Sen. María Elena Durazo’s Statement on Gov. Newsom’s Decision to Suspend the Death Penalty

SACRAMENTO – California Senator María Elena Durazo (D-Los Ángeles) issued the following statement in response to Governor Gavin Newsom’s announcement to impose an indefinite moratorium on carrying out the death penalty:

“I am proud of Governor Newsom for suspending a system that is discriminatory and unjust.

“The death penalty is unfair and unequally applied based on race and mental disability. More than six in 10 people on California’s death row are people of color. At least 18 of the 25 people executed in the U.S. in 2018 had one or more of the following impairments: significant evidence of mental illness; evidence of brain injury, developmental brain damage, or an IQ in the intellectually disabled range; chronic serious childhood trauma, neglect, and/or abuse.

“I commend Governor Newsom’s personal courage. We should all demonstrate courage as we work to improve California’s criminal justice system.”

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