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Filmmaker Scott Budnick; New Hampshire Representative Robert Reynolds ‘Renny’ Cushing to be Honored by the Southern Center for Human Rights

On Thursday, November 7th, the Southern Center for Human Rights will host its 23rd Annual Frederick Douglass Awards Dinner in Washington, DC.

SCHR will honor Scott Budnick, film producer and founder of the Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC), a non-profit organization that provides a support network for the formerly incarcerated, with its Human Rights Award. Mr. Budnick is currently serving as President and CEO of his newly-formed company, One Community, LLC. This venture uniquely merges Mr. Budnick’s background in storytelling and impact, as a film and TV production company that plans to leverage the movies and shows it makes to effect positive social change. Mr. Budnick is the producer of Just Mercy; the forthcoming film about Bryan Stevenson, New York Times best-selling author and Executive Director of the Equal Justice Initiative.

SCHR will honor Representative Renny Cushing, a multi-term member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives and the founder and Executive Director of Murder Victims’ Families for Human Rights (MVFHR), with its Equal Justice Award. Representative Cushing’s father’s murder in 1988 has shaped his work as an advocate for crime victims and as an opponent of capital punishment. As a victim-abolitionist Representative Cushing has been a pioneer in the effort to bridge death penalty abolition groups and the victims’ rights movement. He travels throughout the U.S. and the world speaking with and on behalf of victims who oppose capital punishment and was an integral part of the successful movement to end the death penalty in New Hampshire.

As recipients oftheFrederick Douglass Awards, Mr. Budnick and Representative Cushingjoin a prestigious group of organizations and individuals whom SCHR has previously honored for their leadership in the fight for human rights and equal justice in the criminal justice system. Past honorees include Senator Cory Booker, Bryan Stevenson, Congressman John Lewis and Reverend Joseph Lowery.

“SCHR’s fierce advocacy for human rights and a criminal justice system that works for everyone is inspiring,” said Representative Cushing. “It is humbling to be recognized for my work to end the death penalty by such an amazing group whose members are on the front lines fighting every day to thwart efforts of the government to kill prisoners.” 

“As someone born and raised in Atlanta, it is inspiring to be honored amongst these incredible individuals, and to celebrate an organization holding systems accountable and fighting for justice and the humanity of people imprisoned in the South,” said Mr. Budnick. “Our work in the prisons of California was birthed and inspired by the Southern Center’s relentless advocacy and passion for those that are underserved and marginalized.”

Since 1976, the Southern Center for Human Rights has been working for equality, justice, and dignity for people impacted by the criminal legal system in the Deep South. SCHR fights for a world free from mass incarceration, the death penalty, the criminalization of poverty, and racial injustice.

SCHR has won five death penalty cases before the United States Supreme Court, represented thousands of people in class action lawsuits challenging unconstitutional and inhumane criminal justice practices, and worked towards ending the criminalization of poverty.

The Frederick Douglass Awards Dinner is SCHR’s principal annual fundraising event. SCHR is grateful to presenting sponsor Morrison & Foerster LLP, Kilpatrick Townsend, and The Zitrin Foundation. The dinner will be held at Conrad Washington DC Hotel, 950 New York Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20001. A cocktail reception begins at 6:00 pm, with dinner and remarks commencing at 7:00 pm.

Members of the press are encouraged to attend this event. Please RSVP no later than November 6th by contacting Terrica Ganzy, at 404-688-1202 or [email protected].