A group of religious leaders, human rights activists and local politicians rallied Thursday on the steps outside San Francisco City Hall to demand that Gov. Gavin Newsom commute all death sentences in the state. “Our death penalty system is cruel, racist, unjust, and an obscene waste of public resources,” said San Francisco Public Defender Mano Raju in a speech. “It is shameful that in 2025, our state continues to sentence people to death.” Activists held up large signs and banners, including one with every name of those on California’s death row. Approximately 565 candles covered the steps of City Hall, signifying each of the 565 inmates currently in prison with death sentences. Since 1978, 13 people have been executed in California, all at San Quentin State Prison in Marin County. The last inmate to be executed in California was in 2006, according to the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
In 2019, Newsom ordered a moratorium on executions, effectively pausing them and closing San Quentin’s execution chamber. “The intentional killing of another person is wrong and as Governor, I will not oversee the execution of any individual,” Newsom said in a statement after issuing the executive order. But those against the death penalty, such as Sister Helen Prejean, want to see Newsom authorize clemency of all death sentences. “We look at California as a beacon for where we need to go as a country,” Prejean said in a speech. “I’m calling on you Gov. Newsom to do the right, moral thing.” District 9 Supervisor Jackie Fielder is sponsoring a resolution for the board of supervisors to urge Newsom to commute all death sentences. It will go to a vote at next week’s regular meeting.
…and so, we might just as well toss the Scales of Justice over the rail of the Golden Gate? Juries will no longer be needed. We may just need to invent an automated wrist slapper for the appointed Judges to use when a feral person is being officially scolded for committing (what used to be) a crime?
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I know we are all awash with Charlie Kirk stories right now, but I’d like to suggest you take a few minutes — open your minds and hearts. Watch AND Listen. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azE7nqqQMmo
I thought we voted more than once to keep the death penalty. Religious leaders and activists want to change things, I don’t think so. The voters get to decide.
Newscum will probably do it … BUT .. BUT
We should terminate everyone who is on Death Penalty. Newscum should honor the will of the people and terminate those convicted of a crime and charged with the death penalty. At approximately 100K a year to house a CRIMINAL, and we have 565 on death row now, that is 56.5 Million dollars a year.
Let’s change those numbers for a minute, 100K a year and the average CRIMINAL stays on death row for 20 years, that is 2 Million dollars times 565 criminals equals over 1.1B for the EXISTING criminals. And now some pacifist wants to give them dead beat criminals who are supposed to be facing the death penalty more time in the prison? How many more millions of dollars will we spend on thier lives? How much more harm will these CRIMINALS cause by living?
This is insane! But am I suprised that some piss ant little public defender in San Francisco wants this …. NOPE.
Newsom has NEVER followed the will of the people. Even when he was mayor of SF. We The People voted against gay marriage (right or wrong, it’s what the people decided). He opened up Gay Marriage in SF. Hundreds flocked to SF to get married. Newsom went on TV and shrugged his shoulders and said “The floodgates are open. What are they gonna do about it now?” That dirtbag should have been recalled as mayor and never allowed to serve in a public appointment again. But noooo. Now he’s going to run for President.
IF he does, kiss 2028, bye-bye . . . . .
2028 is goodbye do you think the rest of the nation wants to Californify the rest of the nation? He never had a chance to begin with!
Agree, do still wonder how long it takes him to pass a mirror ? ? ?
Why does the Left always find a way to throw in “racist?” If minorities are committing a
higher percentage of capital crimes in California, then it’s the minorities that will face the
death penalty. It has nothing to do with racism, it’s reality.
Based on my many years of observation, some people are vicious savages and have no
place in society.
The Left is always talking about how the Right is a threat to democracy. The death penalty
was voted on, therefor it is the will of the people. That is democracy. When an elected official, in this case Governor Newsom, places a moratorium on the death penalty, and when a small group of people want the governor to commute all death sentences, they are going against
the will of the people, that is the real threat to democracy.
Do the crime, Do the time.
There is no racism in that statement. Unless the Public Defender is saying he defends on race/gender/whatever differenty than another …
The democrats desperately need the black vote especially during Presidential
elections. To win the White House, they need 90+ of the black vote.
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An what better way to do it than elevating a dead black with a criminal record
to status of martyr, publicize and allow riots in democrat controlled cities, often
in areas designated for urban renewal.
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The end, justifies any means
Of courese they do but we need individuals like this to be held accountable not released or expected for society to support and deal with.
The people of California have voted numerous time to keep the death penalty in place. Just because we have a governor who disagrees doesn’t mean
anything. The punishment has to meet the crime. And some crimes deserve death.
… just when you think he’s found a pair he slips back to his slippery ways…. voters decided long ago on the death penalty – he did his own thing again ….
Why would they bother with a rally, he’s going to do it anyway.
And remember, he wants the San Quentin real estate in the worst way.
And it won’t be low income housing he puts up either.
We must build bay view condos in order to protect democracy, or some such nonsense.
How will Newsom get elected President if he commutes all those sentences?
Being soft on crime is NOT what America wants!
If Newsom is smart he will start the executions up again and push ’em thru lickity split!
Prejean and Fielder must be MAGA saboteurs trying to sabotage the Governor’s Presidential campaign….. don’t fall for it Gavin.
Let’s prove our humanity and let them all live! But they should all be in Solitary Confinement with minimal Human contact, only their lawyers and immediate family, their existince should as if they don’t exist, just like their victims.
“to demand!”
I believe in the death penalty for the worst of the worst offenders. Richard Allen Davis, Richard Ramirez, etc. In California you get life in prison and the death penalty.
If Newsom didn’t have the White House on his radar screen he’d commute all death sentences. He’s trying to appeal to the country, and I don’t think he stands a chance. Unless you’re a celebrity, CA governors don’t succeed when they run for president. Brown and Wilson come to mind.
Who gets to choose! Worse to one is not worse to another.
Worst of the worst is self-explanatory. A long criminal record.
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… the death penalty reflects the will of the people.
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It should be implemented without question or delay.
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In fact, death row should have a express lane.