Botched execution: this HAS to STOP!

Working for alternatives to the death penalty

Dear Reader, Horrifying details are emerging after the botched attempt to execute an Oklahoma inmate on Tuesday. It’s a story of hubris, incompetence, and cruelty. It has become painfully obvious that there is no such thing as a humane execution. In this case the warning signs should have been clear, but state officials ignored them and shrouded the whole system in secrecy to prevent the public from learning the truth. Using an untested drug combination, officials claimed the execution would take around 10 minutes. But in reality, they didn't know what would happen, they were simply experimenting on a human being. Minutes after the curtains opened to reveal the sedated inmate, he began writhing and choking. After being declared unconscious, he then woke up, a guard yelled “something’s wrong,” and officials ordered the curtains shut. The condemned inmate survived the lethal injection procedure, only to die of a massive heart attack almost an hour after this horror show began. According to one journalist, “What happened was anything but standard: The man's heart essentially exploded after officials stopped pumping his body full of the deadly chemicals.” The Oklahoma Supreme Court had originally stayed this execution in order to evaluate whether the state’s secrecy law was constitutional, but the governor declared that she would not abide by their decision. As a show of force, a state representative then began impeachment proceedings against the high court’s justices for their efforts to protect transparency and the rule of law. These intimidation tactics worked, and the Oklahoma Supreme Court lifted the stay. Officials need to be held accountable, especially when they challenge the rule of law. Especially when they try to hide crucial information from the public. Especially when they are torturing people to death in our name. We must continue to stand against the death penalty in every case. Join us by signing the petition to show that you do not support state killings. Adding your name to the petition will guarantee that you receive critical action alerts, breaking news, and continued ways for you to get involved. Take a stand and sign the petition! Sincerely, Matt Cherry Executive Director