This week, CCATDP Louisiana officially launched, becoming the thirteenth state-based group for the organization! For years, we have been hearing from conservatives concerned about the death penalty in Louisiana, and we listened. Now, these activists will have a place to organize and come together to educate others in the state about the problems with capital punishment and the reasons conservatives should be against it. A press conference was held featuring several of the groups advisory committee members who have been helping to lay the groundwork for this group over the past 18 months. King Alexander, and attorney and member of the Louisiana Republican State Central Committee, Col. Rob Maness, Republican veteran and CEO of GatorPAC, David Marcantel, an attorney and member of the Louisiana Republican State Central Committee, and Marcus Maldonado, a liberty activist from New Orleans, all gathered to speak to the press on behalf of the group. You can read more here. 

Last week, Louisiana and Georgia both saw Republican-sponsored bills to repeal the death penalty introduced, making them the ninth and tenth states to see bills of this nature introduced in the 2019 session. This remarkable year is set to break records for the numbers of conservative lawmakers pushing repeal, and is surely evidence of a growing bipartisan wave against capital punishment.

Last month, CCATDP held events across the great state of Louisiana to discuss the conservative case against the death penalty. From Lake Charles, to the capital in Baton Rouge, to New Orleans, our staff met with many on the right who have become concerned with the flaws in the state’s death penalty system.   In New Orleans, CCATDP partnered with Tulane University’s Young Americans for Liberty, where our National Manager Hannah Cox joined the Promise of Justice Initiative’s Michael Cahoon to present the bipartisan case for death penalty repeal. Over 60 students participated in the event.   In Baton Rouge, CCATDP held an event at LSU’s Law School and was joined by Louisiana death row exoneree, Damon Thibodeaux.   And in Lake Charles, LA, CCATDP presented to a group of grassroot conservatives and libertarians who were eager to use their voices to elevate the issues with the death penalty.   Thanks for a great week, Louisiana! We’ll be back soon and are officially launching CCATDP Louisiana in 2019!

At the end of October, we’re heading to Louisiana for a string of events across the state that will examine the reasons those on both the left and right are turning against the death penalty. We’ll also be talking about the state’s history with the criminal justice system, and looking at other pressing reforms in the state, such as unanimous juries, that impact those caught up in the system. We hope you’ll join us for an event!   Monday, October 29th | Lake Charles, La | Public Forum   Tuesday, October 30th | Baton Rouge, LA | Panel at LSU’s Law School | Special Guest Death Row Exoneree Damon Thibodeaux   Thursday, November 1st | New Orleans, LA | Tulane University | Hosted by Young Americans for Liberty