Brandon Bernard: If you don’t know his name, you should.
He was convicted of kidnapping and killing two white youth ministers on a Texas military reservation in June of 1999. He was 18 years old at the time. Today, he is scheduled to be executed by the federal government.
He was convicted of kidnapping and killing two white youth ministers on a Texas military reservation in June of 1999. He was 18 years old at the time. Today, he is scheduled to be executed by the federal government.
The bipartisan backlash to Bernard’s death sentence reaches far and wide — from the halls of Congress to the hills of Hollywood.
Here, @KimKardashian lays out his case for clemency:
Here, @KimKardashian lays out his case for clemency:
https://twitter.com/KimKardashian/status/1336856943068057606
Bernard’s case also points to a larger debate within the criminal justice system: Should the federal government be sentencing 18-year-olds to death?
Research has found that those in their late teens and early 20s lack complete brain maturity.
nytimes.com/2020/12/09/us/…
Research has found that those in their late teens and early 20s lack complete brain maturity.
nytimes.com/2020/12/09/us/…
Then there’s the issue of race: Although the 5 men convicted were Black, 11 of 12 jurors were white.
According to the Death Penalty Information Center, the death sentence is disproportionately applied in cases with Black perpetrators and white victims.
deathpenaltyinfo.org/facts-and-rese…
According to the Death Penalty Information Center, the death sentence is disproportionately applied in cases with Black perpetrators and white victims.
deathpenaltyinfo.org/facts-and-rese…
Even Angela Moore, the federal prosecutor who supported Bernard’s death verdict 20 years ago, is calling for its reversal.
Citing his age and ability to change, Moore concludes that “executing Brandon would be a terrible stain on the nation’s honor.”
indystar.com/story/opinion/…
Citing his age and ability to change, Moore concludes that “executing Brandon would be a terrible stain on the nation’s honor.”
indystar.com/story/opinion/…
Bernard’s defense team started an online campaign to commute his sentence.
Supporters have already sent tens of thousands of letters to President Trump, advocating for his clemency.
helpsavebrandon.com
Supporters have already sent tens of thousands of letters to President Trump, advocating for his clemency.
helpsavebrandon.com
But Bernard isn’t alone. Four more federal executions are scheduled before Joe Biden takes office on January 20.
Before Trump, there was an 130-year-old precedent of pausing executions amid presidential transitions.
bbc.com/news/world-us-…
Before Trump, there was an 130-year-old precedent of pausing executions amid presidential transitions.
bbc.com/news/world-us-…
Sister @helenprejean, a fierce advocate against the death penalty, has been reaching out to Bill Barr since July, when the DOJ reinstated the federal death penalty after a 17-year pause.
Barr, a Catholic, has yet to acknowledge her pleas for clemency.
independent.co.uk/news/world/ame…
Barr, a Catholic, has yet to acknowledge her pleas for clemency.
independent.co.uk/news/world/ame…
In Bernard’s 2016 clemency video, he highlights his work with at-risk youth and shares photos of his two young daughters. He ends with an apology to the victims’ families:
“I have tried to be a better person since that day … I’m sorry for all the pain that I’ve caused.”
“I have tried to be a better person since that day … I’m sorry for all the pain that I’ve caused.”
On her Instagram story, @KimKardashian details what could be her last phone call with Bernard.
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