We, the undersigned, stand united in our call to abolish the death penalty in the state of Missouri. The deeply rooted racial disparities within the application of the death penalty are a stain on our legal system, perpetuating a legacy of discrimination that has persisted throughout history.

A recent report from the Death Penalty Action Center, titled "Compromised Justice," highlights the alarming discriminatory practices in Missouri's death penalty system. Before 1865, enslaved individuals were at least four times more likely to be executed than their white counterparts. Fast forward to the present day, and we find that 40% of the 216 death sentences since 1972 have been handed down to Black defendants, despite Black people comprising just under 12% of the total state population.

Missouri stands among a few states that have consistently executed individuals in the last five years. This year alone, four people, including Leonard "Raheem" Taylor, a Black man with a credible claim of innocence, were executed. Taylor's case underscores the urgent need for reform, as his plea for justice fell on deaf ears.

Furthermore, Missouri has a painful history marked by racial terror lynchings, with the first reported lynching in U.S. history occurring in the state in 1838. At least 60 Black Missourians fell victim to racial terror lynchings, making Missouri the state with the highest number of such incidents outside the South. The racial disparities in treatment persist to this day.

The glaring inequalities are evident in the criminal legal system, where white police officers who kill Black civilians are rarely charged, let alone convicted. In contrast, Black civilians who kill white police officers are often charged and capitally prosecuted. The case of Kevin Johnson, tried twice in St. Louis County for killing a police officer in 2005, exemplifies the systemic racial discrimination embedded in the legal process. A special prosecutor's review in 2021 found unconstitutional racial discrimination infecting Johnson's prosecution, revealing racial differences in charging decisions for cases involving officer killings.

We, the undersigned, believe that the death penalty is rooted in racial terror and inequality. It is our collective responsibility to advocate for a fair and equitable criminal legal system that upholds the principles of equality, justice, and human rights. 

By signing this petition, we urge the lawmakers and authorities in Missouri to:

1. **Abolish the death penalty** and seek alternative, restorative forms of justice.

2. **Address and rectify the racial disparities** ingrained in the legal system, ensuring fair treatment for all.

We the undersigned believe that abolishing the death penalty is a crucial step toward building a more just, compassionate, and equitable Missouri.