Letter from Public Affairs re Coker v. Georgia
Press Release
March 18, 1977

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Press Releases, Loose Pages. Letter from Public Affairs re Coker v. Georgia, 1977. 515b89d8-bd92-ee11-be37-00224827e97b. LDF Archives, Thurgood Marshall Institute. https://ldfrecollection.org/archives/archives-search/archives-item/aca398d1-5663-4e0f-92ae-c3affcf7db5d/letter-from-public-affairs-re-coker-v-georgia. Accessed July 13, 2025.
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weuk tub to = tinQ. DS. VARA A ThLae § ie] ONAMMAS + public apairs prod NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATIONAL FUND, INC 10 Columbus Circle, New York, N.Y. 10019 (212) 586-8397 March 18, 1977 Executive Producer "Not For Women Only" WNBC-TV 30 Rockefeller Plaza NewYork, New York Dear Sir: On March 28, LDF will argue a case before the Supreme Court, Coker v. Georgia, that we believe will result in abolition of the death penalty for rape. Ten years ago, the Fund began its campaign of litigation to have capital punishment declared unconstitutional as a penalty for rape. Ninety-percent of those who had been sentenced to die for this crime were black, and virtually all of them had been accused of raping white women -— making it the most racially discriminatory application of the death penalty. The story of that 10 year effort is a dramatic one - encompassing startling statistical findings, elaborate legal theorizing that broadened the Fund's focus to capital punishment in general, and extraordinary efforts by LDF lawyers to monitor every death row case in the country to prevent any execution. For fully 10 years they successfully maintained a moratorium on state- imposed murder. The Coker case, if we are successful, will represent a great moral and practical victory, and one that will have substantial legal consequence. The chief lawyers in the case are David Kendall, who will argue the case before the Court, and Peggy Davis. If you wish to cover this issue in some fashion, we will be happy to provide you with whatever information or access you require. Feel free to call either attorney directly, or contact LDF Director-Counsel Jack Greenberg, who has spearheaded this effort since its inception. Sincerely, Shonckadt— Sylvia Kronstadt Public Affairs Contributions are deductible for U.S. income tex purposes