Statement by Shari Silberstein, Executive Director of Equal Justice USA:
“Nebraska’s vote marks the end of the death penalty in the United States. Americans have been moving away from executions for more than ten years, but now we have a red state turning that trend into law for the first time in 40 years. Nebraska has shown the nation what happens when you put aside partisan politics and embrace simple common sense. The death penalty was already on its last legs, but it’s hard to imagine that it has any staying power left after this.”
Statement by Marc Hyden, National Coordinator of Conservatives Concerned About the Death Penalty:
“I’m not surprised that conservatives led the death penalty repeal effort in Nebraska. I think this will become more common. When I speak to conservatives across the nation, they’re eager to share their concerns about the death penalty. Conservatives have sponsored repeal bills in Kansas, Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota, Missouri, and Kentucky in recent years. National conservative leaders are also speaking up because the death penalty violates the core conservative principles of fiscal responsibility, limited government, and valuing life.”
Equal Justice USA is a national, nonpartisan criminal justice reform organization that has been building left-right coalitions on the death penalty for 10 years. They provide tools and resources to strengthen local and grassroots organizations around the country, including in Nebraska for the last seven years. Conservatives Concerned About the Death Penalty is a project of EJUSA.
