Race, Justice, and Eliminating the Death Penalty

The US government has executed 10 people in 2020—the most since the year 1896.

The Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans (www.ccano.org) hosted a Symposium for Systemic Change. Speakers addressed racism, eliminating the death penalty, and civic engagement.

The United State of America incarcerates more citizens per capita than any country in the world. Nearly one out of every 100 people in the United States is in a prison or jail.

The state of Louisiana has an incarceration rate of 1,052 per 100,000 people — including prisons, jails, immigration detention, and juvenile justice facilities — meaning that it locks up a higher percentage of its people than many wealthy democracies.

In January 2021, Alphachimp provided virtual graphic recording services to augment discussions on deadly, long-term systemic issues in the American justice system.

Keynote speaker, Bishop Fernand Cheri discussed addressing racism in contemporary culture. 

Eliminating the Death Penalty included a panel discussion with Michael Cahoon, Sister Helen Prejean, Emma Tacke (Catholic Mobilizing Network), and moderated by Dr. Tom Ryan (Loyola Institute for Ministry).  

Civic Engagement featured a conversation with Dillard University's Dr. Jeff Benjamin and Operation Restoration.OR's Annie Phoenix.

A panel discussion on a grassroots organization’s approach to addressing racism included Kaholida Lloyd, Antonio Alonzo, Breonne DeDecker, Dn. Chris Kellerman SJ, Stesha Citron, Darnell Tingle, and Devorah Levy Pearlman.

The Symposium for Systemic Change is co-sponsored by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and the Office of Justice and Peace at Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans.

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