In yet another reminder of why we knocked on doors and gave until it hurt last year, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley detonated the legislative equivalent of a quarter-stick of dynamite just before the House went home for the August recess. Within hours of Bill Barr ordering the resumption of federal executions, Pressley filed a bill to abolish the death penalty.
We knew that Pressley—the “quietest” member of The Squad—was going to make a move when she blasted Barr’s decision as racially motivated.
Lest this be dismissed as hyperbole, there have been voluminous studies proving that people of color get executed while whites get life for the same crimes. While this is but one of many reasons why the death penalty’s abolition is long overdue, calling this bill one whopper of a response is an understatement.
This bill has already attracted 12 cosponsors, which include some of the usual suspects—the other members of the Squad, plus Elijah Cummings, Lacy Clay, Karen Bass, Joe Kennedy, Barbara Lee, Jim McGovern, Karen Bass, Bonnie Watson Coleman, and Eleanor Holmes Norton.
The one non-Democrat who’s a cosponsor, Justin Amash, announced his support loudly.
This bill should pass easily in the House. One has to wonder where it will go in the Senate, though. On paper, if the moderate Republicans defect and join the Democrats, this should pass—and put Trump on the spot.
Simply put, this bill is long overdue. Pester your congress(wo)men and Senators during the break on this.