About

Pennsylvanians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty is a grassroots non-profit organization dedicated to ending executions in Pennsylvania.  Through grass roots outreach, focused campaigns and citizen mobilization we have defined a comprehensive strategy to end the death penalty in Pennsylvania. By mobilizing citizens throughout Pennsylvania, PADP is cultivating a cohesive and consistent statewide voice against the death penalty. Our regional chapters establish structures, goals and tactics to meet their particular geographical needs while carrying out the organization's mission. The PADP state office in Harrisburg manages the chapters and oversees the statewide strategy.

Speaker's Bureau Campaign

PADP's Speakers Bureau Campaign is its primary source of voices for community education events around the state of Pennslvania.  Multiple perspectives and diverse individuals make up PADP's Speakers Bureau.

The death penalty punishes entire societies, not just the one individual being sentenced to death.  There are many different individuals that can speak to the injustices of the capital punishment system and those are the unique and eloquent individuals that make PADP's Speakers Bureau.  Every story is different, but they all share a commonality, the fact that the death penalty was and is a disservice in their lives and in the lives of those nearest and dearest to them.

Harold Wilson, Pennsylvania death row exoneree and Ray Krone, Arizona death row exoneree and Pennsylvania native are pictured to the left at 2007's Liberty Week event in Philadelphia.

The Speakers Bureau consists of:

  • Death row exonerees, men that have served time on death row for crimes that they did not commit.    
  • Murder victim family members, individuals that have experienced first hand the pain and suffering that murder causes.    
  • Experts on the criminal justice system, professionals and activists that have dedicated their careers to sharing the truths about capital punishment.    
  • Defense attorneys that know the legal system and its flaws.    

Moratorium Campaign

The Pennsylvania Moratorium Coalition (PMC) is a collaborative of 18 civil rights, human rights, and religious organizations (www.PaMoratorium.org).  PADP facilitates and coordinates the coalition.  The Pennsylvania Moratorium Coalition supports a suspension of executions in Pennsylvania while all aspects of the death penalty as currently administered in Pennsylvania are reviewed and any resulting recommendations fully addressed.   The Pennsylvania Moratorium Coalition is composed of diverse organizations from all across the state of Pennsylvania.  Regardless of their philosophical position on the death penalty, the organizations that make up the Pennsylvania Moratorium Coalition agree that the current practice of capital punishment in Pennsylvania needs to be reviewed because it is discriminatory and does not guarantee against the possibility of a wrongful execution.

Execute Art, Not People! Campaign

Our communities are hungry for outlets to express themselves in creative ways.  PADP's Execute Art, Not People! Campaign was formed in a direct response to that hunger.  There is an undeniable symbiosis between the arts and activism --- Execute Art, Not People! is a way to explore that juxtaposition while educating the public about capital punishment.  Each event is different and reflects the creative drive of the people that organize it, but typically each one features three basic elements: performance, visual and interactive art.

When we execute art we.....

  • Raise awareness and educate our local community about the death penalty through the arts.     
  • Create a space for local and activist artists to display, share and sell their artwork to a captive, interested and motivated audience.    
  • Inspire activists to make art and to inspire artists to use their work to inspire social change.    

Logo design by Axis Custom Apparel in New Cumberland, PA

Partnership with Murder Victims' Families for Reconciliation

MVFR is a national organization composed of family members of victims of both homicide and state killings who oppose the death penalty in all cases. Founded in 1976, MVFR works to help the public, the press, and policy makers understand the negative impact that capital punishment has on the families of victims and the condemned.  As part of its mission to support state-based efforts, MVFR is working PADP by:

  • Identifying and supporting murder victim's family members who wish to become more involved in the abolition movement in Pennsylvania.    
  • Involving victim's family members in PADP's outreach and education programs, particularly in faith communities and with civic groups.    
  • Furthering our coalition building efforts with local and state organizations.    
  • Training PADP staff on how to reach out to victims in their communities.    
  • Participating in outreach to the media, in order to raise awareness of victim's perspectives on the death penalty issue.