Maryland Citizens Against State Executions

Maryland Citizens Against State Executions is a coalition of groups and individuals united to end the death penalty in Maryland through education, grassroots action, and public demonstration.

The abolition of the death penalty will come about one heart at a time. What can you do help end the death penalty in Maryland? Speak to a neighbor or friend, invite a speaker from Maryland CASE to address your group, send a donation to CASE. Contact CASE for more information.

 

Staff

Jane Henderson, Executive Director
Henderson, a former Co-director of the Maryland-based Quixote Center and founder of the Center's Equal Justice USA program, has been a principal moratorium organizer in the state. Her leadership in Maryland won her the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty's "Abolitionist of the Year" Award in 2002. Henderson brings years of experience in national and state anti-death penalty movements.

Rion Dennis, Statewide Organizer (also Baltimore, Prince Georges, and Howard Counties)
Rion is a Prince George's County native and graduate of High Point High School. He earned a degree in history and African American studies at University of Maryland-Baltimore County in 2001 and went on to work for the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights/Education Fund, the Philanthropic Initiative for Racial Equity, and, most recently, the Death Penalty Information Center.

Sara Klemm, Program and Office Coordinator
Sara's interest in the death penalty began at a 1995 R.E.M. concert where the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty had a literature table. After graduating from the University of Maryland, College Park in 2000, she went to work for Equal Justice USA's Moratorium Now! campaign. Sara returns to the DC metro area after four years away in Richmond and Philadelphia, eager and excited to be a part of repealing Maryland's death penalty. She, like her co-workers, is motivated by the prospect of working herself out of a job.

Niambi Murray, Field Organizer (Baltimore City and Anne Arundel County)

Niambi holds a degree in African-American Studies with a concentration in Political Science from the Unviersity of Maryland - Baltimore County. Before moving back to Maryland, she gained a lot of direct service experience working with youth in homeless shelters in New York City. Her interest in the death penalty grew as she discovered the racial disparities rampant in its application as well as its expense and overal ineffectiveness in the prevention of violent crimes.

Amy Fusting, Field Organizer (Baltimore and Montgomery Counties)

Amy worked as a Legislative Aide for Senator Edward M Kennedy on the Senate Judiciary Committee while attending George Washington University Law School. After graduating from law school she worked as the Bill Anaylst for the House Judiciary Committee in the Maryland House of Delegates and went on to be an Assistant Public Defender in Montgomery County form 1992-1999. She was named Outstanding Assistant Public Defender from that office in 1998. Most recently, Amy worked as a Staff Attorney for the Public Defender's Legislative Division.

 

Board

Ulumma Abii (Columbia)

Christa Beverly (Cheverly)

Kirk Bloodsworth (Cambridge)

Lorig Charkoudian (Takoma Park)

Richard Dowling (Annapolis)

Sam Epps (Laurel)

Stephanie Gibson (Chair, Baltimore)

Trisha Kendall (Baltimore)

Cathy Knepper (Kensington)

Vicki Schieber (Co-Chair, Chevy Chase)

Melanie Share (Secretary, Columbia)

Holly Syrrakos (Treasurer, Takoma Park)

Sally Vavrek (Arnold)

Bonnita Spikes (OSI-Baltimore Fellow)