Davis Vanguard - CA Capitol Rally to Urge End to ‘Racist, Cruel’ Life without Parole Sentences

Members of the Davis Vanguard staff spoke with supporters of Senate Bill 300 who attended the Support SB300 rally at the California State Capitol in Sacramento on Monday, August 26th. SB 300, which would reform felony murder special circumstances policies, passed the Assembly Appropriations committee last Thursday, bringing the legislation one step closer to law. Joanne Scheer, founder and Executive Director of Felony Murder Elimination Project was among the advocates Vanguard staff spoke with.

“One thing legislators can do right now is pass Senate Bill 300, a modest reform to the extreme injustice of LWOP. It will ensure that the death penalty and life without parole sentences cannot be imposed on those who did not cause or intend to cause a death during a crime," Scheer said.

Quotes from advocates and supporters of SB300:

"LWOP (life without parole) sentences do not make us safer. As a society, we need to divest from a culture of retribution & perpetual punishment and promote transformative justice, rehabilitation & mercy."

-Michelle Tran, Chair of Families United to End LWOP

“We cannot address mass incarceration without addressing LWOP, a sentence disproportionately handed out to young people, Black and Brown people, and survivors of domestic violence. This death sentence deprives people of their hope and basic humanity. I served 34 years before coming home. Governor Newsom could give that same second chance to the over 5,000 people serving LWOP with the stroke of his pen.”

-Chyrl Lamar, advocate with California Coalition for Women Prisoners

You can read the full article at The Davis Vanguard.