ABOUT US
Mission:
Death Penalty Action (DPA) works to stop executions and abolish the death penalty through advocacy, education, and action.
Services:
Death Penalty Action provides high visibility resources, leadership, support, educational and direct action events and activities within the broader anti-death penalty movement. DPA is prepared to assist various local, state and national groups in their work to end the use of the death penalty.
Some of services we provide include:
- Planning and implementing public education activities in advance of executions and legislative activities
- Developing and implementing a communications plan to highlight agreed-upon messages
- Provision of signs, banners and other visibility tools for use in public protests
- Collaborating with local staff and volunteers to ensure that organizations and coalitions build themselves
- Marshaling the resources of national movement organizations across the country - including arranging for speakers and presenters
- The ground logistical and tactical support of events, direct actions and other public activities
- Fundraising
A sampling of the direct work that we are and have been engaged in:
- Shining a spotlight and ensuring opposition to every execution in the United States, including direct partnership with and support to allies in multiple actively executing states as well as states where progressive change is currently possible
- Opposing Trump Administration efforts to expand the death penalty and increase executions
- Managing the Abolitionist Action Committee's Starvin' for Justice: Annual Fast & Vigil to Abolish the Death Penalty each summer at the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, DC
- Led campaign to urge President Biden to commute all federal and military death sentences (37 of 44 were commuted)
- Led campaign in Congress to abolish the federal death penalty (currently paused)
- Assisted in the foundation of South Carolinians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty in 2021, Idahoans Against the Death Penalty in 2024 and Utahns Against the Death Penalty in 2025
- Established the March4Mercy in Tennessee
- Resurrected the For Whom the Bells Toll campaign
- Assisted Ohioans to Stop Executions to stop all scheduled executions in state and helped lead a major 10-day tour throughout state in October 2019
- Managed the death penalty crisis in Arkansas in April 2017 for Arkansas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty
- Managed the Texas Journey of Hope in October 2017
- Campaigned to highlight the U.S.'s 1500th execution in Georgia in June 2019
- Organized the "Human Rights in Crisis" national conference in December 2020 and the"End of Executions" national conference in January 2021
- Find out more on Campaigns and Projects page.
We are funded by members and supporters, and are 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization. Find our Guide Star profile and financially support Death Penalty Action here.
While Death Penalty Action is leadership, resource and support organization, for wishing take action against than death penalty, you invites educate yourself about the facts and realities surrounding is issue. Click here for more information. Haga clic aquí para recursos en Español, sobre La Pena de Muerte, de Equal Justice USA.
STAFF
Executive Director and Co-Founder: Abraham Bonowitz (bio)
Deputy Director: Trish Cooper
Projects Coordinator and Co-Founder: Scott Langley
Communications Coordinator: Alli Sullivan
General inquires maybe sent to info@deathpenaltyaction.org
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Brandi Slaughter, DPA Board Chair, is a justice-driven public policy leader, educator, and ordained clergywoman with over 20 years of experience in advocacy, legislative strategy, and nonprofit leadership. Her work focuses on advancing equity and dismantling systems of oppression affecting children, families, and marginalized communities. She has helped shape state and federal policy on health care, disability rights, and family welfare, including leading efforts to expand Medicaid in Ohio and defend the Affordable Care Act. Currently, Brandi serves as Clinical Professor and Program Director of the Karabelle Pizzigati Initiative at the University of Maryland School of Public Policy. She also serves on the boards of the League of Women Voters US and Death Penalty Action. Brandi holds a J.D. from Capital University and a B.A. from Morgan State University. She is a wife, mother, and proud dog mom to Peaches.
Daniel Flynn, DPA Board Secretary, is Chief Development Officer at Bethany House Services, the largest provider of homeless services for families in southwest Ohio. He has been active in the movement to end the death penalty for over 15 years, including as a founding Board member for Death Penalty Action and as the former Director of Advancement for Catholic Mobilizing Network. He lives in Cincinnati, Ohio with his wife, Anne, and enjoys traveling, crossword puzzles, geocaching, and Xavier University basketball in his free time.
Chris Brown was six when his father, Gary Brown, was sent to Alabama's death row and later executed when Chris was 22. Since then, Chris has been a steadfast advocate for change, supporting organizations such as Project Hope to Abolish the Death Penalty and Journey of Hope... from Violence to Healing. Chris has worked on local justice reform efforts in Huntsville, AL, and has been active in prison and re-entry ministry, including board positions with non-profit organizations dedicated to helping the formerly incarcerated and improving mental health. In addition to his advocacy work, Chris is an accomplished academic and educator. He holds a BSE in Aerospace Engineering, a BS in Astrophysics, an MSM in Management of Technology, and a Ph.D. in Engineering Management. Chris also earned certificates in Prison Chaplaincy and Reentry Ministry from Wheaton College. Currently, Chris teaches engineering at the high school and college levels. His work reflects a deep commitment to justice, education, and healing, grounded in his faith as an evangelical Christian.
Sen. Connie Johnson is Oklahoma’s first African American and woman US Senate nominee, now retired. First elected in 2005, Connie was the 4th person elected to serve her Senate district, following a 24-year legislative staffing career for Senate District 48’s three previous senators. Best known for her progressive stances on abolishing the death penalty and other policies that disparately affected her district, Connie continues working beyond the legislature, using her knowledge to challenge broken systems and push forward toward the path of progress for all Oklahomans, especially the children. She serves on the Oklahoma Coalition To Abolish The Death Penalty, and is the founder and CEO of Advocacy Works LLC in OKC.
Denisce Palacios is a community organizer from Brownsville, Texas, on the US-Mexico border with over nine years of experience in issue-based, electoral, and grassroots organizing. She currently works with the Climate Cabinet to build bipartisan support for clean energy and climate action in the Texas Legislature. Her work spans youth mobilization with Texas Freedom Network, reproductive health advocacy as Texas State Lead with Advocates for Youth, and climate research on industrial impacts in Latino communities. In 2022, she joined Death Penalty Action in a high-profile campaign that helped halt the execution of Melissa Lucio, gaining state, national, and international attention. Recognized for her leadership by the Obama Foundation, Denisce is one of just 200 people worldwide selected for the 2024–2025 Obama Leaders program.
David Senior is private practice attorney. 30+ civil trials the United States, including in New York, Boston, Minneapolis, Chicago, San Francisco, and Southern California; 15+ appeals in the U.S. Court of Appeals and the California Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. Lead counsel in federal and state capital habeas corpus litigation in 12+ cases since 1991. Lead counsel in four federal court evidentiary hearings, and eight Ninth Circuit arguments. Obtained en banc guilt phase retrial the knowing presentation of false evidence. Obtained Atkins resentencing (Kern County). Lead counsel in California §1983 lethal injection challenge since 2005 (30+ execution stays). Learned Counsel in federal death penalty prosecution. Executive clemency representation. Recognized by State Bar of California in 1993 and 1994, Death Penalty Focus, 2007, for contributions in representing indigent defendants in capital cases.
Rev. Sharon Risher, former DPA Board Chair, is an Ordained Minister (Non-Denominational) and is currently affiliated with New Emmanuel UCC Church, in Charlotte, NC. Sharon was a hospital chaplain and trauma specialist in Texas her dear mother, Mrs. Ethel Lee Lance, was killed in 2015 in Charleston, SC, at the Mother Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, along with 8 other people, which also included two cousins and childhood friend. Sharon is activist in gun law reform movement, serving as national spokespersons for MOMS Demand Action for Gun Sense and the Everytown Survivor Network. Sharon, now lives in Charlotte, NC, where her adult children live, along with two young grandsons.