Advocates opposing the death penalty and working to pass the death penalty repeal legislation are often confronted with the challenge of "You would feel differently if someone you loved was murdered."
Most death penalty abolitionists are not themselves the family members of murder victims, but that does not mean there is nothing that we can say. In fact, by advocating for better services for homicide survivors we can turn the conversation back to the question of whether capital punishment is the best response in the aftermath of murder from a public policy standpoint.
This workshop will be facilitated by Death Penalty Action executive director/registered Ohio lobbyist Abraham Bonowitz and features former Oklahoma State Senator Connie Johnson, whose brother was murdered, Rev. Dr. Jack Sullivan Jr. of Journey of Hope ...From Violence to Healing, whose sister was murdered, Kevin Werner, executive director of OTSE and a registered Ohio lobbyist as well as other victim advocates.
We'll be discussing the needs of homicide survivor families and the resources currently available to them in Ohio, however, everything we'll be discussing can apply across the United States. Anti-death penalty advocates will be provided with the tools and information necessary to accurately turn any conversation about (victim/survivors and) the death penalty with legislators, legislative staff and others towards what can they (legislators) do that is actually helpful to homicide survivors and the victim advocacy community. (NOTE - OVWA, whose report is linked above, does not take a position on capital punishment.)
This program will not be live-streamed. Registration is required - Click here to register.