Russ Feingold: “I rise to speak on the Federal Government's execution today of Juan Raul Garza. This is a sad day for our Federal…”

“I rise to speak on the Federal Government's execution today of Juan Raul Garza. This is a sad day for our Federal criminal justice system. The principle of equal justice under law was dealt a severe blow. The American people's reason for confidence in our Federal criminal justice system was diminished. And the credibility and integrity of the U.S. Department of Justice was depreciated. President Bush and Attorney General Ashcroft failed to heed the calls for fairness. Instead, the Government put Juan Garza to death. Now, no one questions that Juan Garza is guilty of three drug-related murders. And no one questions that the Government should have punished him severely for those crimes. But serious geographic and racial disparities exist in the Federal Government's system of deciding who lives and who dies. The government has failed to address those disparities. And President Bush and Attorney General Ashcroft failed to recognize the fundamental unfairness of proceeding with executions when the Government has not yet answered those questions. No, the government put Juan Garza to death. Today, most of those who wait on the Federal Government's death row come from just three States: Texas, Missouri, and Virginia. And 89 percent of those who wait on the Federal Government's death row are people of color.”