'We should not be okay with the risk that an innocent person could be executed,' tweets the 'Keeping Up with the Kardashians' star as she voices her support to the Californian governor.
- Mar 14, 2019
AceShowbiz - Kim Kardashian has pledged her support to Californian governor Gavin Newsom and his campaign to get rid of the death penalty.
The mother-of-three has made a name for herself in recent months for taking on various legal cases, and was responsible for helping to secure the release of Alice Marie Johnson, a 63-year-old grandmother who had been wrongfully sentenced to life imprisonment.
And it seems Kim's experiences have led to her re-evaluating the way she looks at the punishments dished out to criminals.
"For the last year, I have immersed myself in learning about the criminal justice system. I visited prisons, met with formerly incarcerated people, and helped with cases of individual injustice – including two death penalty cases," Kim tweeted.
For the last year, I have immersed myself in learning about the criminal justice system. I visited prisons, met with formerly incarcerated people, and helped with cases of individual injustice - including two death penalty cases.
— Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) March 13, 2019
"I have met with and am very supportive of Governor Newsom and his decision to help bring an end to the California Death Penalty. Racial bias and unfairness run deep throughout the justice system but especially when it comes to the death penalty. And we should not be okay with the risk that an innocent person could be executed. I hope we can turn toward better solutions that focus more on healing victims of trauma and prioritising fairness and justice."
I have met with and am very supportive of Governor Newsom and his decision to help bring an end to the California Death Penalty. Racial bias and unfairness run deep throughout the justice system but especially when it comes to the death penalty.
— Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) March 13, 2019
And we should not be okay with the risk that an innocent person could be executed. I hope we can turn toward better solutions that focus more on healing victims of trauma and prioritizing fairness and justice.
— Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) March 13, 2019
On Wednesday, March 13, Governor Newsom will sign an executive moratorium on California's death penalty, which will suspend any further executions in the state for as long as he's governor.
Explaining his decision for the moratorium, Newsom said in a written statement: "Our death penalty system has been — by any measure — a failure. It has provided no public safety benefit or value as a deterrent. It has wasted billions of taxpayer dollars. But most of all, the death penalty is absolute, irreversible and irreparable in the event of a human error."
Newsom's action is just a temporary reprieve for the 737 people currently on death row, however, as the death penalty can only be officially repealed by Californian voters. Just three years ago, there was a vote on the matter, with voters choosing to keep the death penalty in place.
