Join GFADP and Partners for the 2025 Day at the Capitol on Wednesday, February 12, 2025, from 8am to 2pm.

Advocacy Days at the Georgia Capitol give us the chance to connect directly with our state leaders. They are a great opportunity for both new advocates and seasoned ones to have a real impact on our state's policies.

This year, we are advocating for a bill sponsored by Chairman Bill Werkheiser (R) protecting people with intellectual disabilities from death sentencing. This bill is supported by the Georgia Speaker of the House, Jon Burns.

Intellectual Disability and the Death Penalty

After the execution of an intellectually disabled man, Jerome Bowden, on June 24, 1986, Georgia legislators drafted and passed a bill to protect the intellectually disabled in Georgia from death sentencing. However, that legislation has not done what it set out to do. Georgia is now on the oopposite side of the coin: we are the true outlier of all states and even the U. S. Supreme Court. We do not protect people with intellectual disabilities from being executed. On March 20, 2024, the State of Georgia executed Willie Pye, who had an IQ of 68. We need to change the law so that no more Georgians with intellectual disabilities will be sentenced to death.

PROGRAM FOR FEB 12th:

8:00am - Coffee continental breakfast - Trinity United Methodist Church

8:15am - Welcome and orientation of background on bill

9:30am - go to the Capitol

10am - UMC Bishop Robin Dease - Senate Chaplain of the Day

10:30am - meet legislators at the ropes

Noon - lunch

1pm-1:30pm- press conference on the South Steps (inside Capitol Building)

1:30pm - Ring Around the Capitol in the Rotunda

To help prepare for Advocacy Days, our partner GCDD offers the following resources:

• An Advocates' Guide to the Ropes: How to speak to your legislators during session.

• Navigate Before You Advocate: How to get to the Capitol and Coverdell Legislative Office Building.

• Finding Your State Legislator: How to know who represents you under The Gold Dome.