News
2 Ohio lawmakers introduce bill to end state’s death penalty
State Rep. Jean Schmidt (R-Loveland) and State Rep. Adam Miller (D-Columbus) introduced a bipartisan bill Thursday that would repeal Ohio’s death penalty, which they called “out of date” and “flawed.” Schmidt said she has reevaluated the issue throughout the course of her life. Once a supporter for continuing the death penalty, Schmidt said more than […]
Bipartisan Bill Might Finally Abolish the Death Penalty in Ohio
A bipartisan group of Ohio lawmakers will soon introduce legislation to abolish the death penalty in Ohio. State Sen. Nickie Antonio in a virtual press conference Feb. 18 said, “There is a team right now that is dedicated to ending the death penalty in Ohio. And that team can only get larger.” Read more here.
Bipartisan group of Ohio lawmakers pushes to end state’s death penalty
COLUMBUS, Ohio—Ohio lawmakers are again introducing legislation to abolish the state’s death penalty – but this time, there’s growing confidence that the measure has the bipartisan support needed to become law. “We know that the votes exist,” said state Sen. Niraj Antani, a Dayton-area Republican, during a Zoom news conference with supporters of the measure. […]
Ohioans to Stop Executions (OTSE) Seeking Statewide Organizer
OTSE seeks a Community Organizer who will grow, mobilize, and manage our members and supporters to spread awareness and foster public support for ending the death penalty. In particular, this position will be responsible for identifying and empowering individuals directly impacted by racism and injustice in the criminal legal system and drawing attention to the […]
Sign-On Letter for Law Enforcement Officials
We are current or former members of the law enforcement community. As prosecutors, judges, police officials, and correctional staff, we have shown a commitment to keeping our state safe. It is because of this commitment that we cannot support the death penalty and instead call for its repeal. Though we hold varying views on the […]
Column: Ohio’s use of death penalty perpetuates racial injustice
It is becoming more difficult for people to ignore or deny the obvious racism that has infected our nation. This contaminant has been found in secular and sacred realms as well as private and public institutions. Anyone who describes herself or himself as being committed to justice and the common good must be willing to do […]
Pope Francis closes the door on the death penalty in ‘Fratelli Tutti’
Pope Francis’ new encyclical, “Fratelli Tutti,” does something that some Catholics believed could not be done: It ratifies a change in church teaching. In this case, on the death penalty. In 2018, Pope Francis ordered a change in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the official compendium of church teaching, when he termed the death penalty “inadmissible.” Today the […]
Opinion: Repeal death penalty and eliminate racial bias
As a Black woman who was wrongfully convicted of murder and served over 20 years in Ohio prisons for a crime I didn’t commit, I am all too aware of racial bias in our justice system. In a moment when the nation is grappling with how to best address systemic racism and implement meaningful criminal […]