
150+ Business Leaders Speak Out Against the Death Penalty, Joining Branson Campaign as Abolition Gains Momentum
Responsible Business Initiative for Justice
NEW YORK, OCTOBER 7, 2021 /3BL Media/ - More than 150 business leaders have declared their support for a global campaign to end capital punishment, ahead of World Day Against the Death Penalty (October 10). The Business Leaders Against the Death Penalty campaign (declaration and list of signatories below) was launched by Virgin Group founder Richard Branson and the Responsible Business Initiative for Justice (RBIJ) earlier this year. It decries capital punishment as cruel, ineffective, discriminatory and unacceptably error-prone - and urges governments everywhere to end the practice. Branson writes: "The growing support for this campaign shows that business leaders increasingly recognize they must be a force for the greater good of society. By speaking out against the death penalty, they take a stand against one of the most egregious injustices of our time. The voice of business will be critical to end the death penalty once and for all.” The death penalty is at a tipping point. President Biden’s moratorium on federal executions, as well as successful abolition efforts in Sierra Leone, Malawi, Kazakhstan, and the U.S. state of Virginia, underscore a global trend towards abolition. Support for ending the death penalty has never been higher - and reformers are poised to deliver lasting change. At this critical moment, the support of employers and investors can help drive abolition campaigns over the line. Never before have leaders from the business community united against capital punishment, and the groundswell of support for the campaign marks an ongoing and fundamental shift in the way many view their roles – and responsibilities – when it comes to social and criminal justice issues. Paul Polman, former CEO of Unilever, writes: "As we emerge from the pandemic, it’s more critical than ever that business leaders demonstrate a strong moral compass and show courage in the fight against racism, cruelty and oppression. By speaking out against the death penalty, we wholeheartedly embrace that responsibility.” Since its launch at South by Southwest Festival, the campaign has attracted a diverse group of supporters from a wide range of sectors, countries, and cultures. They share a fundamental commitment to racial equality, public safety, fiscal responsibility, and human rights - all critical issues in the capital punishment debate. As Galaxy Digital founder Mike Novogratz points out: “Governments should prioritize saving lives, not ending them, and it is mission critical that we embrace our responsibility to end ineffective policies like the death penalty now.” Building on this momentum, the group will deploy business voices at critical tipping points in specific campaigns – bringing powerful new allies to call out executions, support reforms, and inspire action - in close collaboration with movement leaders on the ground. RBIJ CEO Celia Ouellette explained: “Lawmakers and decision makers should be paying attention - business leaders are wading into the fray and demanding an end to capital punishment. There's a new incentive for ending the death penalty: abolition is good for business.” Note to editors For further information, please contact Ben Cumming (Communications Director, Responsible Business Initiative for Justice): ben@responsiblebusinessinitiative.org +44 7891551514 / +1 213 370 0222 #BizVsDP @RBI_Justice Website: BusinessAgainstDeathPenalty.org Business Leaders Against the Death Penalty Declaration We stand united in our belief in a fairer and more equitable world, the rule of law, and universal human rights. As an irreversible and extreme form of punishment, the death penalty is inhumane, and it is irreconcilable with human dignity. Its worldwide abolition is a moral imperative that all of humanity should support. We can no longer stay silent on issues of inequality, and no issue is more intricately tied to the racial and socio-economic biases that permeate justice systems than the death penalty. In many countries, ethnic minorities and the poor are still more likely to be prosecuted, sentenced to death, and ultimately executed. The abolition of capital punishment is a critical step in the movement toward racial and social equality. We are committed to making our communities safer. The death penalty does not make communities safer and it does not address the root causes of crime. Nor does it serve as a deterrent. Statistics show that US states with the death penalty have higher murder rates than those without. This is consistent with international findings showing that countries that have abolished capital punishment experienced