Murder Victims' Families for Reconciliation Hires Executive Director

Murder Victims’ Families for Reconciliation Hires Executive Director

Murder Victims' Families for Reconciliation
Press Release

CONTACT:
Linda White, MVFR Board Chair
281-356-1359
llwhite2@swbell.net
www.mvfr.org

February 28, 2005 - Murder Victims’ Families for Reconciliation (MVFR), a national organization of family members of both homicide and state killings who oppose the death penalty, has hired Robert Deans as the new executive director, effective March 1.

Robert Deans, the son of MVFR founder Marie Deans, started working against the death penalty in 1986 with the Virginia Coalition on Jails and Prisons and most recently has worked as the information specialist with the Death Penalty Information Center in Washington, D.C.

“Murder Victims’ Families for Reconciliation was created from the tragedy of my grandmother’s murder in the hope that in the future there would be a far more peaceful world. I look forward to bringing renewed energy and vision to MVFR so that one day my children will ask me, “what was the death penalty?” Deans stated.

For nearly 30 years Murder Victims’ Families for Reconciliation has provided a critical resource to the overall anti-death penalty movement. The mission of MVFR includes working to:

• Organize murder victims’ families to become an effective voice opposing the death penalty.
• Educate the victims’ community and the larger public about the issues surrounding the death penalty.
• Activate communities to work for abolition of the death penalty.

“We feel fortunate to have someone with Robert’s experience, passion and vision to lead MVFR at this time,” said Linda White, chair of MVFR’s board of directors. “Deans’ leadership will be critical in lifting up victims’ voices furthering MVFR’s mission to abolish the death penalty.