The death penalty is almost rarely enforced upon those who have been convicted, but as Donald Trump recently sped through executions as one of his final acts as president, many have now turned to president-elect Joe Biden to do something about this. Progressives and activists are now calling for Biden to put an end to the death penalty.
Activists and lawmakers among the progressive faction of the Democratic party are now urging Biden more than ever to put an end to the death penalty once he is sworn into office on January 20. For the first time in 20 years, it was with the Trump administration where the death penalty was implemented this year, with some of the executions expected to take place days before Biden is to be inaugurated. The president-elect opposes the death penalty.
“There have never been so many executions scheduled for so late in a presidency during any transition period in the entire history of the United States,” said Death Penalty Information Center head Robert Dunham. Dunham also shared that this is the first time since the late 1800s that the US has carried out multiple federal executions during a presidential transition period.
Critics believe that the executions were politically-motivated especially as it took place during an election year. Democratic Congresswoman-elect Cori Bush of Missouri also called on Biden to act to end the penalty, as did fellow Democratic Congresswoman Ayanna Presley.
“The death penalty is unjust, racist, and has no place in any society,” tweeted Presley, who also attached a link to a CNN report about several members of Congress calling to abolish executions. “President-elect @JoeBiden has the power to halt all federal executions and call for the re-sentencing of those on death row on day 1. He must use that authority.”
Meanwhile, the joint session of Congress and the Senate is set to take place next week to go over the Electoral College results. In a last-ditch effort to overturn the election results, Trump loyalist and Missouri Senator Josh Hawley has made public his plans to object to the votes that confirm Biden’s win in the swing states of Pennsylvania and Georgia.
Hawley’s announcement was both praised and criticized by fellow Republicans, some having already acknowledged Biden’s victory. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has also reportedly warned his fellow Republicans against objecting to the Electoral College votes.