On Monday, over 1000 cities around the world will participate in “World Day of Cities for Life,” which honors the first time that the death penalty was abolished by a government — on November 30, 1786, by the Grand Duchy of Tuscany.  Organized by the Catholic Community of Sant’Egidio of Rome, participation is growing steadily: in 2005, only 300 cities worldwide were participants and now, four years later, the total exceeds 1150. 

Cities for Life Day involves each community flooding lights upon a local monument that in some way symbolizes the effort to abolish the death penalty.  For example, in Rome the Colosseum is illuminated; in Barcelona they are lighting up the Cathedral Square. 

In the United States, the following cities will be illuminating a local symbol of life as well as having individualized events to support the Cities for Life campaign as well as the global abolition of the death penalty.  Sad to say, not a single community in Florida will be involved.  American cities that are official participants this year are:

Arcata (California)

Atlanta (Georgia)

Austin (Texas)

Berkeley (California)

Cincinnati (Ohio)

Covington (Kentuchy)

Davis (California)

East Palo Alto (California)

La Cattedrale di Beaumont (Texas)

La cattedrale di Dallas (Texas)

La cattedrale di El Campo (Texas)

La cattedrale di El Paso (Texas)

La cattedrale di Fort Worth (Texas)

La cattedrale di Hallettsville (Texas)

La cattedrale di Houston (Texas)

La cattedrale di Mobile (Alabama)

La cattedrale di San Antonio (Texas)

La cattedrale di Shiner (Texas)

La cattedrale di Victoria (Texas)

La cattedrale di Wharton (Texas)

Richmond (California)

Santa Cruz (California)

Santa Monica (California)

Sebastopol (California)

West Hollywood (California)