“Moral Monday” launched for defeat of Senate Bill 40
Despite being defeated in the Delaware House two weeks ago, a bill that would have abolished the death penalty in the first state could still be on the table.
The General Assembly is not set to reconvene until next month; however, advocates for Senate Bill 40 are not letting the issue lose momentum and launched a series of weekly protests in front of Legislative Hall on Monday.
It’s being called “Moral Monday” in an effort to sway lawmakers to reconsider their choice of not repealing the death penalty in Delaware. According to event organizers, up to 35 people were present Monday but they’re hoping their message will spread and that legislators will listen.
“This is not my first time coming and having justice stomped out on the House Floor or Senate Floor, ” Says Chandra Pitts. “So, my thought is that we’re tired of coming for their votes and we’re preparing to come to their seats.”
Pitts was in the room when the Delaware house voted against Senate Bill 40, which would have done away with capital punishment in the first state. She is the Executive Director of “One Village Alliance” which is a part of the Delaware Repeal Project. They have joined forces with the Complexities Of Color Coalition to make the organized protests happen.
“Until Delaware’s death penalty is repealed, we won’t go away.” Says Dr. Donald Morton.
Dr. Morton is the Executive Director of the Complexities Of Color Coalition. He claims capital punishment is racially biased with 70 percent of inmates on death row in Delaware being people of color. According to Dr. Morton, defendants from lower economic backgrounds are more likely to receive the ultimate punishment.
“Many would suggest to us that the system is broken, and I would suggest the system is doing exactly what the system was designed to do centuries ago, and so it’s our responsibility to dismantle this system and resurrect one that is far more just and far more equal.” He says.
Opponents of repeal argue, the death penalty is the only fitting punishment for the most heinous offenses.
District 20 state representative Stephen Smyk tells 47ABC he supports upholding the death penalty in Delaware. In a statement, he says “The repeal of the Death Penalty would make our prisons more dangerous – for both inmates and guards – since murders already serving lifetime sentences could kill gain without fear of facing further serious punishment.”
Representative Smyk also tells us repealing the death penalty would increase costs by “giving such convicts the remainder of their lives to file motions for appeals and sentence reductions.”
Pitts says she does believe punishments need to be in place but life sentences should be the limit.
As for Dr. Morton, he says the question is not whether or not a person should die.
“The question is whether or not the state should be the executor of a person’s life, and we believe absolutely and unequivocally no.” Says Dr. Morton.
He says these community advocate groups are also planning to hold other events that will be consistent with “Moral Monday”.
As for the bill itself, law makers who support this legislation say they will try to resurrect it for another vote this session.
