Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez mourns Brandon Bernard, calls for abolition of death sentence

Akeem AlaoThe United States congresswoman, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, has expressed her condolences over the execution of Brandon Bernard.While issuing her condolences via her Facebook page on Monday December 14, 2020, Ocasio-Cortez urged Americans to demand justice and actions.”Our hearts are heavy. Over the past 48 hours, we’ve mourned Brandon Bernard’s murder at the hands of our government, and our thoughts are with his family.”But it’s not enough, we need to demand action and justice. We must abolish the death penalty,” the congresswoman wrote on her Facebook page.She added that the Trump administration has three more federal executions planned before Joe Biden and Kamala Harris take office.”You can take action by writing a letter to your representative, calling on them to co-sponsor H.R. 4052 introduced by Rep. Ayanna Pressley — which will end the death penalty on the federal level.”It is unacceptable for any elected leader in this day and age to support the death penalty.”She said it is unacceptable for any elected leader in this day and age to support the death penalty. “That’s why Alexandria signed on as an early co-sponsor of this bill,” she said.”Since its inception, the death penalty has been marked by racial bias, wrongful convictions, and disproportionate impacts on the most vulnerable. It is cruel and ineffective at protecting public safety. It is racist and wrong.”Please, contact your representative and ask to them to support abolishing the death penalty,” Ocasio-Cortez added.