Back in this country, public outcry is increasing as the execution date of a Texas man known to not have committed a crime draws near. Kenneth Foster is scheduled to be executed Thursday under a controversial Texan law known as the law of parties. The law imposes the death penalty on anybody involved in a crime where a murder occurred. Eleven years ago, Foster was driving a car with three passengers. One of the passengers left the car, got into an altercation and shot a man dead. Here in New York, a delegation of death penalty abolitionists held a press conference Monday to draw attention to Foster’s case. This is exonerated former murder convict Jeff Deskovic.

Jeff Deskovic: “It is unconscionable that nobody disputes that Mr. Foster did not commit a murder, and yet he is scheduled to be executed within 72 hours. I make a moral appeal for the people of Texas and people all across our country to stand up against the death penalty, in general, and also, in particular, in the case of Kenneth Foster.”

Monday’s press conference comes one day after protesters demonstrated outside the church of Texas Governor Rick Perry to call for clemency. Amnesty International has also rallied behind Foster’s case. In a statement, Amnesty USA Director Larry Cox said: “Kenneth Foster has been sentenced to death for leaving his crystal ball at home. … Allowing his life to be taken is a shocking perversion of the law.”