While law enforcement officials had opposed clemency, arguing Brown was not justified in killing 43-year-old Johnny Allen, celebrities like Kim Kardashian West and singer Rihanna spoke out for Brown. "Thank you Governor Haslam," Kardashian West tweeted soon after news of the clemency decision broke. Nashville Mayor David Briley praised Haslam's decision, calling it a "great day for social justice and our city." It's not yet clear how the clemency decision may affect Haslam's already solid popularity throughout the state. In contrast to Democrats, Tennessee's Republican lawmakers remained markedly quiet on Haslam's decision.

Source: ABC News January 08, 2019 06:10 UTC