Ten years ago, a tragedy unfolded in a South Carolina church when a white supremacist, Dylann Roof, was welcomed into a Bible study group but opened fire, killing nine people. Among those lost were the mother, two cousins, and a close childhood friend of Rev. Sharon Risher.
When Roof was sentenced to death in 2017, Risher initially believed he deserved the punishment. But as time passed, her faith helped her find a way to forgive him. She also began to question the death penalty itself, realizing its flaws—like racial bias and the lack of proof that it stops violent crime. Now, Risher is working to save not just Roof’s life but also the lives of all 40 men on federal death row. This includes high-profile names like Dzhokhar Tsarnaev (the Boston Marathon bomber) and Robert Bowers (responsible for the Tree of Life Synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh).
Risher, along with a group called Death Penalty Action, has written several letters to President Joe Biden, urging him to commute these sentences to life in prison. They’ve also gathered support from 350 organizations, all pressing Biden to act before Donald Trump potentially takes office again. Their fear? Trump, during his first term, oversaw 13 federal executions in just six months, and they worry he’ll repeat or expand that during another term.
What About Biden’s Promises?
Back in 2020, Biden said he wanted to end the federal death penalty. However, his actions haven’t fully matched his words. While his Attorney General, Merrick Garland, put a pause on federal executions in 2021, federal prosecutors are still pursuing the death penalty in certain cases, like the Buffalo supermarket shooting.
Some experts, like law professor Rachel Barkow, believe Biden has the power to commute all death row sentences—but whether he will is uncertain. People like Risher feel time is running out, with Biden’s presidency ending in January 2025.
Why Does This Matter?
Trump has talked about expanding the death penalty for crimes like drug trafficking and child abuse, which would require Congress’s approval. His administration’s past actions, including the execution of the first woman on federal death row in nearly 70 years, show he’s serious about enforcing the death penalty.
For many, including Risher, the death penalty represents deeper problems in the justice system, particularly racial disparities. Studies show that most federal death penalty cases involve defendants of color, often tried by nearly all-white juries.
What Could Biden Do?
Presidents and governors often use their final days in office to grant clemency. For example, several state governors have cleared death rows, and Biden could follow suit at the federal level. Doing so would align with his earlier promises and could be seen as a significant moral statement.
While Biden has granted some pardons for marijuana offenses and outdated laws, his overall clemency rate is low. Critics say this is his chance to leave a legacy by taking a stand against the death penalty.
For advocates like Risher, this isn’t just about politics—it’s about saving lives and addressing a broken system. She hopes Biden, as a fellow Catholic, will act in line with his faith and take a strong stance on this issue before it’s too late.
