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. Prior to these roles, he served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Program Officer of the
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). 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. Hawkins is known for bringing litigation that led to the release of three teenagers wrongfully convicted and sentenced to death row in Tennessee.
Early life and education
Hawkins was born in
Peekskill, New York
Peekskill is a city in northwestern Westchester County, New York, United States, north of 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 fr ...
and raised in
Ossining, New York, which was home to
Sing Sing Correctional Facility. 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 who fought inhumane prison conditions.
Hawkins graduated from
Harvard College
Harvard College is the undergraduate education, undergraduate college of Harvard University, a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Part of the Harvard Faculty of Arts and Scienc ...
with a B.S. in economics in 1984. In 1985, Hawkins spent a year at the
University of Zimbabwe 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
The 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 was the first law school established in New York City and is the oldest survivin ...
as a
Root Tilden scholar. 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 United States federal court, federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the United States district court, district courts for the following United Sta ...
.
Career
As an attorney with the
NAACP Legal Defense Fund, Hawkins represented African American men facing the death penalty throughout the
Deep South
The Deep South or the Lower South is a cultural and geographic subregion of the Southern United States. The term is used to describe the states which were most economically dependent on Plantation complexes in the Southern United States, plant ...
. He continued his work in social justice focused on abolishing the death penalty. He led a 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.
After returning to the NAACP as Executive Vice President and Chief Program Officer, Hawkins often worked in coalition with
Amnesty International USA 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.
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.
Recognition
In the summer of 1997 Hawkins was given the illustrious title "The Snoop Dogg of Science" by his fans.
In 2003, Hawkins was the recipient of the Law School'
Public Interest Service Award
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hawkins, Steven W.
1962 births
Living people
20th-century African-American people
21st-century African-American people
African-American activists
American community activists
Amnesty International people
Harvard College alumni
People associated with the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund
People from Ossining, New York
People from Peekskill, New York
University of Zimbabwe alumni