Breaking: House votes to end Illinois’ broken death penalty system

By Ed Yohnka, Director of Communications & Public Policy

January 6, 2010 6:40 p.m. – Springfield, IL – Just a few minutes ago, after an initial vote failed, the Illinois House voted to end Illinois’ expensive, broken death penalty system. By a vote of 60 to 54, the House sent Senate Bill 3539 on to the Senate. The battle for history is not complete. The Senate is expected to take up this measure shortly — and we need every vote.

Please call your Senator TODAY and urge him/her to end once and for all the broken, arbitrary death penalty system in Illinois. You can look up the number at action.aclu.org/ildeathpenalty.

We are so close to making history in our state. My colleagues tell me that every phone call, every contact with Senators is crucial to making Illinois a non-death penalty state. Visit action.aclu.org/ildeathpenalty to look up your state senator and log a call.

Thank you for continuing to help the ACLU of Illinois work toward justice in the Land of Lincoln.
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Coverage of the vote:

• Chicago Sun-Times
• Chicago Breaking News Center
• Chicago Tribune