President Joe Biden’s recent decision to commute the sentences of 37 individuals on federal death row has sparked strong praise from progressive lawmakers, particularly Rep. Ayanna Pressley, a prominent member of the “Squad.” Pressley, known for her staunch advocacy for criminal justice reform, hailed the move as a historic act of compassion that would not only save lives but also address the deep racial disparities in the U.S. criminal justice system. In a statement, she argued that the death penalty itself is inherently “racist” and “fundamentally unjust.”
“The President’s decision to commute the death sentences of 37 individuals on federal death row is a historic and groundbreaking act of compassion that will save lives, address the deep racial disparities in our criminal legal system, and send a powerful message about redemption, decency, and humanity,” said Pressley. She further added, “The death penalty is a racist, flawed, and fundamentally unjust punishment that has no place in any society.”
Pressley’s remarks reflect the growing sentiment among many progressive lawmakers and activists who have long argued that the death penalty disproportionately affects Black and Brown communities. According to data, people of color make up a disproportionate percentage of those sentenced to death in the U.S., leading many to question the fairness and morality of capital punishment.
Biden’s clemency order is seen as a significant step toward addressing these concerns. The commutation affects nearly all of the individuals currently on federal death row, leaving only three individuals with active death sentences. These include Dylann Roof, who was convicted of murdering nine Black churchgoers in Charleston, South Carolina, in 2015; Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, who was found guilty of carrying out the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing; and Robert Bowers, who killed 11 worshippers at Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life synagogue in 2018. These high-profile cases have drawn significant attention, but for the majority of those on federal death row, Biden’s decision marks a turning point.
Among the 37 individuals whose sentences were commuted to life imprisonment are Thomas Sanders, who was convicted of kidnapping and killing a 12-year-old girl; Jorge Avila-Torrez, who sexually assaulted and killed two young girls and a Naval officer; and Anthony Battle, who murdered a prison guard in Atlanta three decades ago. While these individuals committed heinous crimes, Biden’s move to spare them from execution has sparked debates about the broader implications of the death penalty.
The decision also follows mounting pressure from Democrats, who have pushed Biden to use his clemency powers more aggressively. Earlier this year, Biden granted a pardon to his son, Hunter Biden, ahead of his sentencing on federal gun charges, which led some to call for further action on criminal justice reform. Biden’s clemency order in this instance is part of a broader trend in his administration to address issues of racial inequality in the criminal justice system.
The clemency move also comes at a time when former President Donald Trump has made waves with his plans to expand the death penalty if he returns to office. Trump has proposed extending the death penalty to individuals involved in certain crimes, such as drug trafficking, child rape, and illegal immigrants who kill U.S. citizens. This stance is a sharp contrast to Biden’s, who has emphasized rehabilitation and mercy in his approach to criminal justice.
Biden’s actions represent a significant shift away from the hardline stance on the death penalty taken by the Trump administration. Under Trump, the Department of Justice resumed federal executions after a 17-year hiatus, carrying out 13 executions in a span of just six months in 2020. These executions, carried out in the final months of Trump’s presidency, were met with widespread criticism, particularly among Democrats and human rights advocates, who called them politically motivated and deeply unjust.
Biden, who had previously expressed opposition to the death penalty as a senator, has been working to dismantle the federal death penalty system. His administration has imposed a moratorium on federal executions and has taken steps to reduce the use of capital punishment in the justice system. While Biden’s actions have been lauded by many progressive groups, they have also drawn criticism from conservatives who argue that some individuals, such as those responsible for the deaths of innocent people, deserve the ultimate punishment.
This clemency order also reflects broader trends in public opinion, with growing support for the abolition of the death penalty. A 2021 Gallup poll showed that support for the death penalty in the U.S. had fallen to its lowest point in nearly 50 years, with just 54% of Americans in favor of capital punishment. As such, Biden’s decision to commute the sentences of 37 individuals on federal death row is not just a political statement—it’s a reflection of changing attitudes toward the criminal justice system and the use of the death penalty.
