EJUSA executive director Shari Silberstein was in Washington, DC last weekend for the Mothers in Charge Standing For Peace and Justice National Rally. Mothers in Charge, a national organization of mothers and other families who have lost loved ones to homicide, held the rally to draw attention to the trauma and needs of families left… Continue reading EJUSA rallies for homicide survivors in Washington, DC
Tag: Victims’ Families
It was the most profound thing I will ever do
By Maryland State Delegate Sandy Rosenberg, with Tom Waldron Repealing the death penalty in Maryland was an arduous task that took many years – with many ups and downs. It culminated in 2013, when the General Assembly passed Senate Bill 276, Death Penalty Repeal – Substitution of Life Without the Possibility of Parole, with the crucial… Continue reading It was the most profound thing I will ever do
Mothers turn pain into action
What do people affected by crime and those affected by the criminal justice system have in common? A lot more than is commonly believed – since people of color are most likely to be victims of crime and the targets of our justice system’s over-reliance on incarceration. This reality was front and center at this… Continue reading Mothers turn pain into action
What’s wrong with these words? Controversial, courageous, brave, hard.
Recently, I gave a talk at the Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty’s annual conference about words we should stop using when we talk about the death penalty. They’re words like: controversial, courageous, brave, hard. These words send the wrong message. They give the impression that only a few people can change the conversation… Continue reading What’s wrong with these words? Controversial, courageous, brave, hard.
Maryland To Dedicate Support for Families of Murder Victims For the First Time
New funding comes from savings from repealing the death penalty Maryland’s FY15 budget, passed today, includes new funding ($500,000) for support and services to family members of homicide victims. This special designation puts Maryland in the vanguard of states recognizing the needs of this often overlooked population of crime victims. Companion legislation to require ongoing… Continue reading Maryland To Dedicate Support for Families of Murder Victims For the First Time
A Huge Step Towards Better Support for Murder Victims’ Families in Maryland
Yesterday Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley released his budget. For the first time ever, the budget included $500,000 to assist families of homicide victims! EJUSA supporters joined with Maryland Citizens Against State Executions and other coalition partners to send thousands of messages to Governor O’Malley last year asking him to use savings from ending the death… Continue reading A Huge Step Towards Better Support for Murder Victims’ Families in Maryland
North Carolina poll shows state is moving away from the death penalty
A recent survey by Public Policy Polling found that nearly 70% of the residents of North Carolina support ending the death penalty if the offenders pay restitution to victims’ families, are required to work, and remain in prison for life. A majority of the poll-takers who identified themselves as politically conservative said they also favor… Continue reading North Carolina poll shows state is moving away from the death penalty
Illinois’ Death Penalty Abolition Fund to help provide support to family members of homicide victims
Illinois is using the savings from repealing the death penalty to improve support for families of homicide victims. Funds for this initiative came from the Death Penalty Abolition Fund, which was established as a result of Illinois’ repeal of the death penalty in 2011. The goal was to make sure that repeal was more than… Continue reading Illinois’ Death Penalty Abolition Fund to help provide support to family members of homicide victims
Join EJUSA in Philadelphia in May!
EJUSA is pleased to support Mothers in Charge in hosting a national conference on violence prevention! The Cost of Violence: National Conference on Violence Prevention and Behavioral Health May 6-7, 2013 Philadelphia, PA Register EJUSA is a proud sponsor of two conference sessions – a panel about the death penalty and a leadership training for… Continue reading Join EJUSA in Philadelphia in May!
Victims’ Family Members Call for Repeal in Connecticut
Last week, two dozen family members who lost loved ones to murder gathered at the Connecticut state capitol to highlight the death penalty’s harmful impact on victims’ families. “The death penalty is not given out equally,” said Khalilah Brown-Dean, whose cousin was murdered. “It’s about saying certain cases are more important than others, certain crimes… Continue reading Victims’ Family Members Call for Repeal in Connecticut