The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) has applauded President Biden for commuting the federal death sentences of 37 inmates, even as some Democrats have condemned the president’s actions.
The CBC has advocated against the use of capital punishment at the federal level, in part because of the racial disparities in its employment, Rep. Steven Horsford (D-Nev.), outgoing chair of the caucus, and incoming Chair Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.) said in a statement on Monday.
“The death penalty in America is a fundamentally flawed and error prone tool that has historically been disproportionately used against Black people and other people of color,” the group said.
With his actions, the CBC continued, Biden showed “a commitment to addressing systemic racism within the criminal justice system” and is helping set “a moral example for our nation.”
Members within the CBC had been pressing Biden to pardon numerous individuals over the last few weeks, particularly after his decision to pardon his son, Hunter Biden.
Despite President Biden granting clemency to some 1,500 individuals earlier this month, some, like Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), had urged Biden to commute the death sentence for the men who were on federal death row.