Statement by Shari Silberstein, Executive Director of Equal Justice USA:
“Governor Newsom has written a new chapter in the history of justice reform. This is a sweeping move that reflects just how deeply the death penalty has failed. My hope is this will also lead Americans to reconsider our nation’s approach to violence overall. Our overly punitive approach has devastated communities of color, deepened racial disparities, and traumatized millions of families. The death penalty is not the exception, but the epitome, of this misguided approach. We have all the tools we need to address trauma and violence. This moment offers an opportunity to focus resources on healing trauma, building safe neighborhoods, and transforming what true justice looks like in this country.”
Statement by Hannah Cox, National Manager of Conservatives Concerned About the Death Penalty:
“As conservatives, we applaud Governor Newsom’s decision because the death penalty violates our beliefs in limited government, fiscal responsibility, and the value of life. It is rife with errors and racial bias. The number of men and women on death row who suffer from severe mental illness or impairment is shocking. Capital punishment is a failure and big government at its worst, wasting millions of dollars that could be used to solve cold cases and to make communities safer.”
