From Pennsylvanians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (http://www.pa-abolitionists.org/):
February 13th marks the two-year anniversary of Governor Wolf’s declaration of a moratorium on executions. Send some love via postcard to tell your elected officials that now is the time to abolish the death penalty completely! It’s quick, easy and important. Here’s what you do:
- Print your name legibly, along with your return mailing address on the lines at the top left of the front of the card (download cards).
- Write in the name and address of your state senator on the address line of the matching card. Do the same for your state representative. If you don’t know their names and addresses, you can find them here: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/findyourlegislator/index.cfm
- Put your return address on the card for the governor, sign it, put a stamp on it and pop it in the mail.
- Fill out the card for PADP. Our address is already printed on that postcard for you. Put a stamp on it and pop it in the mail.
- Have your friends and allies each complete their own set of four cards. Mail them for them so you’re sure they will actually get there.
- If you belong to a group that supports ending the death penalty, complete a sheet of four cards with the name and address of your group (e.g., St. Joe’s Church, 123 Main St., Pittsburgh PA 12345) and mail them as well.
- Take a photo – of yourself or your group holding the cards, or just of the completed card in your hand, or of anything else that captures the moment.
- Push the images out via social media with #Valentines4Abolition in your messages.
- Stamp and mail each postcard.
- Email the photos and the total number of Valentines that you sent to: KLucas@padp.org
If you would like to print cards that can be folded and put in an envelope, you’ll find some downloadable templates here on our website: http://www.padp.org/get-involved/activist-toolbox/. Be sure to put your name and return address on the outside of the envelope so that your elected official will know that you are a constituent.
The mailing address for the governor is:
Governor Tom Wolf
Office of the Governor
508 Main Capitol Building
Harrisburg PA 17120
If you can invest a bit more time and energy, try some of these ideas:
Make your cards by hand and ask others to do the same. Bring cards to any event where you may run into other people who want to end the death penalty. Have them fill out the cards. Always carry stamps so that you can mail the cards yourself. Don’t forget to take pictures and push them out on social media and send them to me at klucas@padp.org
Set up a table where there will be foot traffic and invite people to sign a card. Be sure to have a sign-up sheet there and encourage people to join your group. Here’s a list of supplies to consider:
- colored paper or construction paper
- stickers
- markers
- colored pencils
- crayons
- chalk
- glitter
Share on facebook and on other social media
Tweet the love! The “sweet spot” for tweets is 100 characters or less, so keep it short. Remember, tweets with pictures are more likely to be re-tweeted. Here are some sample tweets:
- Valentine to @GovernorTomWolf from @padp_org #deathpenalty Thanks for the moratorium! Time for repeal!
- Thanks @GovernorTomWolf on the 2nd anniversary of the #moratorium on executions #deathpenalty
- Two year anniversary of #deathpenalty #moratorium Happy #ValentinesDay @GovernorTomWolf
You can also add you representative or senator’s twitter handle at the end of the tweet to increase the likelihood that your message will be seen by a staffer. Here’s an example:
- Happy Valentine’s Day @GovernorTomWolf #deathpenalty #moratorium Now it’s time for repeal! @SenScottWagner
If you’ve made your own cards, consider printing out some photos of group members “in action” and send them along with the group’s card.
Have fun!
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