California Gov. Gavin Newsom made history this week when he suspended executions in California, an important and necessary step to address the inequities and failures in a capital punishment system that is utterly broken.As evangelicals, we are taught to examine the systems around us and to call out those that are unfair and unjust. The death penalty is exactly that. It is arbitrary, biased, and immoral.
In explaining his decision, Newsom cited his concern that there are innocent people on death row in his state. More than 160 people have been exonerated and freed from death row across the country since 1973. That figure is part of what compels us to speak out against the death penalty.
As Christians, we believe that all life is sacred. We know the justice system will never get it right 100 percent of the time, and an imperfect system just isn’t good enough when we’re dealing with life and death. The risk of executing an innocent person is one we should never be willing to take.
We know the death penalty is applied unfairly, with major racial bias. The race of the victim plays a large role in who receives a death sentence and who is allowed to serve a prison sentence. Someone who murders a white person is much more likely to get the death penalty. As people of faith, we stand on the principles of justice and racial equality. As Galen Carey, vice president for government relations for the National Association of Evangelicals, wrote in a statement after Newsom announced his decision, “Race should never be a factor in determining the severity of punishment imposed.”
In explaining his decision, Newsom cited his concern that there are innocent people on death row in his state. More than 160 people have been exonerated and freed from death row across the country since 1973. That figure is part of what compels us to speak out against the death penalty.
As Christians, we believe that all life is sacred. We know the justice system will never get it right 100 percent of the time, and an imperfect system just isn’t good enough when we’re dealing with life and death. The risk of executing an innocent person is one we should never be willing to take.
We know the death penalty is applied unfairly, with major racial bias. The race of the victim plays a large role in who receives a death sentence and who is allowed to serve a prison sentence. Someone who murders a white person is much more likely to get the death penalty. As people of faith, we stand on the principles of justice and racial equality. As Galen Carey, vice president for government relations for the National Association of Evangelicals, wrote in a statement after Newsom announced his decision, “Race should never be a factor in determining the severity of punishment imposed.”
Comments