Photo Credit: Michael Loccisano/Wire Image
The Princess of Prison Reform is now taking a stand against the death penalty. Will she taste victory yet again?
Kim Kardashian has earned her nickname “The Princess of Prison Reform” due to her involvement in the clemency of Alice Marie Walker and Cyntoia Brown. Kim met with Trump on a few occasions to discuss prison reform in the U.S. Earlier this week, she also revealed that she will be paying the rent of a recently released non-violent drug offender, for the next five years. This morning the reality star wasn’t shy about showing her support of California Governor Gavin Newsom’s executive order.
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
Kim said on her Instagram story,
“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. Racial bias and unfairness run deep throughout the justice system but especially when it comes to the death penalty. 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.”
The new E.O. from Governor Newson, places a moratorium, or temporary prohibition of enacting the death penalty. Today Newsom announced that he is suspending the use of capital punishment in the state of California. This will grant a reprieve for all 737 inmates currently on death row in the state. California currently has the largest population of inmates awaiting the death sentence, a now joins Illinois and Washington who both outlawed the practice. In both state elections in 2012 and in 2016, the ballot measure repealing the death penalty failed to gain enough support. The Governor is also ordering the immediate closing of the execution chamber at San Quentin State Prison, and said in a new conference that he does expect the executive order to be challenged in court.
Other celebrities like John Legend, who is outspoken about his political views and dislike for Trump, took to Twitter to thank Newsom.
Thank you, @GavinNewsomhttps://t.co/qCw4dQkvdp
— John Legend (@johnlegend) March 13, 2019
Except the murder rate is higher in the Southeast where the death penalty is used much more often. The death penalty is not an effective deterrent. The facts are clear on this https://t.co/Oj8gR3soa9
— John Legend (@johnlegend) March 13, 2019
