Just a day after it was announced that Kim Kardashian’s criminal justice reform efforts were realized through her financial aid to a former inmate, the reality star has detailed where she stands on the death penalty debate.
On Wednesday, Kardashian took to Instagram to applaud California Governor Gavin Newsom’s executive order that places a moratorium on capital punishment in the state. “For the last year, I have immersed myself in learning about the criminal justice system,” she explained. “I visited prisons, met with formerly incarcerated people, and helped with cases of individual injustice—including two death penalty cases. I have met with and am very supportive of Governor Newsom and his decision to help bring an end to the California Death Penalty.”
In addition to aligning herself with Newsom, Kardashian acknowledged the systemic racism that has historically plagued our government institutions. “Racial bias and unfairness run deep throughout the justice system but especially when it comes to the death penalty,” Kim wrote. “And we should not be okay with the risk that an innocent person could be executed. I hope can turn toward better solutions that focus more on healing victims of trauma and prioritizing fairness and justice.”
Governor Brown, please add Kevin Cooper to your legacy of smart, fair and thoughtful criminal justice reforms. https://t.co/OzhZIWdxWL
— Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) October 7, 2018
This certainly isn’t the first time Kardashian has signaled her dedication to the criminal justice cause. Last year the 38-year-old met with the President numerous times to secure a pardon for a 62-year-old first-time offender serving a life sentence, and to advocate for fairer sentencing laws. Trump, likely pandering to Kardashian’s star power, granted Alice Johnson’s pardon and unprecedentedly allowed Congress to pass the First Step Act. The reality star also exhibited her dedication to the cause when she visited several women’s prisons in California, and increased awareness surrounding cases exemplifying unjust sentencing on social media.
On Wednesday, Newsom declared he will suspend capital punishment in California, granting a reprieve for the 737 inmates currently on death row. As the state with the largest population of inmates awaiting the death sentence, the move will likely prompt other states considering an abolition of the practice to do the same. Ballot proposals in 2012 and in 2016 failed to garner enough support to repeal capital punishment, however as national support of the death penalty continues to decline (per The New York Times), the executive order isn’t likely to define the governor’s tenure.
Source: Complex News