Letter: After Brother's Murder, Why Anti-Death Penalty Ballot Initiative Resonates with Me

When my brother, Bob Kerr, was murdered in 2003, my life was turned upside down. My family and I supported each other through our grief and hoped for swift and certain justice. Today I'm still waiting for my brother’s killer to be identified, charged, prosecuted and sentenced. There has been no arrest in the murder and, like thousands upon thousands of other murders in California, the investigation into this murder is forced to a back seat by costly, ineffective and prolonged death penalty prosecutions.

I support the work of California Crime Victims for Alternatives to the Death Penalty to raise public awareness of the harm that is done to crime victims by failed criminal justice policy of the death penalty. This past month a ballot initiative to replace the death penalty with life without the possibility of parole and restitution to victim’s families qualified for the November ballot. I'm an Albany resident who works as a registered nurse and volunteers as a commissioner on the Albany . I'm also the 2010 recipient of the Grover Dye Civil Liberties Award presented by the Paul Robseson Chapter of the ACUL-Northern California.  

Anyone interested in learning more about the initiative and in supporting this work is invited to attend a fundraising house party on Sunday, May 27, from 3:30-6:30 p.m. at the home of Judy Kerr and Barbara Ridley in Albany. Guests of honor at this event are and Deldelp Medina of California Crime Victims for Alternatives to the Death Penalty. Suggested donation for support is $50-$150. Music, refreshment and friendly conversation will be featured. 

More information about the ballot initiative including endorsements from law enforcement, victims’ groups, a former warden at San Quentin, and others is available on safecalifornia.org.

For more information about the event on Sunday May 27 please contact Judy Kerr or Barbara Ridley at 510-528-9026.