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WHAT HAPPENS NEXT MATTERS FOR PEOPLE ON DEATH ROW. TAKE ACTION!

Hi Andy,

There is a closing window… and from where I stand in California, we can feel it.

As an Amnesty volunteer working to end the death penalty in this state, I’ve seen firsthand what’s possible when people come together — and how much is still at stake if we don’t act in time.

Did you know? California has the largest death row population in the country. More than 550 people are on death row in California. And though no executions have taken place in almost 20 years, all of these lives are on the line.

And there is only one person who can change that. Before he leaves office in 2027, Governor Gavin Newsom has the power to take a decisive, historic step: commute every death sentence in the state.

Right now, a growing movement — joined by Amnesty members in California — is pushing him to act.

I know you don’t live here, but will you add your voice today? Amnesty activists from across the country and around the world can make Governor Newson see that support for ending the death penalty is visible, real, and impossible to ignore.

Here’s why this moment matters so much:

Governor Newsom can, himself, directly commute roughly 40% of California death sentences. For the rest, he can request commutations from the California Supreme Court.

This isn’t abstract. It’s a clear, concrete path forward. And it’s 100% POSSIBLE.

But decisions like this don’t happen on their own, they happen when leaders see undeniable public support (and sometimes even some pressure) — including from people outside of their state.

You and I know the truth about the death penalty:

⛔ It is irreversible and risks executing the innocent.

⛔ It is discriminatory: nearly 70% of people on death row in CA are people of color.

⛔ It targets the most vulnerable, including people with mental and intellectual disabilities.

⛔Statistically, it does NOT deter crime or make communities safer.

As long as these sentences remain, the risk remains too.

Governor Newsom has already taken important steps: He halted executions. He closed the execution chamber. He called the system “unfair, unjust, and discriminatory.”

Now he can finish what he started before he leaves office.

Please join me in urging Gov. Newsom to COMMUTE death row sentences – an act that will immediately promise permanent protection for over 550 individuals who remain on death row.

Amnesty just released its annual Death Sentences and Executions report — exposing how this cruel punishment persists in the U.S. and globally, even as more countries turn away from it.

Amnesty’s been doing the important work to end the death penalty around the world for a long time: when it began campaigning many decades ago, only 16 countries had totally abolished the death penalty. Today, that number has risen to 113 — more than half the world’s countries.

That’s all because of grassroots mobilization from people like you and me.

From where I sit, I can tell you: momentum is building. People are paying attention. But we need more voices, and we need them urgently.

So please — join us. Take action and be part of the pressure that makes action inevitable.

We can win this in California, and it can be a watershed moment for other states across the country, too.

In solidarity,

P.S. Are you interested in getting more involved in our work to end the death penalty? Join our Action Network for updates and meaningful opportunities to campaign to make a difference throughout this summer!

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