Approved by the AAR Board of Directors on March 2, 2015
The Board of Directors of the American Academy of Religion learned this weekend that a number of our members have been active in seeking clemency for Kelly Renee Gissendaner, who was scheduled to be executed by the State of Georgia on Monday, March 2, 2015. The details of Ms. Gissendaner’s case are available in this article.
Acting under Article V, Section 11 of our Bylaws ("Action without Meeting") our Board struggled to discern its responsibilities in light of the AAR policy on public statements. After careful consideration, a two-thirds majority of the Board consented to issue a supportive statement. Given the lateness of the hour, however, the Board thinks the most effective action is to issue this invitation to its members. AAR members who wish to add their voices to the growing call for clemency can:
1. Endorse online petitions sponsored by Groundswell or Change.org.
2. Send a message urging clemency to Governor Nathan Deal at this address.
3. Send an email urging clemency to the Georgia Board of Pardons and Parole at this e-mail address: [email protected].
4. Attend one of several prayer vigils, the details of which are provided by the Georgians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty.