the Governor
P.O. Box 12428
Austin, TX 78711-2428
Phone:
Citizen's Opinion Hotline: 1 (800) 252-9600 [for Texas callers]
Information and Referral and Opinion Hotline: (512) 463-1782 [for Austin, Texas and out-of-state callers]
Office of the Governor Main Switchboard: (512) 463-2000 [office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CST]
Fax: (512) 463-1849
Email at: governor@state.tx.us
Web form: http://www2.governor.state.tx.us/contact/assistance.aspx
VIRGINIA
Governor Bob McDonnell
Office of the Governor
Patrick Henry Building, 3rd Floor
1111 East Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23219
Phone: (804) 786-2211
Fax: (804) 371-6351
Email at: http://www.governor.virginia.gov/AboutTheGovernor/contactGovernor.cfm
WASHINGTON
Governor Chris Gregoire
Office of the Governor
PO Box 40002
Olympia, WA 98504-0002
Phone: (360) 902-4111
Fax: (360) 753-4110
Email at: http://www.governor.wa.gov/contact/
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