Thank the Nebraska Senators who ended the death penalty

It is vital that lawmakers hear from the people afterthey deliver, not just before a vote when we ask for their support. Last week, 30 Senators in Nebraska declared the death penalty is ineffective, costly, unfair, harmful for victims’ families, and risks dangerous mistakes. They made Nebraska the 19th state – and the first “red”… Continue reading Thank the Nebraska Senators who ended the death penalty

Remembering a devoted supporter in Nebraska

Norma Fleisher’s is also a conversion story. She supported the death penalty until 1999, when she ministered to prisoners on Tennessee’s death row. On her return to Nebraska, she became one of the hardest working supporters of repeal, driving more than 4,000 miles through every Nebraska county to talk about the death penalty to anyone… Continue reading Remembering a devoted supporter in Nebraska

Nebraska Senators and their death penalty conversions

We’ve learned a lot about the death penalty in the last 35 years. Many people, however, still don’t know just how broken the policy is. This January, 17 freshmen lawmakers embarked on their first legislative session in Nebraska. Some of them had only thought about the death penalty from a philosophical or emotional standpoint, never… Continue reading Nebraska Senators and their death penalty conversions

EJUSA’s statements on death penalty repeal in Nebraska

Nebraska’s death penalty repeal sets a trend for the nation Statement by Shari Silberstein, Executive Director of Equal Justice USA: “Nebraska’s vote marks the end of the death penalty in the United States. Americans have been moving away from executions for more than ten years, but now we have a red state turning that trend… Continue reading EJUSA’s statements on death penalty repeal in Nebraska

Nebraska’s death penalty repeal sets a trend for the nation

Statement by Shari Silberstein, Executive Director of Equal Justice USA: “Nebraska’s vote marks the end of the death penalty in the United States. Americans have been moving away from executions for more than ten years, but now we have a red state turning that trend into law for the first time in 40 years. Nebraska… Continue reading Nebraska’s death penalty repeal sets a trend for the nation

An opportunity for healing

All eyes have been on Baltimore in the last few weeks following the death of Freddie Gray, a 25-year old black man who died in police custody last month. Much of the media has focused on the protests or the indictments of six police officers in the case. Others have called attention to the broader… Continue reading An opportunity for healing

Your guide to the Nebraska death penalty debate

The Nebraska Legislature has voted overwhelmingly – 30-13! – to repeal the death penalty. So why aren’t we celebrating yet? While the support for repeal in Nebraska is thrilling, the process is rather long and complicated, and there is still much work to be done. We’ve put together this (fairly wonky) primer to help you… Continue reading Your guide to the Nebraska death penalty debate