Creatives On The Row
Friday, October 10, 2025, 1830 - 2130
"Creatives on the Row" uplifts the creativity of men on death row, showcasing how art and writing become powerful tools of resilience and humanity. This year's World Day Against the Death Penalty commemoration will honor the lives, creativity, and legacies of the featured creatives whose works embody strength, beauty, and dignity even in the face of injustice. Join us in celebrating their artistry while standing in solidarity with the global movement to end state-sanctioned death. Henderson Hill, an attorney who has been litigating against the death penalty for over 30 years, will be giving the keynote address.
About the Creatives:
Billie Allen is a gifted visual artist whose work has been featured nationally. Raised in Ferguson, he was convicted over 27 years ago and sentenced to federal death row for a crime he maintains his innocence in, and for which evidence has shown him to be innocent. In 2024, President Biden commuted the death sentences of 37 of the 40 men on federal death row to life imprisonment. Bill and his supporters continue to fight for his exoneration and freedom; the proceeds from the sales of his art will benefit his campaign, as well as support his elderly mother, whose home was devastated in the tornado that tore through St. Louis on May 16, 2025.
Kevin Johnson grew up in Meacham Park, a poor Black community situated among the wealthy suburbs of Kirkwood, Webster Groves, and Sunset Hills. Kevin's early life was marked by trauma, neglect, and suffering. At the age of 19, after witnessing the apathy of police towards his 12-year-old brother – indifference that Kevin felt directly contributed to his brother’s death – Kevin took the life of a police officer. This act, borne of grief and trauma, left the entire community devastated. During his 17 years on Missouri’s death row, Kevin wrote three books and used his writings to help heal himself and his community. Kevin also spent that time working to be a better person and father to his young daughter, and consistently expressed his remorse. The proceeds from Kevin Johnson’s Trilogy will benefit his daughter and grandson, who was born two months before the state of Missouri executed Kevin on November 29th, 2022.
Marcellus “Khaliifah” Williams was convicted and sentenced to death in 2001 for a crime that not only he maintained his innocence in, but more than twenty years later, the current prosecuting attorney of St. Louis County also found Khaliifah to be innocent after a thorough reinvestigation. Despite this and the victim’s family expressing not wanting Khaliifah to be executed, the state of Missouri executed an innocent person on September 24th, 2024. During his time on death row, Khaliifah deepened his Islamic faith and became an Imam, mentor, and teacher among his incarcerated community. He also penned dozens of meaningful poems that touched so many people worldwide. Khaliifah left behind a loving family, and the proceeds from his poetry collection will benefit his young grandson.
October 10, 2025, is the observance of the 23rd World Day Against the Death Penalty, a global call for the abolition of capital punishment. This day mobilizes civil society, political leaders, and communities to advocate for ending the death penalty everywhere. It highlights the harsh realities faced by people on death row while exposing the broader human rights violations tied to state executions. By raising awareness and building solidarity, the day strengthens the global movement for justice rooted in dignity, compassion, and the universal rejection of capital punishment.
This event is part of the #NoMoDeathRow campaign, created by the Missouri Justice Coalition (www.MoJustice.org), a grassroots organization founded and led by a formerly incarcerated organizer and advocate. The campaign uplifts the voices of those most impacted by Missouri's capital punishment system, advocating for people facing execution, supporting co-victims, and educating communities about the injustice, inhumanity, and arbitrariness of the death penalty.
Category: Community | Fundraisers
Prices:
General Admission: USD 25.00,
General Admission with Book Sets: USD 65.00
About the Creatives:
Billie Allen is a gifted visual artist whose work has been featured nationally. Raised in Ferguson, he was convicted over 27 years ago and sentenced to federal death row for a crime he maintains his innocence in, and for which evidence has shown him to be innocent. In 2024, President Biden commuted the death sentences of 37 of the 40 men on federal death row to life imprisonment. Bill and his supporters continue to fight for his exoneration and freedom; the proceeds from the sales of his art will benefit his campaign, as well as support his elderly mother, whose home was devastated in the tornado that tore through St. Louis on May 16, 2025.
Kevin Johnson grew up in Meacham Park, a poor Black community situated among the wealthy suburbs of Kirkwood, Webster Groves, and Sunset Hills. Kevin's early life was marked by trauma, neglect, and suffering. At the age of 19, after witnessing the apathy of police towards his 12-year-old brother – indifference that Kevin felt directly contributed to his brother’s death – Kevin took the life of a police officer. This act, borne of grief and trauma, left the entire community devastated. During his 17 years on Missouri’s death row, Kevin wrote three books and used his writings to help heal himself and his community. Kevin also spent that time working to be a better person and father to his young daughter, and consistently expressed his remorse. The proceeds from Kevin Johnson’s Trilogy will benefit his daughter and grandson, who was born two months before the state of Missouri executed Kevin on November 29th, 2022.
Marcellus “Khaliifah” Williams was convicted and sentenced to death in 2001 for a crime that not only he maintained his innocence in, but more than twenty years later, the current prosecuting attorney of St. Louis County also found Khaliifah to be innocent after a thorough reinvestigation. Despite this and the victim’s family expressing not wanting Khaliifah to be executed, the state of Missouri executed an innocent person on September 24th, 2024. During his time on death row, Khaliifah deepened his Islamic faith and became an Imam, mentor, and teacher among his incarcerated community. He also penned dozens of meaningful poems that touched so many people worldwide. Khaliifah left behind a loving family, and the proceeds from his poetry collection will benefit his young grandson.
October 10, 2025, is the observance of the 23rd World Day Against the Death Penalty, a global call for the abolition of capital punishment. This day mobilizes civil society, political leaders, and communities to advocate for ending the death penalty everywhere. It highlights the harsh realities faced by people on death row while exposing the broader human rights violations tied to state executions. By raising awareness and building solidarity, the day strengthens the global movement for justice rooted in dignity, compassion, and the universal rejection of capital punishment.
This event is part of the #NoMoDeathRow campaign, created by the Missouri Justice Coalition (www.MoJustice.org), a grassroots organization founded and led by a formerly incarcerated organizer and advocate. The campaign uplifts the voices of those most impacted by Missouri's capital punishment system, advocating for people facing execution, supporting co-victims, and educating communities about the injustice, inhumanity, and arbitrariness of the death penalty.
Category: Community | Fundraisers
Prices:
General Admission: USD 25.00,
General Admission with Book Sets: USD 65.00
Starting Price Per Person
$ 25.00 USD
Other Information
Where
Blanche M Touhill Performing Arts Center
1 Touhill Circle
St Louis Missouri 63121
United States
( Theatre - Cinema Hall )
1 Touhill Circle
St Louis Missouri 63121
United States
( Theatre - Cinema Hall )
Event Organizer Contact
More Events
Event ID: 257398
Get Events in Your Inbox
We have over 100,000 Events in 80+ Categories. Tell us what type of events you like, and we will send them to your inbox