In January 2002, in collaboration with the Prison Writing Committee and with PEN Center USA West in Los Angeles, the Freedom to Write Committee joined the effort to halt the execution of Stephen Wayne Anderson in California. Anderson, who was convicted in 1981 for a murdering a woman whose home he was attempting to burglarize, began writing poetry in prison and in 1990 was a co-recipient of PEN American Center's Prison Writing Award for Poetry. In its January 10, 2002 letter, PEN appealed to the governor of California for clemency and a commutation of the death sentence to life in prison without parole. Despite the efforts of PEN and a number of other organizations, Anderson was executed later that month.

Four other recipients of PEN's Prison Writing Awards are currently on death row awaiting execution. At its February 2002 meeting, Freedom to Write Committee agreed to join with the Prison Writing Committee in seeking to have their sentences commuted. You are urged to join in this effort, both by writing to the governors with jurisdiction over their cases and, if you wish, writing to them directly to express solidarity.

In your appeals for clemency, you may want to emphasize any or all of the following:

• your appeal is for commutation to a life sentence

• as a member of PEN, you support PEN's organizational opposition to the death penalty internationally, which is consistent with the position of every major human rights organization around the world

• there are serious concerns over fairness in the application of the death penalty, concerns which have led the governors of two states, Illinois and Maryland, to request a moratorium on executions

• continuing executions and questions over the fairness of death penalty proceedings in the U.S. compromises our ability to challenge unjust legal proceedings overseas

  
  

Steve A. Champion Write to him directly at: Steve A. Champion C-58001 San Quentin State Prison San Quentin CA 94974 "Escort: Excerpts from a Prison Cell" by Steve A. Champion

To appeal for clemency/commutation of sentence, write: Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger State Capitol Building Sacramento, CA 95814

William Van Poyck Write to him directly at: William Van Poyck #274949 24414 Musselwhite Dr. Waverly, VA 23891-1111 "My Turn" by William Van Poyck

To appeal for clemency/commutation of sentence, write: Governor Jeb Bush PL 05 The Capitol 400 South Monroe Street Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001

Reginald S. Lewis Write to him directly at: Reginald S. Lewis #AY2902 sci-Greene 1040 East Roy Furman Highway Waynesburg, PA 15370 "In the Big Yard" by Reginald S. Lewis	To appeal for clemency/commutation of sentence, write: Governor Mark Schweiker 225 Main Capitol Harrisburg, PA 17120
Jarvis Masters Write to him directly at: Jarvis Masters San Quentin Prison P.O. Box C-35169 San Quentin, CA 94974 "Recipe for Prison Pruno" by Jarvis Masters	To appeal for clemency/commutation of sentence, write: Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger State Capitol Building Sacramento, CA 95814
Anthony Ross Write to him directly at: Anthony Ross C-58000 SQSP A-EB-64 San Quentin, CA 94974 "Walker's Requiem" by Anthony Ross	To appeal for clemency/commutation of sentence, write: Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger State Capitol Building Sacramento, CA 95814