May 27, 2020

This was the second in a series of Abolition University education sessions for VADP supporters. This event focused on the Role of Murder Victim Family Members in the Death Penalty Abolition Movement.

One national abolition leader and three victim family members in Virginia shared their stories for this session:

• Renny Cushing, New Hampshire legislator & leader of the successful death penalty abolition campaign in that state
• Linell Patterson, Harrisonburg
• Dave Knight, Alexandria
• Rachel Sutphin, Christiansburg

Renny described how murder victim family members like him first became involved in the death penalty abolition movement and how they fundamentally altered the public policy debate in state legislatures, paving the way for ending capital punishment in multiple states. Linell, Dave, and Rachel shared their personal stories of loss and their involvement in abolition work here in Virginia.

Panel members also answered questions from participants in this one hour online session.

Enjoy the video and let us know if you have any questions.

May 19, 2020

This was the first in a series of Abolition University education sessions for VADP supporters. This event focused on the National Death Penalty Abolition Movement and the Role of Virginia.

Two prominent national abolition leaders joined VADP staff members Michael Stone and Dale Brumfield for this session:

• Laura Porter, Executive Director at the Eighth Amendment Project
• Sarah Craft, Death Penalty Program Director for Equal Justice USA

They shared the national death penalty abolition strategy, the recent abolition victory in Colorado, developments in other states, and key messages that seem to resonate with state legislative leaders.

VADP staff members then discussed progress made in Virginia over the past few years and prospects for abolition of capital punishment in the coming year.
This panel also answered questions from participants in this one hour online session.

Enjoy the video and let us know if you have any questions.

April 3, 2020
Abolishing the death penalty is usually thought of as a Democratic and liberal policy, but a Republican and a libertarian serve proudly (more…)