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Dear Friends,

We pass along the following urgent message from our Ohio Affiliate. Please take action immediately.

Next week, on June 6, 2012 the state of Ohio plans to execute Abdul-Hamead Awkal, a client of the Ohio Justice & Policy Center, for the 1992 murders of his estranged wife and her brother in Cleveland. Mr. Awkal is seriously mentally ill and should not be executed. Additional information on this case is here. 

Mr. Awkal is so mentally ill he believes that he has directed the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and that he has communicated regularly with CIA officials and Presidents Bush and Obama.  He also believes that the CIA is behind his execution.  Even if, unlike me, you believe it is possible to have a fair and just death penalty system in this country, I think we can agree that we should not use it on the seriously mentally ill.

We expect a decision from Gov. Kasich Tuesday (May 29, 2012) afternoon, so please take this action immediately by sending an e-mail and then following up with a phone call to both of the Governor's staff people listed below.

We need all of you to help.  Please politely email and call the following people:  

Beth Hansen, Chief of Staff,  beth.hansen@governor.ohio.gov, 614-644-0941; and

Brad Reynolds, Director of Constituent Services,  brad.reynolds@governor.ohio.gov, 614-644-0932.

Request that the Governor commute Mr. Awkal's sentence from death to life without parole.

And please feel free to circulate this email.

--
Adrian Griffin
Northern Ohio Organizer
Ohioans to Stop Executions (OTSE)
Office cell: (216) 688-1180
Email: otse.neohio@gmail.com

Website: www.otse.org

YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/OTSE1000