RICHMOND â A group of African American pastors from across Virginia on Thursday called for abolition of the death penalty in the upcoming Virginia General Assembly, citing the sometimes racist application of capital punishment in the state. âThe history of capital punishment finds its roots in slavery, lynching and Jim Crow,â said Rev. Dr. LaKeisha Cook, justice reform organizer for the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy. âCapital punishment is a racial justice issue. It is beyond time for us to address this historical sin.â Roberta Oster, communications dir...