Racist Roots – The Origins of NC’s Death Penalty

Kristin Collins and Tyler Swanson of the Center for Death Penalty Litigation will be coordinating a facilitated viewing of the film “Racist Roots.”  “The documentary” is a powerful 25-minute film which reveals the North Carolina death penalty’s deep entanglement with slavery, lynching, and racism — and inspires people to join the movement to transform the criminal legal system. It includes the stories and voices of advocates, artists, exonorees, and people on North Carolina’s death row.   Tyler Swanson of the Center for Death Penalty Litigation will introduce the 25 minute video, and then lead the discussion afterwards.

Kristin Collins, Director of Public Information: Kristin joined CDPL as a writer and researcher in 2012. She previously served as executive director of Uniting NC, a non-profit that works to create a welcoming climate for immigrants. Before beginning her career in non-profits, Kristin worked as a newspaper reporter for 13 years, 11 of them with The News & Observer in Raleigh. Her first journalism job was at a small newspaper in eastern North Carolina, where she covered crime and courts, including death penalty trials.

Tyler Swanson, Campaign Strategist: Tyler joined CDPL in 2021 as a campaign strategist working to engage communities across North Carolina in the movement to end the death penalty. Before coming to CDPL, Tyler was a special education teacher for three years with Wake County Public Schools. While a student at North Carolina A&T State University, Tyler began working with the N.C. NAACP and was a part of the Forward Together Moral Movement and a Moral Monday arrestee. He was later hired by the NAACP and served as Youth Director and Communication and Policy Director for North Carolina. Tyler earned his B.A. in Political Science from North Carolina A&T State University.

This meeting is a Zoom “hybrid” meeting.  We will meet at our regular venue, Extraordinary Ventures, where the program will take place.  We will also Zoom the program.    If you wish to attend via Zoom, please email info@ehstnc.org with your first and last name to be registered as an attendee for this program.