RACE TO EXECUTION was inspired by a murder case that my sister, Andrea Lyon, was handling on appeal. Fifteen years after beginning the appeal, it seemed as though then-Illinois Governor George Ryan might act to exonerate her client, Madison Hobley. At the same time, amazing new research was being conducted about race and gender of juries in capital cases, and I had the initial inspiration to create a film that addresses the specific issue of race and the death penalty.

There are several things you can do to raise awareness around the issues RACE TO EXECUTION examines:

Share the information presented in the film and Web site with others. Some easy ways to start include: blogging (or commenting on others’ blogs about criminal justice issues), writing a letter to the editor of your local paper, calling your local talk radio station or even putting your own story on YouTube. You can use statistics seen in the film as support for your arguments, but you should also quote the source.

There are several Web sites that offer basic information about execution rates, demographic breakdowns and moratoria in your state. You can also keep yourself informed on recent legislation and scheduled executions by adding your name to one of several listservs that offer death penalty updates. The Death Penalty Information Center, National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty and Amnesty International’s Program to Abolish the Death Penalty are good places to start.

There are many other ways to help those in need, whether you’re a busy full-time attorney or a concerned person with no legal background.

• If you are an attorney: take on a pro bono case and help defend those who are, as Andrea Lyon put it, “least able to defend themselves.” The American Bar Association’s Death Penalty Representation Project's Web site is a great place to start.
• If you are a law student: volunteer at a local organization such as the NAACP/LDF that can benefit from your budding expertise, or pursue an externship at a public defender’s office or other public interest firm
• If you belong to a religious, civic or other group that cares about equal treatment: hold a fundraiser to sponsor someone in your community who might have been convicted under racially biased terms
• If you are a concerned individual: there are lots of organizations around the country focused on addressing fairness in the death penalty and they’re often looking for volunteers and donations. Check out the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty's Web site for a listing of some of the leading death penalty reform and abolition groups across the country.

The policies and history surrounding the death penalty vary from state to state. Currently, several states have taken action to reexamine the implementation of the death penalty. For example, Maryland and Florida halted all executions, and in January 2007, New Jersey held a 13-member commission on an array of death penalty issues which then reported back to the state on its findings. These are just a few examples of how at the state level, government is taking a closer look at how and why we implement the death penalty.

Visit The U.S. Government's Official Web Portal for contact information for your state’s legislators, and let them know what you think. Recruit friends, family members and neighbors to join in on the effort, and encourage them to register to vote if they haven’t done so already. Also, stay up-to-date with the advocacy efforts of local, state and national organizations that share your opinions. To learn more about what is going on with the death penalty in your area, visit the Death Penalty Information Center's Web site.

It is only by staying educated and speaking up that we can truly make a difference.