‘Dead Man Walking’ author issues call to end death penalty
CLEVELAND — Sister Helen Prejean, author of the 1993 book “Dead Man Walking” and internationally known advocate for the abolishment of the death penalty, issued a “call to action” to Ohio’s faith leaders to work to end capital punishment in the state.
“Faith has always been at the intersection with justice,” Prejean told the gathering hosted by the Ohio Council of Churches, Ohio- ans to Stop Executions and the Faith Leaders of Color Coalition last week.
She credited the activism of Virginia’s “amazing faith community,” which held prayer vigils at the sites of lynchings to highlight the historical link between early racist killings and the modern-day death penalty.
More than 430 faith leaders in that state signed a let- ter opposing the death pen- alty in 2021, pushing legislation through and Virginia Governor Ralph Northam to sign the ban on executions.
Virginia was the first Southern state — and the 23rd overall — to ban the death penalty.
“It was the people of color and the state’s faith leaders who made the difference in the state of Virginia, where legislation was just bump- ing along. They were almost there, but not able to get it done. It was people of faith — especially those faith leaders of color and the indigenous — who were the cata- lyst to get legislation pushed through. It’s time for peo- ple of color and faith to do the same in Ohio. It’s time to get it done,” she said on a Zoom call.
Two identical bills that would put an end to capital punishment are pending before the Ohio House and Senate. SB 103 and HB 183, both introduced by biparti- san sponsors, were stalled by redistricting efforts. HB 136, passed in 2020, bans execu- tions for those convicted of murder and found to be suffering from mental illness.
Efforts will grow in 2023, with more than 80 coalitions signed on, said Ohioans to Stop Executions executive director Allison Cohen.
Prejean said the death pen- alty is “riddled with race” and a “continuation of the legacy of slavery in this coun- try.”
According to the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio and Ohioans to Stop Execu- tions, people of color make up 15 percent of the state’s population, but 56 percent of the state’s death row. Seventy-five percent of the execu- tions in Ohio have involved a white victim.
There are 134 people on death row in the state, according to the Ohio Departments of Rehabilitation and Correction. Ohio’s last execution was in July 2018.
At the end of 2020, Gov. Mike Dewine put a hold on all capital punishment due to a lack of lethal injection drugs.
Bishop Gregory Palmer, of the Ohio West United Methodist Church, said, “Sister Helen set my hair on fire, but this is not about just being set on fire, it was a reminder that it is time for us to stand up and do all we can to dismantle the injus- tice the death penalty represents and end state-sanc- tioned violence and murder no matter what it is that (the convicted) have done.
“No matter what your faith, they all have some teaching that leads us in the opposite direction of the death penalty,” he said.
“The 10 Commandments are not suggestions. If we live them, then we realize that killing human beings is not what any of us are called to do.”
Prejean said education is the best method for getting the death penalty abolished.
“It is about ha ging minds, on both sides of the debate,” she said.
“So many people will tell you the death penalty helps victim’s families to heal, but we need to go to the families and find out what they really need. I doubt waiting for an average 17 years to sit on the front row and watch an execution is what most of them want.
“They need more immediate help with everyday life issues, like paying the mortgage, or groceries, or childcare when a family breadwinner is taken from them. They need help to continue on rather than to sit and watch someone die.”
The ACLU found death penalty trials cost taxpayers as much as $16 million per case. It would be
cnmuch cheaper to replace the death penalty with life in prison without the possi- bility of parole, it showed. The death penalty in Ohio is ten times more expensive than a nondeath case, according to OTSE.
Rev. Jack Sullivan, of the Ohio Council of Churches, agreed with Prejean. Sullivan refers to himself as a “co-victim.” His sister, Jennifer, was murdered in Cleve- land 26 years ago.
“Just think what that $16 million dollars spent on a death penalty case could do for a victim’s family that needs help,” Sullivan said.
“The money in our jus- tice system is being misspent. Having the individual that killed a loved one killed is never going to provide wholeness or closure – it just continues the cycle of death. Don’t kill in our name. Invest in our families.”
Prejean and Sullivan encouraged faith leaders to spur their communities to action. “Be in touch with our lawmakers and urge them to end the death penalty in our state,” Sullivan said.
“Don’t assume that because others around you are acting, that is enough. We must invite others to act with us. It is within our grasp, but it will take all of this to bring it across the finish line.”