Video: Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam Makes History, Signs Death Penalty Repeal Into Law

[lowkell]

https://bluevirginia.us/2021/03/video-virginia-gov-ralph-northam-makes-history-signs-death-penalty-repeal-into-law

It’s really astounding, when you think about it; back in the 2005 Virginia gubernatorial election, Tim Kaine was viciously attacked (in the infamous “Hitler ads”) for *not* supporting the death penalty. At the time, Kaine fired back that while he *personally* (as a devout Roman Catholic) opposed the death penalty, he would *of course* carry out the law if he were elected governor. Fast forward 16 years, and Virginia’s Democratic-controlled legislature and Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam are repealing the death penalty in Virginia. Amazing to see how far we’ve come, and yet another example of how important elections and voting are, as well as how different the two parties are. With that, watch as Gov. Northam signs legislation (at Greensville Correctional Center, which houses Virginia’s execution chamber) repealing the death penalty into law.

[Dream Girl]

1. Remember his"blackface" debacle?

He turned out to be pretty woke after all. Glad he didn’t stand aside.

[lagomorph777]

2. +1000 A transformative moment.

I don't know whether it changed his beliefs, or spurred him to act boldly on beliefs he already had, but either way, I'm impressed.