California’s death row, like the state itself, is the nation’s most populous. Its wardens and guards have told stories over the decades of condemned men they remembered most: One prisoner nicknamed “Soldier” for having served in World War II under Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower was executed shortly before “Ike” became president and carried Eisenhower’s picture with him to the gas chamber door.
Amherst professor Austin Sarat calls upon California Governor Gavin Newsom to ask the state legislature to end capital punishment. Professor Sarat explains why this route is superior to the direct democracy route (which failed in both 2012 and 2016) and why it’s so important that California abolish the death penalty.