South Carolina has chosen to respond to violence with more violence, using state-sponsored execution to send a message that killing is wrong. While vigils, protests, letters, and advocacy remain valuable tools on the road to abolishing the death penalty, the reality is that Death Warrants in SC are nearly always carried out regardless of the advocacy.
Instead of solely mourning the victim(s) of the crime and the death-sentenced prisoner via vigil, SCADP is reclaiming the narrative that all violence is wrong, and only one side - the people - is working to address the very systemic failures that led to the loss of multiple lives.
In memorials, the phrase “In Lieu of Flowers” encourages donations to a cause that honors the deceased. The “In Lieu of Violence” Initiative applies this concept to individuals on South Carolina’s Death Row—transforming mourning and vigil into meaningful change—offering a vision where justice is rooted in prevention rather than retribution.
The Initiative recenters humanity, mutual aid, and restorative justice. These interventions are guided by the death row defendant's own insights into the unmet needs they had that if addressed earlier, might have changed their path and prevented further loss of life.
When Brad Sigmon was asked about helpful interventions he could have used before his incarceration, he responded by saying, "I needed education on how to be a good man." After prayerful reflection, SCADP has decided to partner with New Creations, a re-entry program in Upstate South Carolina, to fundraise for 12 beds and bedside tables. These pieces of furniture will provide hospitality to men who are returning from prison and need a safe place to stay while they get back on their feet. They are getting a second chance to be "better men," and Brad Sigmon wants us to help them with this endeavor in his name. All money fundraised on this page will go towards the purchase of furniture for New Creations, and any extra money will go towards the greatest need for the re-entry ministry itself.
This initiative serves to honor both the condemned and the victims of the crime by marrying a symbolic acknowledgment of systemic failure with a tangible investment in prevention. We know our actions will not immediately lead to the systemic change necessary to address inequalities like poverty and racial discrimination. Nevertheless, they point to a hope-filled future where the death penalty does not exist, and our systems do more to prevent and interrupt violence instead of perpetuating it.
