From Reform to Reimagining: Lessons and Reflections on the Journey to Transformation I’ve had the privilege of leading EJUSA through two major transitions – a spinoff from our parent organization to become an independent organization in 2008 and a 10-year process to remake our mission and vision from reforming the justice system to building a… Continue reading Looking Back on 20 Years
Author: Shari Silberstein
Since 2000, Shari Silberstein has dedicated her career to transforming the justice system from one that harms to one that heals. Under her leadership, and using campaign strategies she helped develop, Equal Justice USA has helped end the death penalty in nine states, built first-of-its-kind conservative and evangelical coalitions for justice reform, secured millions in state funding for healing services to families of murder victims, launched an innovative model for training and dialogue between police and communities on trauma and race equity, and strengthened dozens of local organizations across the nation working for justice, violence reduction, and healing. Shari has been a national voice in helping to break down the silos between criminal justice reformers and crime survivor advocates. Her expertise has been a source in the New York Times, the Washington Post, the New Yorker, and Harper’s Magazine, and she has written op-eds for an array of media outlets, including Fox News, the Marshall Project, and U.S. News and World Report. Shari has a bachelor's degree in film from New York University and a master's degree in Middle Eastern studies from the University of Texas at Austin.
The Verdict and True Accountability
Yesterday, many millions of us exhaled with relief. We exhaled for those who can’t: George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Duante Wright, Adam Toledo, and so many, many more. A legal process that has never been applied fairly has convicted Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd. It’s a meaningful verdict in part because it’s so… Continue reading The Verdict and True Accountability
Leadership Transition at EJUSA
Our Anti-Racist Vision for Police Accountability
The Fight of Our Lifetimes
To our EJUSA family, Last week, George Floyd became the latest chapter in America’s history of racial terror when a police officer in Minneapolis killed him in broad daylight, in front of multiple cameras, while three other officers watched. This weekend, the pent-up grief, trauma, and rage that this triggered poured onto streets across the… Continue reading The Fight of Our Lifetimes
A Tribute to Serena Simmons Connelly
EJUSA mourns the death of one of our long-time partners, Serena Simmons Connelly. To read more about Serena’s incredible life and commitment to justice, you can see her obituary in the Dallas Morning News. I want to celebrate Serena’s life by sharing some personal memories of the friend I’ve known for almost 20 years. One… Continue reading A Tribute to Serena Simmons Connelly
The New EJUSA Website!
I’m so proud to kick off 2020 with two big announcements. First, EJUSA is turning 30 years old this year! And we’re celebrating this milestone with this new website! The site is a declaration of our bold vision for justice reimagined. With your support, we’re transforming what justice is. We’re rejecting mass incarceration, executions, police… Continue reading The New EJUSA Website!
Another Year in Impact: Read the Report
Looking back on 2019 reminds me of what an incredible experience it is to do our work. Reflecting also confirms how 2019 set us up for yet another decade of monumental change. I am so grateful for our team, board, partners, and supporters like you because you all make the work successful. And I’m excited… Continue reading Another Year in Impact: Read the Report
The world has lost a giant
It is with a broken heart that I’m writing to share the news that one of our founding board members, Jonathan E. Gradess, passed away last week. I met Jonathan 15 years ago, on the eve of the nation’s first successful death penalty abolition campaign. The courts had just thrown out New York’s death penalty… Continue reading The world has lost a giant
Rewriting the Law Books
It’s been a long time since the death penalty has grabbed so much public attention. Where to begin? Maybe where you least expect it. Ending the death penalty nationwide: “You can feel the momentum…” Conservatives have become a force in the growing movement to repeal the death penalty. Leading off, there’s a good chance that… Continue reading Rewriting the Law Books