History of Virginians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty
Oct. 2007
16 years have passed since September 1991 when a group of 22
people opposed to the death penalty first met to lay plans to organize
for an end to executions in the Commonwealth of Virginia. One of the
points brought out at the meeting was a 1989 survey conducted by the
Survey Research Laboratory at Virginia Commonwealth University.
The independent survey found that while Virginians supported the
death penalty, support decreased to a minority when Virginians
were given the alternative of life with no possibility of parole for a
minimum of 25 years combined with restitution to the victims' family.
It was decided that a steering committee would gather to see how this
poll could be used to educate Virginians about the death penalty.
On November 9, 1991 a steering committee of 13 people gathered and
thus VIRGINIANS AGAINST STATE KILLING (VASK) was formed. A
year later the name was changed to VIRGINIANS FOR
ALTERNATIVES TO STATE KILLING. Members wanted to be "for"
something instead of "against". It was decided that being "for
alternatives" was more descriptive of what this group was about.
By the end of 1994 it was recognized that the use of the term “state
killing” hindered our public image and it was decided to adopt the
name VIRGINIANS FOR ALTERNATIVES TO THE DEATH PENALTY
(VADP).
Since the 1989 VCU survey the Center for Survey Research at
Virginia Tech in its Quality of Life in Virginia survey has found similar
results in its annual polling. Around 80% of Virginians support the
death penalty when asked if they are for or against. Support drops by
half to a minority when Virginians are given the alternative of life,
with no possibility of parole for a minimum of 25 years combined with
restitution to the victims' family.
Until 2002, Henry Heller served as the volunteer director of VADP. He
was tireless and established VADP’s reputation in the Virginia
legislature always making his presence known on issues effecting
capital punishment. He was the visible spokesperson with the media.
Henry resigned in June 2002 and a search for the first full-time
director was initiated with funding provided by the Public Welfare
Foundation.
Jack Payden-Travers began work as the new director in October 2002
the day before the DC Snipers opened fire. The last five years have
seen much change both nationally and in the Commonwealth around
this issue. In Virginia, a state noted for the execution of minors, a
Chesapeake jury sentenced juvenile Lee Boyd Malvo to life without
parole rather than death. In February 2005 the US Supreme Court
ruled the Juvenile Death Penalty unconstitutional. Virginians elected
Timothy M. Kaine, a faith-based opponent of capital punishment,
governor in November of that year and the 21-Day Rule has been
eliminated for those facing execution.
However Virginia continues to execute and barring a lethal injection
moratorium will hold its 99" execution on October 17, 2007. Money
from its biggest foundation donor, Public Welfare Foundation, ended
in December 2005 and in spite of this set back VADP held more events
in 2006 than ever before. Both the 2006 VA Journey of Hope and the
30" anniversary conference of the National Coalition to Abolish the
Death Penalty were hosted by VADP in that year.
VADP faces a Virginia in 2007 that is gaining momentum to ending
executions in Virginia. Martin Luther King noted that the arc of
history is long but it bends towards justice. The death penalty will
end. To quote death penalty supporter Ken Stolle, a member of the VA
Senate and chair of the Courts of Justice Committee: "It is only a
matter of time before Virginia and other states ban the death
penalty...It will come when an innocent man is executed. Inevitably,
somebody who is innocent will be executed."
