About the Coalition
The Montana Abolition Coalition is an umbrella group of faith and civil and human rights organizations and individuals whose sole purpose is to support abolition of Montana’s death penalty. A diverse group of organizations makes up the Coalition, and while members may have varying reasons for supporting abolition they come together for a single cause. The Coalition continues to successfully bring together a wide range of people from across the political spectrum for a common cause.
History
In 1998, the ACLU of Montana, the Montana Catholic Conference, Murder Victims' Families for Reconciliation, Montana Human Rights Network, and the Montana Association of Churches came together to form the Montana Abolition Coalition. In 1999, we sponsored 5 bills to limit or abolish the death penalty. Because of our efforts, a bill was passed to abolish the death penalty for people under the age of 18.
As the Coalition continued to grow, we continued to sponsor legislation to limit or abolish the death penalty - spurring conversations among our state leaders. We also committed to educating the people of Montana about the failed capital punishment system in our state – raising awareness and gaining support for full abolition.
In the 2007 legislative session, hearing for the abolition bill turned out victims' families, attorneys, a former warden, former prosecutors, an assistant Attorney General, lawmakers, and a former Montana Supreme Court Justice. All came to ask the legislature to support abolition.
In both 2007 and 2009, the bill to abolish the death penalty and replace it with life without the possibility of parole was passed with bipartisan support in the Senate. Scores of Montanans voiced their support for abolition, and lawmakers responded. The Coalition will continue to keep the issue before the legislature and the public, because Montanans want common sense policies that hold criminals accountable, provide healing for victims, and are fiscally responsible. The death penalty is none of these.
Staff
The staff of the Montana Abolition Coalition is a stellar team of committed Montanans who travel around the state, educating citizens about the problems with the death penalty, meeting with community leaders, and learning how the death penalty has affected the lives of people in Montana.
Jennifer Kirby (406) 461-8176
Coordinating the Coalition, communicating with the media, and fundraising
Steve Dogiakos (406) 203-4679
Working with Conservatives Concerned about the Death Penalty and members of law enforcement
Denver Henderson (406) 239-3421
Working to coordinate volunteers and build community support throughout western Montana and Billings
Katie McKeown (406) 461-0733
Working with murder victims’ family members, developing materials, and coordinating research
Rachel Carroll Rivas (406) 442-1989
Working on human rights issues, with the American Indian community and Progressive activists, and organizing abolition supporters