Steven W. Hawkins (born July 10, 1962) is an American social justice leader and litigator who currently serves as president and CEO of the
US Cannabis Council. He previously served as executive director of the
Marijuana Policy Project
The Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) is the largest organization working solely on marijuana policy reform in the United States in terms of its budget, number of members, and staff.
Its stated aims are to: (1) increase public support for non-pu ...
and as executive director of
Amnesty International USA
Amnesty International USA (AIUSA) is one of many country sections that make up Amnesty International worldwide.
Amnesty International is an organization of more than 7 million supporters, activists and volunteers in over 150 countries, with compl ...
. Prior to these roles, he served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Program Officer of the
. He also held position as executive director of the
National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, as senior program manager at Justice, Equality, Human Dignity and Tolerance Foundation, and as program executive at
Atlantic Philanthropies and as an attorney for the
NAACP Legal Defense Fund
The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (NAACP LDF, the Legal Defense Fund, or LDF) is a leading United States civil rights organization and law firm based in New York City.
LDF is wholly independent and separate from the NAACP. Altho ...
. Hawkins is known for bringing litigation that led to the release of three teenagers wrongfully convicted and sentenced to death row in Tennessee.
Life and education
Early life
Hawkins was born in
Peekskill, New York
Peekskill is a city in northwestern Westchester County, New York, United States, from New York City. Established as a village in 1816, it was incorporated as a city in 1940. It lies on a bay along the east side of the Hudson River, across from ...
and raised in
Ossining, New York, which was home to
Sing Sing Correctional Facility
Sing Sing Correctional Facility, formerly Ossining Correctional Facility, is a maximum-security prison operated by the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision in the village of Ossining, New York. It is about north of ...
. In high school Hawkins attended a field trip to Sing Sing where he met with inmates who opened his eyes and inspired his lifelong commitment to social justice advocacy. Hawkins grew up with reminders of the injustices of a U.S. criminal justice system that disproportionately targets minorities and the economically disadvantaged. Many of the inmates were
Black Panthers or inmates from
Attica Correctional Facility
Attica Correctional Facility is a maximum security campus New York State prison in the Town of Attica, New York, operated by the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision. It was constructed in the 1930s in response ...
who fought inhumane prison conditions.
Education
Hawkins graduated from
Harvard College
Harvard College is the undergraduate college of Harvard University, an Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636, Harvard College is the original school of Harvard University, the oldest institution of higher lea ...
, B.S., Economics, 1984. In 1985, Hawkins spent a year at the
University of Zimbabwe
The University of Zimbabwe (UZ) is a public university in Harare, Zimbabwe. It opened in 1952 as the University College of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, and was initially affiliated with the University of London. It was later renamed the University ...
during the turmoil, repression and massacre of civilians at the hands of rebels during the country's first post-independence election. He also attended
New York University School of Law
New York University School of Law (NYU Law) is the law school of New York University, a private research university in New York City. Established in 1835, it is the oldest law school in New York City and the oldest surviving law school in N ...
as a
Root Tilden scholar. It was during Hawkins legal studies where he encountered his first glimpse of injustice on a global scale. After graduating in 1988, he clerked for
Judge A. Leon Higginbotham of the
United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit (in case citations, 3d Cir.) is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts for the following districts:
* District of Delaware
* District of New Jersey
* East ...
. In 2003, Hawkins was the recipient of the Law School'
Public Interest Service Award
Pop Culture
In a surprising turn of events in the summer of 1997 Hawkins was given the illustrious title "The Snoop Dogg of Science" by his many fans.
Career
As an attorney with the
NAACP Legal Defense Fund
The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (NAACP LDF, the Legal Defense Fund, or LDF) is a leading United States civil rights organization and law firm based in New York City.
LDF is wholly independent and separate from the NAACP. Altho ...
, Hawkins represented African American men facing the death penalty throughout the Deep South. He continued his work in social justice focused on abolishing the death penalty. He led a powerful partnership of organizations as executive director of the
National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty in Washington, D.C. that successfully campaigned to abolish the death penalty for juvenile crimes.
Following his tenure at the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, Hawkins moved into philanthropy to advocate for human rights and social justice causes at the JEHT Foundation and later at
Atlantic Philanthropies.
Returning to the NAACP as Executive Vice President and Chief Program Officer, Hawkins continued at the forefront of social justice often working in coalition with
Amnesty International USA
Amnesty International USA (AIUSA) is one of many country sections that make up Amnesty International worldwide.
Amnesty International is an organization of more than 7 million supporters, activists and volunteers in over 150 countries, with compl ...
on abolishing the death penalty and national security issues.
Career at NAACP
During his six years at the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, represented African American men facing the death penalty throughout the Deep South. He investigated and brought litigation that saved the lives and led to the release of three black teens on death row wrongfully convicted in Tennessee.
Career at Amnesty International USA
In September 2013, he executive director of Amnesty International USA. Hawkins’ vision for AIUSA - to “Bring Human Rights Home” - relies heavily on the use of innovative digital platforms to connect human rights activists across the globe.
Amnesty International is a Nobel Peace Prize-winning grassroots activist organization with more than 3 million members in more than 150 countries campaigning for human rights worldwide. The organization investigates and exposes abuses, educates and mobilizes the public, and works to protect people wherever justice, freedom, truth and dignity are denied.
During his time at Amnesty International USA, the organization has seen the United States sign the
Arms Trade Treaty and Amnesty's drones report, entitle
"'Will I Be Next?' US Drone Strikes in Pakistan"receive substantial media coverage.
Hawkins left his position at Amnesty International USA in December, 2015.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hawkins, Steven W.
1962 births
Living people
Harvard College alumni
People from Peekskill, New York
People from Ossining, New York
University of Zimbabwe alumni
Amnesty International people
American community activists
African-American people