To: The Maryland State House, The Maryland State Senate, and Governor Larry Hogan
Abolish Maryland's Death Penalty
Since 1865, the state of Maryland has executed 191 people, and 157 of the people executed, or 83.5%, were black. While black people or African-Americans make up merely 29.4% of Maryland’s population, the state’s death row is 80% African-American. Abolish Maryland's racially disparate death penalty by April of 2013.
Why is this important?
Since 1865, 83.5% of the people executed in Maryland have been black. In 2013, blacks make up 80% of Maryland's death row population, 77% of Maryland's prison and jail population, and 76.1% of the state's prisoners with life sentences. In 2011, I personally witnessed the execution in Georgia of an innocent black man. The man's name was Troy Anthony Davis. Similar mistakes happened in Maryland and will happen again unless we abolish Maryland's death penalty. Let's do so before April 8, 2013, when Maryland's legislative session ends.