Photo: Public protest against the executions of Sacco and Vanzetti, Union Square, New York, August 23, 1927. Library of Congress, cph 3c36884.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 23, 2026
NPPC announces campaign for full posthumous pardons for Sacco and Vanzetti by August 23, 2027
On the 99th anniversary of the executions of Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti, the National Political Prisoner Coalition announces a campaign seeking full posthumous pardons for both men by the centenary of their deaths on August 23, 2027.
Sacco and Vanzetti were Italian immigrant workers and anarchists executed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts at Charlestown State Prison on August 23, 1927. Convicted of the murders of Frederick Parmenter and Alessandro Berardelli during a 1920 payroll robbery, they maintained their innocence. Their prosecution became an international symbol of hostility toward immigrants, repression of radical political beliefs, and the consequences of an unfair trial.
Recognition must lead to action
In 1977, Governor Michael Dukakis issued a proclamation marking the fiftieth anniversary. It acknowledged the prejudice surrounding the proceedings and serious doubts about the impartiality of officials involved. It called for the removal of stigma from Sacco and Vanzetti and their families. That proclamation was an important act of recognition, but it was not a full pardon.
NPPC calls on Massachusetts to carry that recognition forward. A century after these executions, remembrance should be accompanied by a formal act of redress. The campaign seeks full posthumous pardons for both men, rather than another anniversary declaration alone.
A year to secure a full pardon
The coalition will seek public support for a formal appeal to Massachusetts officials and invite historians, legal advocates, labor organizations, immigrant communities, and civil liberties groups to join the campaign. Its work will focus on public education, letters and organizational endorsements, and establishing the legal steps needed to secure posthumous pardons.
Massachusetts clemency ordinarily involves the Governor, the Advisory Board of Pardons, and the Governor’s Council. Posthumous relief presents a distinct legal question: the state’s own historical account notes that the legal framework reviewed in 1977 did not provide for a posthumous pardon. NPPC therefore calls on executive and legislative officials to establish and use a lawful route to full pardons, including enabling legislation if necessary.
The campaign’s deadline is August 23, 2027. A pardon cannot return the lives taken in 1927. It can provide a formal response to an injustice that Massachusetts has already acknowledged and reinforce the principle that political beliefs and immigrant status must never substitute for a fair assessment of evidence.
Join the campaign
Individuals and organizations interested in endorsing the campaign, contributing historical or legal research, or helping organize centenary activities can reach NPPC through its contact page. The coalition welcomes participation toward the shared goal of full posthumous pardons for Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti by the hundredth anniversary of their executions.
About NPPC: The National Political Prisoner Coalition documents political imprisonment in the United States and supports efforts to confront its historical and continuing consequences.
Media and campaign inquiries: Contact the National Political Prisoner Coalition.
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