President Joe Biden’s recent commutations on Monday for prisoners serving federal death sentences drew attention for excluding three non-Black men. Among those excluded was an open white supremacist who perpetrated a hate-filled killing spree against nine unsuspecting parishioners at a historic Black church in South Carolina.
As Dylann Roof awaits his impending execution for the tragic events at Mother Emanuel AME Church in 2015, where he aimed to incite a “race war,” he will now also have the opportunity to contemplate President Biden’s decision to commute the sentences of all Black individuals on federal death row, along with 22 others from diverse backgrounds. Among those whose sentences were commuted are 15 Black individuals, six Latinos, and one Asian, all of whom are men.
37 prisoners had their federal death sentences commuted in total.
In his statement, Biden did not specifically mention the prisoners who had been sentenced to death. However, he emphasized his strong belief that the United States should put an end to the use of the death penalty at the federal level. It is worth noting that President-elect Donald Trump had previously pledged to resume the implementation of the death penalty once he assumes office.
Roof not being chosen adds the potential for Trump, who is believed to be a white supremacist, to have his administration carry out the execution of a self-proclaimed white supremacist.
In 2021, the Department of Justice under President Biden implemented a moratorium on federal death sentences.
On Monday, he made it clear that the commutations should not be misconstrued as an endorsement of the crimes, as the convictions still remain. The key distinction lies in the fact that the prisoners will no longer face execution.
“I strongly condemn these murderers, and my heart goes out to the victims of their despicable acts. I feel deep sorrow for all the families who have endured unimaginable and irreparable loss,” expressed Mr. Biden.
Two death row prisoners, whose sentences were not commuted, are Robert D. Bowers and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. Robert D. Bowers was the gunman responsible for a deadly mass shooting at a synagogue in Pittsburgh in 2018. Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was one of the Boston Marathon bombers, who placed deadly explosives at the race’s finish line in 2013.
Biden’s commutations were celebrated by civil rights groups.
“For over fifty years the NAACP has fought for the abolishment of the death penalty. We know that Black Americans are disproportionately targeted and often wrongfully convicted to inhumane execution by the very government tasked with upholding their life and liberty,” NAACP President & CEO Derrick Johnson said in a statement sent to NewsOne. “We’re proud to see the Biden-Harris administration make history by sparing the lives of these individuals and setting an important precedent in the face of rising extremist and anti-humanitarian rhetoric and policy.”
According to Janai Nelson, President and Director-Counsel of the Legal Defense Fund, the commutations represent a significant milestone in addressing the racialized and systemic violence associated with the death penalty. She also highlights the ineffectiveness of capital punishment as a form of punishment.
Johnson and Nelson both emphasized the importance of President Biden extending similar commutations at the state level.
“The ‘War on Drugs’ has had a deeply racist impact, affecting the lives of over 7,000 Americans. Despite this, there is still hope as the president retains the authority to commute their sentences,” Johnson emphasized.
According to Nelson, the thousands of prisoners currently facing execution by the state are held under sentences they would not receive under today’s laws. Additionally, there are many others who are serving unjust sentences due to unfair laws and practices.
The call for presidential commutations intensified following Biden’s recent pardon of his son Hunter’s federal conviction. Hunter was pardoned for his failure to pay federal income tax and his illegal possession of a weapon.
Several letters were sent to Biden by civil rights groups, activists, and advocates, urging him to grant broad commutations for death sentences. Among these letters was one signed by Rev. Sharon Risher, the daughter of Ethel Lance who was a victim of Roof’s racist mass shooting in Charleston, South Carolina. This particular letter was endorsed by over 430 human rights groups.
Since Richard Nixon occupied the White House, no other first-term president has granted more commutations than Biden.
The appeal of Roof’s conviction was declined by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2021. However, there are still avenues for him to continue the appeal process, creating uncertainty surrounding the timing of his execution.