
The NAACP is joining Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley and lawmakers in a call to repeal the death penalty, according to the Associated Press.
Benjamin Jealous, the CEO of the National Association of Colored People, will participate in a news conference on the death penalty in Annapolis today. Maryland Rep. Elijah Cummings and Gerald Stansbury, president of the NAACP's state conference, also are scheduled to attend.
O'Malley tried to get a death penalty repeal passed earlier in his tenure as governor but the measure never made it out of committee. The potential of repealing capital punishment in Maryland has been floated since the General Assembly convened last week to officially open its legislative session.
Senate President Mike Miller, who supports capital punishment, predicted last week that a measure banning capital punishment would pass this year. He also said he believes it will be petitioned to the ballot for voters to decide in 2014.

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