1/22/2021 Effort to end death penalty in Virginia gaining momentum; prayer vigils planned — Baptist News Global
Effort to end death penalty in Virginia
gaining momentum; prayer vigils planned
NEWS JEFF BRUMLEY | JANUARY 22, 2021
a
Organizers of a faith-based campaign to abolish the death penalty in
Virginia say current signs of favorable legislative momentum are due, at
least in part, to pressure being applied by churches and other religious
communities.
And their hope is that statewide vigils near historic lynching sites on Jan.
22 will provide prayerful-but-firm reminders to members of the Virginia
General Assembly that people of faith across the Commonwealth are
opposed to capital punishment.
“We believe in the power of prayer. That’s
built into this campaign because the death
penalty was birthed out of lynching and Jim
Crow and slavery. This is why these vigils are
being held in close proximity to where some
of the state’s lynchings took place,” said
LaKeisha Cook, a Baptist minister who serves
as the justice reform organizer of the Virginia ; 4
Interfaith Center for Public Policy, which has Lekeisha Cook
coordinated religious support for the abolition
of capital punishment in Virginia.
The legislation is supported by Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam, and the
bill’s chief co-sponsor is Republican Sen. Bill Stanley, who joined with
Democrats in the 10-4 vote on Jan. 18 to send the measure from the
Judiciary Committee to the Finance Committee.
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4/22/2021 Effort to end death penalty in Virginia gaining momentum; prayer vigils planned — Baptist News Global
The Senate action suggests the tide may be rising in the legislature for
abolishing state-sanctioned executions, Cook said. “That 10-4 vote is a
vote in favor of abolition, which is huge. We thought the Senate was going
to be the biggest hurdle for us, and I’m sure the House is watching.”
The interfaith center’s effort connects Virginia’s slavery and lynching
history with its use of capital punishment. That all of the state’s current
death row inmates are Black testifies to the existing law’s racist design and
application, according to the campaign.
A fact sheet provided by organizers shows that Virginia was an early
and prolific user of the death penalty and that it was targeted almost
exclusively at African Americans. Nearly 540 Blacks were executed by
the state between 1800 and 1900, compared to 45 whites during the same
period.
No wonder, Cook added, “there “A lot of people
were little over 100 lynchings, d t | .
which is low compared to other Oo no realize
states. But in total executions we are capital
a us under “ Ee “eee p un is h me nt is a
in the country. A lot of people do
not realize capital punishment is a descendent of
descendent of lynching and slavery.” lyn Cc h I ng an d
slavery.”
So it is fortuitous that the Jan. 22
prayer vigils, scheduled months ago,
come just as the Virginia General Assembly is taking up legislation to end
capital punishment. “It wasn’t designed that way, but it’s great timing,”
Cook said.
The vigils will be led by clergy and lay leaders in Alexandria, Danville,
Richmond, Roanoke and Tidewater. The names of lynching victims will
be read as part of prayer litanies created for the events. The gathering in
Richmond will be streamed on Facebook at 12 p.m. Eastern.
The gatherings, like the campaign itself, testify to the influence faith-based
coalitions can have on public policy, she said. “It shows us that when it
comes to issues such as the dignity of life and the sanctity of life, it
doesn’t matter what your faith tradition is because there are certain things
that bind us together. We are fighting for justice.”
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