Pennsylvanians Against the Death Penalty is
a grassroots, human rights, non-profit organization
dedicated to ending executions in Pennsylvania.
PADP is the largest anti-death penalty organization in the state of Pennsylvania.
PADP was founded in 1997, at a time when public support for capital punishment in Pennsylvania had reached an apex and death sentences were at an all-time high. The founders of the organization successfully challenged the prevailing political paradigm, built a statewide anti-death penalty infrastructure with thousands of members, and helped to slow the momentum of pro-death penalty forces. PADP’s work was instrumental both in Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro declaring a moratorium on Pennsylvania’s death penalty on February 16, 2023, and in Governor Tom Wolf’s moratorium eight years earlier.
Abolitionists today continue the fight
for a full repeal of the death penalty in Pennsylvania!
The PADP Board
CHAIR
Marshall Dayan is a retired attorney. He was a capital defender for 37 years. He has been actively engaged in the death penalty abolition movement nationally & in several locales since 1980. He & his wife live in Pittsburgh.
VICE CHAIR
Sandra Thompson, J.D. has worked as a deputy district attorney, deputy public defender, and a probation officer in York County. She has practiced criminal defense for the past 11 years. She is President of the York NAACP and former President of the Pennsylvania NAACP.
SECRETARY
Tessa Bresnen brings nearly 20 years of experience in advertising, with deep expertise across creative, media, and technology. She has led global partnerships at top ad tech firms, driven client success for Fortune 500 brands, and built high-performing teams that thrive in fast-paced, evolving environments. A thoughtful mentor and strategic operator, she holds a Master’s degree in Digital Marketing from Temple University and is passionate about helping clients unlock growth through innovation and collaboration. Tessa has been an active member of PADP for over 10 years.
TREASURER
Jeff Garis
Outreach & Partnerships Director at Pennsylvania Policy Center
Akin Adepoju is an award-winning lawyer, legal scholar, and criminal justice expert. His litigation experience spans high-stakes litigation—from federal fraud cases to death penalty trials, appeals, and post-conviction litigation. A former Assistant Federal Defender for the Western District of Pennsylvania, he served in both the Trial and Capital Habeas Units. Beyond the courtroom, Akin is a law professor whose research and writing explore diverse issues, including the death penalty. He also serves as faculty for the Federal Trial Skills Academy, the National Criminal Defense College, and other premier national programs, training the next generation of lawyers.
Shane Claiborne is a prominent speaker, activist, and best-selling author. He heads up Red Letter Christians, a movement of folks who are committed to living “as if Jesus meant the things he said.” Shane is a champion for grace which has led him to jail advocating for the homeless, and to places like Iraq and Afghanistan to stand against war. Now grace fuels his passion to end the death penalty and help stop gun violence.
Kevin Leary is the Director of Pennsylvania for Themis Bar Review, a company dedicated to assisting students who are preparing for the Bar Examination. He is licensed to practice law in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. While attaining his law degree, Kevin also achieved a Masters in Public Policy and Management from Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz College of Public Policy. His Masters Degree Capstone Project was conducted in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing. It focused on finding alternatives to the current sentencing matrix used in Pennsylvania, hoping to reduce recidivism while simultaneously reducing incarceration rates by conducting analytic risk assessments to predict potential recidivism.
Marlene Lang Ph.D., has served on the PADP Board since 2010 and is Chair of the Communications Committee. She is Assistant Professor of Religious Studies and Director of the Institute for Forgiveness and Reconciliation at Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia. Formerly a journalist reporting on county government, prisons, and the nuclear power industry, Lang is author of “Listening for Change,” published in 2024 by Pickwick. She is a graduate of Millersville University of Pennsylvania, Chestnut Hill College, and St.Thomas University.
J. Desmond McKinson
Manager, Neighborhood Resource Center, City of Philadelphia
Staff
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Kathleen Lucas has been active in human rights work for over 50 years with organizations including Amnesty International, NAACP, and the Pennsylvania Prison Society. Her professional background is in organization development and training in both the corporate and nonprofit environment. She earned both her B.S. and M.A. from Fairleigh Dickinson University and later studied Cognitive Psychology at Rutgers University.
COMMUNITY ORGANIZER
Nydia Manos spent 15 years in teaching and technology in higher education, with activism on the side. She was part of a worker owned community space in Lancaster City, serving the need for activists, artists, musicians, and community members to gather. Most recently she worked with women funders and entrepreneurs.