a decline in murder rates over time. We can no longer afford to jeopardize the safety of our communities by perpetuating a culture of violence and revenge. We recognize the danger of executing innocent people. In the US for every eight people executed, one innocent person has been exonerated. By all accounts, the true number of innocent people who continue to languish on death row - or who have been executed - is much higher. Any system with an error rate this high Is broken beyond repair. We believe, now more than ever, that we must be responsible with public finances. The death penalty is a wasteful and ineffective misallocation of public resources. To maintain the broken system of capital punishment, some governments divert millions of dollars every year from critical public health and safety initiatives, from infrastructure development, and from education - missing crucial opportunities to build social stability and strengthen communities. But there is progress. More than 170 UN Member States have abolished the death penalty in law or practice. Half of all US states have abolished the death penalty or stopped executions. The tide is turning, and now it is the responsibility of business leaders to speak up and stand together on the right side of history. It is time to end this cruelty once and for all. Where the death penalty still exists, we urge government leaders to legally commute death sentences, to impose moratoria on executions and to support legislative or ballot initiatives to end capital punishment for good. We commit to using our voices and our reach as business leaders to support ending the death penalty everywhere, beginning with signing this declaration. List of Signatories (as of 6pm ET, 10.06.2021) RICHARD BRANSON Founder, Virgin Group ADEEL SAEED CEO, Adeel Saeed ALAN JOPE CEO, Unilever ALESSANDRO BOGLIOLO Former CEO, Tiffany & Co. ALEX LOVE Founder and CEO, Alex Love Consulting, LLC ALI NIAZ, Co-Founder, BPureSounds ALICE DYSON COO, ONE MEDIA IP LTD ALLAN W MOSKOWITZ CEO, Transformative Wealth Management, LLC ALPA PATEL Founder and CEO, 9th House AMANDA PACQUETTE Director, Business2Technology AMIT AMIN Partner, Amit & Naroop ANDERS HOLCH POVLSEN CEO, BESTSELLER ANDRÉ HOFFMAN ANDREW N. LIVERIS Former Chairman and CEO, Dow Chemical | Founder, Liveris Academy for Leadership and Innovation ANNE WOJCICKI Co-Founder and CEO, 23andMe, Inc. ARIANNA HUFFINGTON Founder and CEO, Thrive Global | Co-founder, The Huffington Post ATITI SOSIMI CEO, Eyato London BEN COHEN Co-founder, Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream BERT JACOBS CEO, LIFE IS GOOD BRAD S. KARP Chairman, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison BRITTANY DAMICO Senior Business Development Manager, Change Finance CASEY J. MULLIGAN Owner, Mulligan & Mulligan PLLC CATHERINE KIMMEL Co-CEO, The Artemis Agency CHRIS DAW QC Lawyer, Broadcaster and Author of Justice on Trial CHRISTINA BROOKS Founder and CEO, Ruebik CHRISTOPHER COX Associate Director, Seventh Generation Interfaith Coalition for Responsible Investment CHRIS DUTTON Founder, The CEO Magazine DAN MEYER President and CEO, Nehemiah Manufacturing DANIEL DART CEO, Dart Capital & Co. DAVID BRONNER CEO, Dr.Bronner’s DAVID W. CRANE CEO, Climate Real Impact Solutions | Former CEO and President, NRG DAVID PACQUETTE David Pacquette, CEO, Business2Technology DAVE PHILLIPS DORRIT LOWSEN President and COO, Change Finance Dr. MO IBRAHIM Founder, Mobile Systems International | Founder, Celtel | Founding Chairman, Satya Capital Limited | Founder and Chair, Mo Ibrahim Foundation DR. PHILIP TEE Founder and CEO, Moogsoft Inc ED FLETCHER Co-Managing Director, Shape History ELISSA SHUCK President and CEO, ES-STRATEGIC, LLC ELIZABETH CHAMBERS Operating Partner, Searchlight Capital ELLIE KANNER CEO, Forever Sunny Productions | Just To Be Clear Productions | The Game Plan Game LLC EVE WILDRICK Founder and President, Executive Interiors Inc. FELIX PFREUNDTNER Owner, Xilev UG FLOYD ALBEE CEO, Prevalent Projects FRANCOIS-HENRI PINAULT GARETH PARKER CEO, Raphael Rowe Foundation GEORGE TURNER. Co-Founder and CEO, Carneys Community GINA LYNELL SMITH Founder, BizDesign.digital GORI YAHAYA Founder and CEO, UpSkill Digital GUILHERME LEAL Co-founder and Co-chair Natura & Co | Co-founder Instituto Ethos HELENE GAYLE, MD, MPH President and CEO, The Chicago Community Trust | Former President & CEO CARE USA HUBERT JOLY Former Chairman and CEO, Best Buy | Senior Lecturer, Harvard Business School HUGH LENON Private Equity and Prison Charity Chairman IQRA SHAIKH Founder and CEO, Tutoring in Teams ISABELLE KOCHER JACK D'AURORA Partner, The Behal Law Group LLC JAMES FELLOWES Founder, The Bridge of Hope (Inclusive Talent Portal) JARED SMITH Co-founder, Qualtrics