Sister Helen Prejean, an internationally recognized author and activist, shares why she is against the death penalty
Sister Helen Prejean has advocated against the death penalty since she corresponded with inmates on death row in 1981. Prejean’s experiences were turned into the academy award winning movie “Dead Man Walking.” (Stephanie Matusiefsky | THE BEACON)
By Lydia Laythe, Staff Writer laythe16@up.edu
Animal. Killer. Not human. Monster. Sister Helen Prejean, a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph and a human rights activist, spat those few words to make a point. All those words, she explained, dehumanize the inmates on death row. All those words attempt to reduce an entire, complex human being to a single action - a single mistake. But despite those attempts at dehumanization, the reality is: Those inmates are indeed human beings.
Prejean, driven by love and compassion, saw the reality of dehumanization in her work on death row. She has been internationally recognized for offering guidance to inmates on death row and wrote two best-selling books, one of which was turned into an award-winning film, "Dead Man Walking." Prejean spoke about her fight against the death penalty at the Chiles Center Monday.
Prejean was a pen pal and spiritual advisor to several inmates on death row, and witnessed their executions starting in1981. These experiences ignited and sustain her passion to speak against the death penalty.
"Where is the dignity in this death?" Prejean said she admitted asking herself.
At the podium, Prejean spoke with a fiery passion that rippled through the crowd and left the filled seats silent in awe.
"But I had been a witness [to the death penalty]," Prejean said. "And I must tell the story."
Jamie Powell, Director of the Garaventa Center and leader in organizing the event, spoke of immense gratitude for being able to meet an internationally - recognized figure such as Prejean.
"She's so down-to-earth," Powell said. "She's passionate, she's warm, she's funny. She teases me and pushed me to think a little deeper. I feel so fortunate to have been able to spend time with her."
Freshman Erin Von Hoetzendorff appreciated how Prejean spoke honestly about the death penalty.
"I liked how she described the horror of the execution and the fact that most people will never see or understand it, " Von Hoetzendroff said.
Senior Megan House has admired Prejean's message for years, after seeing "Dead Man Walking" in high school, and even quoted Prejean in a graduation speech.
"It was super powerful to see her speak and get to meet her," House said. "I thought that her speech was absolutely incredible."
Prejean asked many questions of the audience. For example, Prejean asked the audience to reflect deeper on the death penalty, which she said, is her highest hope for people who listen to her speak.
"What are you for: love or hate? What are you for: vengeance or compassion? What are you for: life or death?" Prejean said. "What are you for?"
