assignment 3

As the death penalty movement takes its stand against capital punishment they often try to evoke deep emotions such as anger, empathy, and frustration to encourage their members to get more involved. They also use data like the, Why do Americans support the Death Penalty study to make society aware of the injustices happening in society, which often evokes anger from listeners. Another tactic they use is rallying the streets, demonstrating their concern towards those facing capital punishment. They try to provoke a sense of urgency for justice and humane treatment. Organizations also put forth information supporting their cause either to recruit or to mobilize members to protest and make their voices heard. Some of those organizations that put forth information supporting the abolishment of the death penalty to provoke feelings of anger, empathy, frustrations, etc. are the Friends Committee to Abolish the Death Penalty and the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty. Evoking strong emotions is one of many strategies that the movements against the death penalty practices but without it the movement would fail to progress. To understand how emotions are evoked to gain support and retain members we can look at studies used by organizations that bring out such emotions.

In one study called, Why do Americans support the Death Penalty? the author Joe Soss studied the factors that contribute to why Caucasians support the death penalty in the United States. Some of the key factors that he explored were racial attitudes, individual-levels, and context. For his study he “employ[ed] survey data from the 1992 ANES and contextual data from the 1990 U.S. Census (Soss, p23).” One of the things the author did in his study was to include “an indicator of the black percentage of residents in each respondent's county. How might the local presence of African Americans affect white support for state executions? (Soss, p22).” The author found that the local presence of African Americans in the community does not decrease the support for death row by Caucasians. He also found that white people with higher income are more likely to support the death penalty than white people with lower income.

As can be seen from the study above, organizations use such data to make people aware that the system is biased and unfair towards minorities in the use of the death penalty. Once it is established that there is biased and unfairness in the system organizations are able to exploit that to their advantage. Organizations often exploit data by coming up with catchy phrases used in protests, by running ads from new data findings, and by excluding data that might criticize or harm the movement from progressing. As can be seen by using data and research organizations are often able to generate emotions such as anger towards those who seek unfair justice, empathy towards those who become victims of an unfair punishment, and frustration for the time it will take for every state to abolish the death penalty. This kind of data is often used to gain support from new recruits. The data is used to give substance to the movement and to show that it’s not just someone’s idea for justice, it is concrete evidence that can be passed along and facts, which makes perfect fuel to stir up emotions among people and gain their support. Along with the use of data, which is used more for recruitment than for retainment, organizations also put forth slogans and creative information that helps retain members, mobilize, and create excitement in the movement. It is always great to see people joining the movement and supporting the cause but organizations need to also retain those who currently supported. One of those organizations that is able to use information, slogans, and catchy phrases to their advantage is the Friends Committee to Abolish the Death Penalty.

The Friends Committee to Abolish the Death Penalty uses information to energize and mobilize the movement. They believe in “programs that address the root cause of crime while reorienting the criminal justice system toward rehabilitation rather than destruction.” The organization strongly believes that two wrongs don’t make a right, and instead of doing more harm, society should look forward to doing the right thing. The Friends Committee believes that “taking a life is beyond the authority of any human being...and ignores the human capability to change.” According to this organization, Death Row only teaches how much live is worth, rather than a lesson. There is always the possibility that a person might change for the better and make this world a better place. Like the saying goes, “a mind is a terrible thing to waste.”



Bright John. Friends Committee to Abolish the Death Penalty. “Friends Committee to Abolish the Death Penalty” http://www.quaker.org/fcadp/. 2000

Soss, Joe (2003). Why Do White Americans Support the Death Penalty? Journal of
Politics; May2003, Vol. 65 Issue 2, p397, 25p, 1