“We in the Garden State are on the verge of a series of victories. Our bill to convene a Capital Punishment Study Commission to conduct one of the country’s most comprehensive death penalty reviews is on the verge of passing. Thanks to a recent Federal Circuit Court decision that delayed executions in New Jersey for… Continue reading Ed Martone on EJUSA
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.
Stefanie Faucher on EJUSA
Stefanie Faucher, Campaign Coordinator Californians for a Moratorium on Executions a campaign of Death Penalty Focus “The Legislative Toolkit prepared by Equal Justice USA is an incredibly useful resource for activists working to establish a moratorium on executions in their states. Navigating through the legislative circus in an enormous state like California is a daunting… Continue reading Stefanie Faucher on EJUSA
Tom Block on EJUSA
Tom Block, Convener Moratorium Planning Committee of Missourians to Abolish the Death Penalty (MADP) “I first contacted Equal Justice USA in the Fall 2002 for assistance in formulating a proposal to MADP to appoint an Ad Hoc Moratorium Planning Committee to build a long range strategy. EJUSA Organizer Shari Silberstein helped me identify areas that… Continue reading Tom Block on EJUSA
In 2002, EJUSA’s Northeast Field Office…
…Provided direct, on-the-ground assistance to groups in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Delaware. …Produced action alerts that were distributed via postcard and email to 8,000 New Jerseyans. …Co-produced New Jersey-ans for a Death Penalty Moratorium (NJDPM) video, “Time-Out: Perspectives on New Jersey’s Death Penalty.” …Co-wrote NJDPM White Paper on NJ’s death penalty for… Continue reading In 2002, EJUSA’s Northeast Field Office…
In 2002, EJUSA…
…Traveled to New Jersey, Nevada, Illinois, Georgia, Pennsylvania, New York, Tennessee, Connecticut, Virginia, Missouri, and Ohio to conduct workshops, planning meetings, and other grassroots organizing. …Assisted 26 states with direct organizing, training, grant writing, mailings, media, needs assessments, message development, chapter development, polling, creating materials, phone banking, publicizing events, working with a study commission, and/or… Continue reading In 2002, EJUSA…
Maryland victory at a glance.
In 2002, EJUSA… …Produced and distributed 30,000 action alert postcards in conjunction with the NAACP, and a follow-up emergency mailing to Quixote Center constituents. The Governor’s staff reported that they were flooded with e-mails, calls, and letters. …Led a delegation to meet with Lt. Governor Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, who expressed support for a moratorium and… Continue reading Maryland victory at a glance.
Maratorium Now Turns Five
Five years ago, we set out to build a movement to halt executions, resolution by resolution, church by church, and school by school. We dreamed that our strategy would shatter the political inertia of the anti-death penalty struggle and build the people’s movement that is now sweeping the nation. Capturing the imagination of local and… Continue reading Maratorium Now Turns Five
Over 2,500 groups call for a moratorium
The National Tally of Moratorium Endorsers has surpassed 2,500 groups calling for a halt to executions. The list includes faith communities, civil rights groups, businesses, unions, professional associations, 78 city, county, and town councils, and more. Some of the more recent additions include the New Jersey chapter of the National Organization of Women, 75 Texas… Continue reading Over 2,500 groups call for a moratorium
The Abolitionist of the Year and the Bold Dreamer
The Quixote Center’s Equal Justice USA program made history this year when we won the nation’s second state moratorium in the country in our home state of Maryland. On October 26 in Chicago, the national movement honored that achievement when the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty named Equal Justice USA project coordinator and… Continue reading The Abolitionist of the Year and the Bold Dreamer
Another landmark session for the US Supreme Court?
During its 2001-02 term, the United States Supreme Court issued two landmark rulings: one barring the execution of the mentally retarded and another which requires such fundamental changes in how some states impose death sentences that it has led to special legislative sessions. Thus far this year, no death row appeal taken on by the… Continue reading Another landmark session for the US Supreme Court?