NATIONAL DAY OF REMEMBRANCE FOR MURDER VICTIMS

September 25, 2009 marks the National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims. The day was created to honor the memories of murder victims and recognize the impact of homicide on surviving family members and loved ones. It is intended to send a powerful message to victims' family members that the Nation remembers their tragedy, honors their courage, and vows to do whatever it can to help them rebuild their lives. It is also intended as a reminder to all that murder impacts every person, and every community nationwide. The Day calls the nation to work diligently to prevent the violence that destroys lives and devastates families.

In honor of this day, CCV would like to recognize each CCV supporter for his or her courage in standing up against the death penalty and against the cycle of violence. It is time that the State of California does more for its victims. Instead of throwing hundreds of millions of taxpayers' dollars away on a broken death penalty, we should be spending money on cold case units, crime labs, violence prevention programs, and victims' services. We should get killers of off our streets by solving the more than 25,000 unsolved murders in California. We should make our streets safer and provide assistance for victims rather than executing a handful of killers.

In Remembrance of...

...Derrick Irvin "George" Ricks, brother of Archie Ricks, Murdered July 14, 2001

"My brother George was a people's person who loved to cook, go fishing, lowriding in his '64 Chevy. He is the father of 6. He was loved by all who met him."

"I am opposed to the death penalty because no man or court should have the authority to put another man/woman to death. It is unethical and against the law of God."

...George J. Ganas, Brother of Alexandra Ganas, Murdered April 5, 2004

"My brother was a caring and loving person. I could call him at any time morning or night he will be there for me. He was 6 ft man who look like a giant but was just a cuddly bear. We MISS and LOVE HIM Dearly!!!!!!!!!!"

Read more stories...

Today, California Crime Victims for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (CCV), in collaboration with Murder Victims' Families for Reconciliation, released the booklet Not In Our Name: Murder Victims' Families Speak Out Against the Death Penalty (NION). NION contains 20 stories from family members of murder victims and of the executed honoring his/her loved one and speaking out against the death penalty. Each family member either lives in California or his/her loved one lived in California.