I'm heartbroken and fatigued, but I know we cannot stop raising our voices and organizing for justice.
John,
Today, I find myself mourning yet another Black man's death at the hands of our government. Yesterday, Brandon Bernard was executed by the United States Justice Department for a crime he committed as an 18-year-old. His execution was horrific, and it will leave a stain on the moral fabric of our country.
I'm fatigued and heartbroken, John. But I know we cannot stop raising our voices and organizing for justice — and we absolutely cannot allow the cruel, inhumane, and racist practice of the death penalty to continue.
Please join me, Ayanna Pressley, AOC, Ilhan Omar, Ro Khanna, and others in speaking up about this right now. Will you send a letter to your U.S. Representative and urge them to co-sponsor House Resolution 4052, which will end the death penalty at the federal level? It's easy to send, and will only take a minute of your time:
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Brandon Bernard was the second federal inmate to be executed since Election Day, and one of six scheduled for execution by the Trump administration during its lame-duck period — the first during a presidential lame-duck period in 130 years. Four of the five remaining executions will be Black men.
The death penalty is state-sanctioned murder. It's a cruel and unjust practice that has no place in our society — and we must abolish it. Urge your U.S. Representative to co-sponsor House Resolution 4052, which will end the death penalty at the federal level.
Brandon Bernard's life mattered. Today, I'm thinking of his life and his family — and the path forward towards justice. May he rest in peace.
Peace and love,
Jamaal Bowman
