The following message was read to one of the TIME Committee members over the phone when they spoke with Efren last night. He asked us to share his message with everyone.
Dear Second Chance Legislation Supporters:
I would like to personally thank you for attending yesterday's House Judiciary Committee hearing regarding House Bills 4402-4405. It meant a great deal to me that you took time out of your busy schedules, braved the cold elements, and drove through some of the inclement weather to support this very important legislation.
I had the opportunity to receive feedback from people who were fortunate to attend the hearing. By all accounts it went very well and the spirit of those supporting House Bills 4402-4405 was resilient. You have much to be proud of.
The hearing was a historic event. It is the genesis of what will eventually manifest into sentencing reform that abolishes the imposition of life without parole (LWOP) sentences against juveniles in this state. Our collective efforts and voice of consciousness will help us restore the human treatment of children and respect for their inherent dignity.
Your efforts and dedication to this campaign are deeply appreciated by all those adversely affected by the existing juvenile LWOP sentences that have been meted out. On behalf of the over 300 people whose lives you valiantly fought to save from the clutches of Michigan's death penalty equivalent yesterday, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to each of you.
I commend the persons who spoke at the hearing in support of the house bills. You were each courageous and your messages resonated with those in attendance according to those I had the privilege to speak with about the hearing. You were able to deliver powerful heartfelt messages that are certain to be given serious consideration in the deliberation process over the bills' final outcomes.
I want to also thank those who support the house bills who were unable to attend the hearing. Your spirit was felt and the work that you do for the campaign does not go unnoticed. Without your tireless efforts and support we would not be enjoying the progress we do today. Every endeavor in this movement counts. We are all one part of a enormously powerful collective body of progression.
We will prevail in this matter because we stand on the side of justice and the protection of human rights. We will not jettison our children, and we will persist paving the way for them to enjoy a future of freedom from further human rights abuses.
Sincerely,
Efren Paredes, Jr.
Web Site: http://www.4Efren.com
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/4Efren
The Injustice Must End (TIME) Press Release About Michigan House Bills 4402-4405
http://www.scribd.com/doc/1406009/The-Injustice-Must-End-TIME-Committee-to-Free-Efren-Paredes-Jr-JLWOP-Press-Release
Efren's Letter to House Judiciary Commitee About Michigan House Bills 4402-4405
http://4efren.blogspot.com/2008/12/efrens-letter-to-michigan-house.html
Abolish Juvenile Life Without Parole Sentences in the USA — Facebook Group
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=75640820
Abolish Juvenile Life Without Parole Sentences in the USA — MySpace Group
http://groups.myspace.com/jlwop
