Kirk Bloodsworth, David Love, of Witness to Innocence, Remark on Maryland House of Delegates’ Successful Passage of Death Penalty Repeal Bill

Annapolis, MD –Today, upon the news that Maryland’s House of Delegates joined the State Senate in passing SB276, the bill to end capital punishment in the state, leaders from Witness to Innocence issued the following statements.

Kirk Bloodsworth, Advocacy Director of Witness to Innocence, remarked:

“I am profoundly grateful to the representatives of the Maryland House of Delegates for their historic action today. Support for the end of capital punishment by both houses of the Maryland General Assembly marks an emotional milestone in my personal journey toward healing from the trauma I suffered here. Soon, Governor O’Malley’s signature will ensure that no one is ever again forced to endure what I did as an innocent man condemned to death, and further, that the state of Maryland will never execute an innocent man. We, at Witness to Innocence, will work to make sure that the momentum of Maryland’s landmark achievement continues far beyond its borders, into each of the 32 other states where the death penalty still remains. But for today, I will simply celebrate the turning of the tide in my home state of Maryland, which can finally live up to its name: ‘The Free State.’”

David Love, Executive Director of Witness to Innocence, praised the Maryland House of Delegates for passing SB276.

“As the nation’s only organization of exonerated death row survivors, Witness to Innocence applauds the vote by the Maryland House for death penalty repeal. Once again, legislators have been influenced by the power of innocence in the application of the death penalty. This is a great day for Maryland, as it becomes the 18^th state to relegate the death penalty to the dustbin of history,”said Mr. Love.