Felony Murder Elimination is asking for assistance and support to amplify a proposal from advocate Dortell Williams to run a one-week Clemency Appreciation Campaign, thanking California Governor Gavin Newsom for Clemency actions in August.
On August 29th, Newsom announced Newsom has announced 23 pardons and 10 commutations. According to the governor’s office, many of these individuals who received clemency and experienced challenging childhoods and trauma, alongside mental health symptoms. The governor’s office added that these people lacked the resources to find help early on, which may have led to different outcomes in life. Since then, these individuals have taken accountability for their actions, changed their lives, and used their experiences to serve their communities.
The governor says he weighed several factors in his review of clemency applications, including an applicant’s self-development and behavior since the crime. He also considers whether the grant will ensure public safety and the impact of the grant on the community and victims.
To send appreciation for these actions, we ask our supporters and advocates to take the following actions:
The Ask – Do this by Wednesday, September 10, 2025
- Send one thank-you email to the Governor’s Legal Affairs office: commutations@gov.ca.gov.
- Encourage your networks (staff, volunteers, family members, and loved ones inside) to do the same.
- Share why these commutations matter to you personally or professionally, and express hope that more will be considered.
Copy-and-paste email template (feel free to personalize)
To: commutations@gov.ca.gov
Subject: Thank you for recent clemency decisions
Dear Legal Affairs Team,
I’m writing to thank the Governor for the recent August commutations. These actions reflect courage, fairness, and a commitment to second chances.
From my perspective as [family member / advocate / community member / professional role], I have seen how commutations reunite families, support healing, and strengthen public safety by recognizing growth and accountability.
Thank you for this leadership. I hope you will continue to consider more petitions in the months ahead.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
[City, State]
Why this matters
- Leaders are human: appreciation encourages continued courage.
- A visible wave of thanks shows that commutations are politically safe, even post-Prop 36.
- It signals: we see you, we agree, and we have your back.
Help us amplify
- Forward this message (feel free to share the link to this blog post, or just copy/paste the whole message into a blank email) to at least 3 people.
- Ask loved ones inside to have family members send a note of thanks as well.
Thank you for taking five minutes to make a difference this week. As always, we have deep gratitude for the people who share our values in creating a fairer and more just criminal justice system, and thank you for your efforts to amplify the messages and action that allow us to continue this vital, important work.
With appreciation,
Giuli Mello, Program Manager
Felony Murder Elimination Project
