John -- Brandon Bernard was the latest victim of state-sanctioned murder. This was a needless and preventable tragedy, and a sick reminder of the American justice system’s inherent cruelty. 

“It doesn’t have to be this way. Under the Constitution, presidents have the extraordinary power to shorten sentences and erase convictions altogether.” Representative-elect Cori Bush said in a recent op ed in Time Magazine. “It’s this same authority that Joe Biden should use when he becomes president on January 20. With the stroke of a pen, he can grant clemency to all who are on federal death row, reducing their sentences or pardoning them altogether.” 
 

We demand that President-elect Biden grant clemency to all individuals on federal death row on day one of his presidency. He must put an end to this archaic and inhumane practice at once. 

As Cori Bush states in her article, there are a number of reasons we must abolish the death penalty: 
 

• 1 out of every 25 people on death row is innocent of the crime for which they are being punished

• Black and brown people are disproportionately overrepresented on death row

• More than 170 people have been exonerated after being wrongly convicted and sentenced to death
   

For these reasons and many more, we are asking you to stand with us as we hold President-elect Biden and Congress accountable, and ask them to abolish the death penalty once and for all. 

Let’s elect a Brand New Congress that is on the right side of history and prepared to fight for the overhaul of our criminal justice system in America. 

In solidarity,

Zeynab Day
Brand New Congress