Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley calls the reinstatement of the death penalty against Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev disappointing.
The U.S. Supreme Court last week overturned a federal appeals court order that had lifted the death sentence.
“State-sanctioned murder is not justice, and the death penalty, which kills Black and brown people disproportionately, has absolutely no place in our society,” said Pressley “Ending the federal death penalty— which is as cruel as it is ineffective in deterring crime—is a racial justice issue and must come to an end. We must finally abolish this inhumane form of punishment and put an end to Donald Trump’s unprecedented killing spree. I am grateful for the partnership of incoming Chairman Durbin and my colleagues in this effort.”
“The death penalty is deeply flawed and disproportionately imposed on Black and Brown and low-income people in America. President Trump’s resumption of the death penalty at the federal level has been a grave injustice. Shockingly, despite the fact that his presidency will end in a mere nine days, the Trump Administration plans to continue with its appalling spree of executions this week. Our bill follows the lead of 22 states, including Illinois, by finally putting an end to this failed and unjust policy. I thank Congresswoman Pressley and our colleagues who have joined us in this effort,” Senator Durbin said.
Pressley says the death penalty is a cruel and inhumane punishment that has no place in society.
The Massachusetts Democrat is the lead sponsor of legislation to prohibit the death penalty at the federal level.
(Photo by MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images)
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