Janice R. Andrews
President Joe Biden has commuted the sentences of 37 federal death row inmates, reducing their punishments to life without parole. This decision follows calls from human rights groups concerned about the potential rise in executions during Donald Trump’s administration.
The move was praised by figures like a descendant of Martin Luther King Jr., who said, “President Biden has done what no president before him has done—he’s taking real action to address the death penalty’s racist roots and its ongoing injustice.”
According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, nearly 40% of those sentenced to death under federal law are Black, despite Black Americans making up only 12% of the adult U.S. population.
However, Trump voiced strong opposition on his Truth Social platform, stating, “Joe Biden just freed 37 of the worst killers in America. You won’t believe the crimes they committed.” He added, “Once I’m back in office, I’ll ensure the Department of Justice pursues the death penalty to protect our families from violent criminals.”
Biden’s decision marks a significant shift in U.S. justice, but it has sparked intense debate over crime, punishment, and fairness in the criminal system.