JASON FLOM CEO, Lava Media JATIN MAHINDRA Founder, Jatin Mahindra JAUME MIQUEL NAUDI Chairman and CEO, Tendam Global Fashion Retail JAVIER GARCIA SAZ CEO and Founder, AnunciaWebs JEAN OELWANG President and Founding CEO Virgin Unite | Former Co-CEO Virgin Mobile Australia JEFFREY SCALES Managing Principal, JSA Sustainable Wealth Management JERRY GREENFIELD Co-founder, Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream JOANNA REES Managing Partner, West Ventures JOHN C. HARRINGTON President and CEO, Harrington Investments, Inc. JOHN KAY CEO, Realize Strategies JOHN O’FARRELL JOHN REPLOGLE Founding Partner, One Better Ventures | Former CEO, Seventh Generation Inc JOHN ROST Founder and CEO, Ace Oasis Ltd JOHN RUSH Founder and CEO, CleanTurn | 180 Demo | Third Way Café JOHNNY WEBB CEO, HiddenLight Productions JON WRIGHT Co-Founder, Innocent Drinks JONATHAN OUELLETTE Co-Founder and Creative Director, KILL 2 BIRDS JOE DELOSS Founder, Hot Chicken Takeover JOSH ZINNER CEO, Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility JULIA ALBEE CFO, Prevalent Projects JULIO SALINAS LOMBARD Founder and CEO, Salinas Consultores KATIE DAVIES US Editor, The Independent KETZ HARIA Ketz Haria, Director, Dey, King, Haria KRISTINA TOUZENIS Managing Partner, BST Impact KRIZ TAN Co-Owner and Director, Alphavertex Communications Pte Ltd KYLER CARTER Professor of Development Disabilities L. WILLIAMSON COO, CAA Family Office LAUREN McCANN Founder and CEO, Calliope Advisors LOGAN MARTIN President, Skyline Strategies, LLC LUCKY XAZI Founder, Smart LUX Marketing MAC BARTINE CEO, SmartRIA MAMIE KANFER STEWART Founder, Meeteor MARC BENIOFF Chairman and CEO, Salesforce MARCUS BULLOCK CEO, Flikshop MARISA TENDERO Non-Executive Chairwoman, NOABRANDS MARK HAMADE Co-Founder, CanEth MARTHA LANE FOX Chair, WeTransfer | Director, Twitter | Director, Chanel | Chancellor, Open University MARY-CLAIRE MULLIGAN Partner and Director, Trial Litigation MATTHEW STEPKA Managing Partner, Machina Ventures MATS GRANRYD MELISSA FRIESENBOURG Owner, Balanced Spirit Pilates MERCK MERCURIADIS Founder and CEO, Hipgnosis Songs Fund MICHAEL CONN Founder, Bigger Than Us MICHAEL KRAMER Managing Partner, Natural Investments MICHELLE CIROCCO Chief Impact Officer and Executive Director, Televerde | Televerde Foundation MIKE NOVOGRATZ Founder and CEO, Galaxy Digital MILES DALLY CEO, RCL FOODS MO CHOUMIL CEO, Safi Virtual MORDECHAI GABAI Head of Studio, Schizotypy Game Development Ltd NICK McKEOWN NICOLAS DEBRAY President, Americas, The Body Shop NICOLAS GIROTTO NICOLAS PATRICK Global Head of Responsible Business, DLA Piper OSCAR WESTRA VAN HOLTHE Founder, Teamcoach Zuidas PAUL GRAHAM Founder, Y Combinator PAUL J. FRIBOURG PAUL POLMAN Co-founder and Chair, IMAGINE | Former CEO, Unilever PEDRO HERNANDES Founder, HBFS PEDRO PARENTE Chairman and Former CEO, BRF | Founding Partner, EB Capital | Former CEO, Petrobras PIERRE DUBUC Co-Founder and CEO, OpenClassrooms RAPHAEL ROWE Founder, Raphael Rowe Foundation RICCARDO BELLINI President and CEO, Chloe RIZVAN RAJA Founder and CEO, Rizuma Ltd ROBERT F. SMITH Founder, Chairman & CEO, Vista Equity Partners RON CONWAY Founder, SV Angel RYAN BALL Ryan Ball, Director, Ryan Ball Photography SALLY JEWELL, Former CEO, REI SANDRO SALSANO Chairman, Salsano Family Office | President, Salsano Group SANJAY AGGARWAL Founder and CEO, IPS SATISH AGGARWAL Founder, S&J Leisure Group SARA PRICE Founder, Actually SARAH ADOLPHSON Co-CEO, The Artemis Agency SARAH BEST CEO, Sarah Best Strategy SARAI JACOB-WHELAN SCOTT BUDNICK CEO, One Community | Founder, The Anti-Recidivism Coalition SHENALY AMIN Director, Iconik Ltd SHERYL SANDBERG COO, Facebook | Founder, LeanIn.org SITAL PUNJA Founder, Threads-London SONIA KOWAL President, Zevin Asset Management STEFANIE REINHOLD Founder, HorseHaus LLC STEPHANIE MELODIA CEO, Bloom Consulting Ltd STEPHEN LUCKMAN Partner, Sheridans STEVE BENNETT Co-Founder, Health Results STRIVE MASIYIWA Founder and Executive Chairman, Econet Group SUSAN OZAWA PEREZ Senior Portfolio Manager, Impact Investors SUSAN WHITMORE Founder and CEO, Grief Haven SVEIN TORE HOLSETHER President and CEO, Yara International SYLVIA COLEMAN Co-Founder and Principal, BPureSounds TERESA HENNING Director, Moneymasternow TOM LYTTON-DICKIE Founder and CEO, Meaningful Business TONY FERNANDES Group Chief Executive Officer, AirAsia Group | Chairman and Founder, Tune Group VANESSA BAKEWELL Global Client Partner, Facebook WERNER BAUMANN CEO, Bayer WOUTER MURRAT Founder, Owner & CEO, MEPILAN VOF YINKA SONUBI CEO, TJR&M View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Responsible Business Initiative for Justice on 3blmedia.com
October 07, 2021 09:06 AM Eastern Daylight Time
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