Babbitt, Bill

Bill Babbitt is an activist in the abolition movement. He speaks out against the capital punishment system after promising his brother Manny he would campaign to end the death penalty. On May 4, 1999 Bill witnessed fifty-year-old Manny Babbitt's execution by the State of California at San Quentin prison. Manny and Bill Babbitt grew up in a family of eight children. Teenaged Manny served two tours of duty in Vietnam. Following his discharge Manny suffered from schizophrenia and post-traumatic stress disorder. He spent time in psychiatric institutions, lived on the streets, drank and engaged in drug use, and went to prison for committing increasingly violent crimes. He moved in September 1980 to Sacramento, California to be with Bill's family. There Manny was ultimately tried, convicted, and sentenced to die for the murder of Leah Schendel, who died of cardiac arrest after being severely beaten during a robbery in her home in December 1980. After discovering his brother might be involved, Bill approached police and assisted with Manny's arrest. Bill states authorities promised Manny would receive psychological help, which did not occur, nor did Manny's initial lawyers offer post-traumatic stress disorder as a defense. Later Manny's new defense team tried to appeal his conviction, secure a new trial, and spare his life through legal channels. Legal activity and media coverage of the case intensified in early 1999, leading up to California's governor denying clemency, high courts rejecting last minute appeals, and Manny's subsequent execution. Today Bill attends anti-death penalty rallies, testifies before state legislative committees, and speaks to media and student and legal groups. Bill is active in national organizations that oppose capital punishment. He was a board member of Murder Victims' Families for Reconciliation and is a founding board member of Murder Victims' Families for Human Rights.