According to the same poll, support among whites for the death penalty grew from 70 percent in 1974 to 79 percent in 1996. The year with the highest percentage of whites favoring the death penalty was 1994, when 83 percent of said they supported it. Sampson said mistrust of the criminal-justice system, and a disproportionate number of African Americans behind bars are the reasons many blacks say they oppose the death penalty. There is a long-standing finding that blacks are more distrustful of the criminal justice system than whites. He said widespread approval among African Americans of the acquittal of O.J. Simpson on murder charges highlights the point.
Blacks are more apt to perceive errors and racial injustice in the system.
We as a people are in the minority. For me to say I support the death penalty would be for me to say I support genocide. Talk to us. Check Net Mail for comments and replies.