This week, the Death Penalty Information Center released its annual report on the death penalty. The report highlights that although support for the death penalty reached historic lows in 2025, executions increased this year, with Florida accounting for 40% of all executions nationwide.
Felony Murder Elimination Project asks our supporters to join the California Universal Clemency Campaign in calling on Governor Gavin Newsom to continue distinguishing himself from politicians like Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who are out of step with voters. Today, join us in calling on Governor Newsom to Commute the Row!
The death penalty in the United States is a flawed, expensive policy, defined by bias and error. It targets the most vulnerable people in our society and corrupts the integrity of our criminal justice system. From police officers to family members of murder victims, Americans are recognizing that the death penalty does not make us safer.
Since 1973, 1,630 people have been executed in the U.S. yet 200 people have been exonerated and released from death row. This means for every 8 people executed, one person is exonerated.
The same factors drive wrongful convictions in non-capital cases and death penalty cases, including:
- erroneous eyewitness identifications
- false and coerced confessions
- inadequate legal defense
- false or misleading forensic evidence
- false accusations or perjury by witnesses who are promised lenient treatment or other incentives in exchange for their testimony.
The presence of these factors is far from the definition of a fair criminal justice system.
Our country is at a tipping point, and people are looking to California for moral leadership. As Governor Newsom enters his final year as governor, we hope he continues exhibiting moral clarity and leadership by commuting all death sentences in California. Faith leaders, advocates, and exonerees are linking arms and calling on Governor Newsom to continue to exercise strong moral authority and grant clemency in all California death-sentenced cases. We urge him to protect the vulnerable and stand for human rights and human dignity.
You can use the social media toolkit from the California Universal Clemency Campaign to signal your support to Governor Newsom to Commute the Row, as well as like and repost related social media sentiment. This toolkit includes sample social media posts and graphics with relevant hashtags —>>> Social Media Toolkit Universal Clemency
You can also read the annual report from the Death Penalty Information Center —>>> The Death Penalty in 2025.
