Death Penalty Flaws Exposed in 'At the Death House Door'

Death Penalty Flaws Exposed in 'At the Death House Door'

ACLU of Illinois, National ACLU and other Groups Host Special Screening of New Documentary

CHICAGO, May 27 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Illinois and a number of Chicago-based groups will host a special screening this week of a documentary film that exposes deep, systemic problems in the death penalty system in the United States. The organizations will present the film, At the Death House Door, on Wednesday, May 28, 2008, beginning at 7:00 p.m. at Thorne Auditorium at Northwestern University School of Law, 375 East Chicago Avenue in Chicago.

The programs other sponsors include: The Public Square at the Illinois Humanities Council, Kartemquin Films, the Center on Wrongful Convictions at the Bluhm Legal Clinic of Northwestern University School of Law, and the Chicago Tribune Foundation. The public is invited to attend.

At the Death House Door follows the career of Reverend Carroll Pickett, who served as chaplain to the infamous "Walls" prison unit in Huntsville, Texas. As Chaplin, Reverend Pickett presided over more than 95 executions, including the first execution by lethal injection. Reverend Pickett will be in Chicago for this event.

"We are pleased to join with so many others committed to abolishing the death penalty in Illinois," said Colleen K. Connell, executive director for the ACLU of Illinois. "This film tracks Reverend Pickett's transformation from a supporter of capital punishment to a staunch proponent for death penalty abolition. His first-hand experience demands our attention."

The documentary, produced by the award-winning filmmakers from Kartemquin Films, also tells the story of Carlos De Luna, a prisoner executed by Texas authorities. Reverend Pickett firmly believed that De Luna was innocent, a view that was bolstered by reporting conducted by Chicago Tribune reporters Steve Mills and Maurice Possley after De Luna's execution. Reverend Pickett and Mr. Mills will participate in a panel discussion following the screening -- along with filmmakers Steve James and Peter Gilbert -- to discuss the movie and issues related to the death penalty. Rob Warden, executive director of the Center on Wrongful Convictions, will moderate the panel.

"This film is important," added Connell. "We believe that discussions begun on screen migrate to the dinner table and the work place. We hope this emotional film helps spark an examination of the death penalty in modern society, and whether our nation can tolerate a flawed, biased system that is more likely to take life than give justice."

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Source: ACLU of Illinois

CONTACT: Edwin C. Yohnka, Director of Communications of American Civil
Liberties Union of Illinois, +1-312-201-9740, ext. 305, +1-312-851-2832
(Pager), eyohnka@aclu-il.org

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