For Immediate Release: December 23, 2024
Contact: media@colorofchange.org
COLOR OF CHANGE COMMENDS PRESIDENT BIDEN’S CLEMENCY ACTION, URGES CONTINUED PROGRESS TOWARD JUSTICE
NATIONAL – President Joe Biden continues to demonstrate mercy in unprecedented ways, using his clemency power to commute the sentences of 37 people who were awaiting execution on death row.
This monumental action, coupled with the 1,500 individuals granted clemency earlier this month, underscores the administration’s commitment to addressing systemic racism within the criminal justice system. Color Of Change celebrates this bold decision and calls for continued efforts to ensure that clemency and mercy remain central to America’s approach to justice.
Portia Allen-Kyle, Managing Director of Color Of Change, issued the following statement:
“President Biden’s use of his clemency power to commute the sentences of 37 individuals on death row is a powerful affirmation that not only is the death penalty never the answer, but there is another path forward for those who have made mistakes in life that isn’t punishment: forgiveness. This action reflects the values of forgiveness, accountability, and the belief that justice must prioritize humanity over retribution.”
The clemency announcement is a reminder of the power of the presidency, and Biden’s acts of mercy stands in stark contrast to the policies of the Trump administration, during which a record 13 federal executions were carried out, more than any president in the past 120 years. Under Trump’s tenure, the federal government resumed executions after a 17-year hiatus, leading to a spree of state-sanctioned deaths that disproportionately executed Black men. He has eagerly promised more executions during his next term. In contrast to these draconian policies that discount the value of a person’s life, President Biden’s move is a decisive break from this legacy, reaffirming the need for a more equitable and compassionate system of justice.
“This clemency action sends a clear message: the death penalty has no place in a justice system committed to fairness and accountability. Although this is a victory for justice, the work is far from over. We must continue to build on this momentum to ensure the permanent abolition of the federal death penalty and to create a system where clemency is not a fail-safe mechanism, and mercy is a norm that reflects our nation’s highest ideals.”
Color Of Change calls on lawmakers, advocates, and the public to support policies that dismantle the death penalty, expand clemency initiatives, and reform the criminal justice system to prioritize rehabilitation and redemption over punishment.
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ABOUT COLOR OF CHANGE:
Color Of Change is the nation’s largest online racial justice organization. We help people respond effectively to injustice in the world around us. As a national online force driven by millions of members, we move decision-makers in corporations and governments to create a more human and less hostile world for Black people in America. Visit www.colorofchange.org