Virginia Governor Ralph Northam on Wednesday, March 24, signed a bill into law abolishing the death penalty in the state.
The signing comes after the Democratic-controlled legislature passed the measure late last month.
"It is the moral thing to do to end the death penalty in the Commonwealth of Virginia," said Northam, according to NPR.
Northam, also a Democrat, held the ceremonial bill signing at the Greensville Correctional Center just outside Jarratt, Virginia.
Virginia is the first state in the former Confederacy to cease capital punishment. The commonwealth has put to death more people than any other state since the first execution took place at Jamestown in 1608.
Michael Stone, executive director of Virginians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty says George Floyd’s death really added fuel to make change when it comes to reforming criminal justice.
"The Black Lives Matter protests turbocharged the move toward criminal justice reform in general and death penalty abolition in particular," Stone said, according to NPR.
Northam thanked his colleagues for passing the bill for him to sign: "Virginia will join 22 other states that have ended the use of the death penalty. This is an important step forward in ensuring that our criminal justice system is fair and equitable to all."
Latest Stories
-
President Akufo-Addo extends Easter Greetings to Ghanaians, urges safe drive
17 mins -
Government pushes for use of more local materials in housing, other infrastructure projects
50 mins -
Dr Bawumia extends Easter greetings to Christians
1 hour -
CAF Confederation Cup: ‘Ghanaians should expect victory against Stade Malien’ – Dreams FC forward Ishmael Dede
2 hours -
CAF Confederation Cup: ‘We want to go there and win’ – Karim Zito on Stade Malian clash
2 hours -
Togbe Adzie Lãkle Howusu XII endorses youth leadership as New Force Movement gains momentum
2 hours -
Public Utility Workers Union appeals to PURC to address power crisis
3 hours -
Anbariya loses another appeal in Kumasi as Appeal Court ratifies High Court ruling against the Islamic Institute
3 hours -
Highway construction health hazard: Ofankor-Pokuase-Nsawam residents appeal for dust relief
3 hours -
SuperJazzClub releases its first single of the year ‘Off’
3 hours -
Methodist Church to lobby Akufo-Addo for expedited assent to anti-LGBTQI+ Bill
3 hours -
Spare health facilities from unplanned ‘dumsor’ – Minority to government
4 hours -
Eritrea Observed World Tuberculosis (TB) Day 2024
4 hours -
Just give us ‘dumsor’ timetable to plan our operations – GMA tells ECG
4 hours -
Parliament petitions Chief Justice for an expedited hearing of cases against anti-LGBTQI+ Bill
4 hours