Death Penalty Abolition News

by aholsinger on March 19, 2019 at 6:24 pm

For the second time in just over one month, the United States Supreme Court has cleared the way for the execution of an African-American prisoner in the face of strong evidence of racial or religious bias. On March 18, 2019, the Court unanimously declined to […]

by rdunham on March 18, 2019 at 10:55 pm

Beth Kissileff (pictured), a writer and the wife of a rabbi who survived the shooting rampage that killed eleven worshippers at Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life synagogue, has asked the U.S. Department of Justice not to seek the death penalty against the man […]

by cmadvig on March 15, 2019 at 4:36 pm

Two prosecutors with different philosophical perspectives on capital punishment have called on their respective states to abolish capital punishment. Boulder County, Colorado, District Attorney Michael Dougherty (pictured, left), who opposes capital […]

by cmadvig on March 14, 2019 at 8:05 pm

In October 2018, the Washington Supreme Court unanimously struck down the state’s death penalty, finding that it had been “imposed in an arbitrary and racially biased manner.” In reaching its decision in State v. Gregory, the court relied […]

by Kristin on March 1, 2019 at 8:21 pm

Alfred Dewayne Brown was declared “actually innocent” today by the Harris County District Attorney’s (DA) Office.  DA Kim Ogg accepted the findings of a special prosecutor appointed by her office in May 2018 to investigate the […]

by Kristin on March 1, 2019 at 4:05 pm

In this edition of our monthly alert, you'll find information about Texas executions, U.S. Supreme Court developments, updates on the 86th Texas Legislature, and details on special events taking place around the state. […]

by Kristin on February 28, 2019 at 4:36 pm

Last night, February 28, 2019, the State of Texas executed Billie Wayne Coble. At 70 years of age, he was the oldest person put to death here since Texas resumed executions in 1982. He spent nearly 30 years on death row. […]

by Kristin on February 19, 2019 at 9:53 pm

Today, February 19, 2019, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a per curiam decision in the case of Moore v. Texas, finding that Bobby James Moore is intellectually disabled and should be exempt from the death penalty. Moore has been on death row in Texas since […]

on March 19, 2019 at 12:01 pm

The actors involved in the universal abolition of the death penalty outlined the new challenges ahead in the fight for the right to life. […]

on March 19, 2019 at 12:01 pm

The fragile victories of the abolitionist movement are being undermined by several states ready to resume the use of the death penalty, at the cost of abuses. […]

on March 18, 2019 at 3:29 pm

California has 737 prisoners on death row, about 25% of all US death row prisoners, and the largest death row in the Western Hemisphere. […]

on March 14, 2019 at 10:47 am

The 7th World Congress is coming to an end, after four days of intense exchanges and debates to advance the cause of abolition. A look back at this last morning and the closing ceremony. […]

by James Clark on November 4, 2016 at 4:29 pm

At a recent public debate of California’s competing ballot initiatives on the death penalty, Paul Pfingst, a former district attorney for San Diego County and a supporter of Prop 66, spoke about the role race plays in the death penalty. … Please […]

by James Clark on September 21, 2016 at 2:00 pm

Troy was on death row for over two decades before he was finally executed. In that time he became a leader himself in the movement to end the death penalty, with his steadfast spirit and unshakeable faith in justice inspiring activists around the world. […]

by Guest Writer on September 21, 2016 at 2:00 pm

By Savannah Fox, Field Organizer Five years ago today, on September 21st, I became an activist. I didn’t sign my first petition or attended my first rally. I found my passion, my anger and my hope as an activist, all … Please continue reading. […]

by James Clark on August 17, 2016 at 9:41 pm

As death sentences and executions dwindle around the country and most states are abandoning the death penalty, a few states are determined to keep executions rolling. Top of the list is Texas, the state that’s now gearing up to execute a man who never […]