President Biden’s recent commutation order for individuals on federal death row has been praised by a prominent progressive House Democrat, who condemned the death penalty as “racist.”
Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., called the decision to commute the death sentences of 37 people a historic act of compassion that will save lives, address racial disparities in the criminal justice system, and promote redemption and humanity.
“The death penalty is a racist, flawed, and inherently unjust punishment that should not exist in any society,” Pressley stated.
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Rep. Ayanna Pressley referred to the death penalty as “racist” in her positive response to President Biden’s clemency decision. (Getty Images)
Pressley emphasized that the death penalty disproportionately impacts Black and Brown communities without making America safer.
This Massachusetts representative, part of the progressive “Squad,” has been an advocate for abolishing the death penalty.
Biden’s order affects nearly all federal death row inmates, with only three offenders remaining who include Dylann Roof, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, and Robert Bowers.
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Pressure from Democrats led to Biden’s decision after he pardoned his son Hunter. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)
Several individuals, including Thomas Sanders, Jorge Avila-Torrez, and Anthony Battle, saw their sentences commuted to life imprisonment.
Democrats pushed Biden to exercise his clemency powers following his controversial pardon of Hunter Biden.
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Sen. Tom Cotton criticized Biden’s decision. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
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Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., a strong ally of Trump, condemned Biden’s order on Monday.
“Once again, Democrats prioritize criminals over victims, public order, and decency,” Cotton tweeted.
“Democrats cannot justify Biden’s appalling decision as a principled opposition to the death penalty since he did not commute the three most controversial cases. They prioritize politics over justice,” he added.
