Past Viewing Parties

We are extremely excited to announce that we had over 120 Viewing Parties across the nation and at least one Viewing Party in every state with the death penalty. It has been an amazing demonstration of grassroots support and we thank everyone who has participated.

Some highlights from our country's parties include:

* Members of The Northern Delaware Chapter of the International Association of Forensic Nurses gathered to watch Deadline at their local police station.
*A priest from South Carolina, who was the spiritual advisor for an inmate that was executed, gathered a group of members at his parish to watch the film, including a group of mothers against the death penalty.
*Groups will watched in two prisons in New York and Mississippi.
*In Washington state, more than forty people watched Deadline in their organization's "songhouse" barn.

We thank everyone who filled out our Viewing Party survey and sent us feedback. 90% of the survey participants said that they agree that their Viewing Party was an affective way to watch the film. Here is some of the feedback we received:

There were nine people at my viewing party, ranging in age from 28-89...My viewing party was in a community of very observant Seventh-day Adventist Christians who do not typically watch broadcast networks from Friday sundown to Saturday sundown. However, those present at the party who are typically quite devout felt that their time of religious observance was well-spent by watching this film. They pointed to the way the film captured the essential humanity of all involved as deeply resonating with their spiritual view of the world and issues...We have downloaded the letters and will be sending them to Gov. Schwarzneger.

- Loma Linda, California

My party was attended by death penalty attorneys and mitigation specialists...I am the latter. We were all amazed at the quality of the video. And it was extra nice to see friends whom we respect terribly. It was also surprising at many turns. Renny Cushing and others who are a support to us in TN have gotten so little attention. Seeing them in the light which postures them as the amazing people they are...that's a bonus. MSNBC handled Ms. Justice for All and Josh, the pompous persecutor, admirably. For once, they did not get away with telling falsehoods or dodging questions. And, it was a fine thing for Gov. Ryan to be treated with such respect.

We would be happy to house another party of this type and open it up even more.

- Nashville, Tennessee

My party was a huge success. I had ten people who otherwise would not have watched TV on a Friday night. Everyone was floored-- impressed by the film and affected by the material. We didn't have a formal discussion period however commercial breaks were filled with comments and questions and sometimes just silence, which is remarkable for any party…After the screening people seemed to pair off and engage in related conversation. The party went on well past midnight and everyone had a great time.

- New Haven, Connecticut

We are astounded that many people still choose to execute possibly innocent people rather than look at the death penalty rationally-- that it may not have a place in our society today. We didn't take photos, but we will be sending our governor letters!

I am meeting with Gov. Ryan this Monday morning in his office at 10am to present him with a crocheted American Flag and feel very honored to be able to do so. (A photo of the flag can be viewed at www.mocure.org -- click on the "True Stories" link.) I am doing this in the name of all Americans who have found themselves convicted of crimes they didn't do and to make my home state realize that this is what justice really means to the poor and the innocent! Most importantly, I am doing this to honor a great, courageous man. His actions show what this flag stands for-- liberty and justice for ALL.

-Kansas City, Missouri

My viewing party took place at the Oakley School, a clinical boarding school in Oakley, Utah. The students are from all over the country, high school age, and most come from very affluent families. The discussion format after the show was very helpful to explore how individuals felt about the movie and capitol punishment in general. The students received the movie very openly and had a surprisingly mature discussion afterwards. Some students have been enticed to send the pre-formatted letters to the governors of their respective states. All in all, a great chance to open the door to controversial topics and how to appropriately handle them in adult conversation. Thank you very much for letting us be a part of this.

- Salt Lake City, Utah

We held our viewing "party" (gathering) at our home - the first floor apartment of my in-laws. My son, Joshua, set up a television on the front porch, moved ours from the bedroom out into the common area, and we had the family room television going. Approximately two dozen people attended, including our family...I am hoping to discuss the show soon with one of my guest/friends/former keeper, RI prison director A.T. Wall. If Rhode Island had the death penalty, I probably would have been on death row. I (and my loved ones) was wrongfully imprisoned six years four months eighteen days of a life sentence for first degree murder. I'm a police detective, to boot. So, race and class undoubtedly plays a role in the imbalance of those behind bars, but I shatter the myth - it can and does happen to people from all walks of life.

- Cranston, Rhode Island

We had 4 people in Nebraska. All of the participants are death penalty supporters but only in the most extreme cases. We do see the need for reforms in the sentencing area. Overall the show was compelling, and informative. It definitely made a lasting impression.

- Omaha, Nebraka

Stoughton is a fairly small town (12,000) located in the middle of Wisconsin -- luckily it is only 25 minutes away from Madison which is an active and liberal city which contains, among other things, The University. Ten women, most of them from Madison, and most of them gay, gathered for the Viewing Party in Stoughton last night…There was general agreement that the justice system is flawed ("Look at what happened to O.J.!"), and that poor/Black/Mexican people suffer the most...I can't promise that these viewers are going to write letters to politicians, but I think I can promise that many of them will watch Dateline (NBC) in the future…This film also prompted much discussion.

- Madison, Wisconsin