One of America’s killing machines, in this case executions in five mostly southern states, is ramping up. If executions in Alabama and Oklahoma occur as scheduled
on today, it will be the first time since July 2003 that five inmates will have died within a week. That’s according to a Sept. 24 Associated Press story citing information from the Death Penalty Information Center.
And. Sept. 24 was a busy day to focus on America’s death penalty. The Intercept and Bolt Magazine published a story about how some Alabama’s execution team guards are abusive and that such misconduct is hidden from the public, including reporting that Alabama officials claimed the state’s first use of nitrogen hypoxia dispatched inmate Kenneth Smith painlessly and perfectly. These assertions are disputed by Smith’s attorney and, more importantly, Kim Chandler, the AP reporter witnessing the debacle. These stories and the cases presented are further evidence that America’s blood lust is gaining traction in the shadow of the Republican Party embrace of authoritarianism and Nazism. Never mind reports seeing recent dips across the nation in the use of the death penalty. I suspect that’s a political artifact.
Part of my argument for that rests with the another Sept. 24 story, this time Marcellus Williams’ lethal injection in Missouri. Despite pleas from prosecutors, legislators and the family of victim Felicia "Lisha" Gayle, Missouri’s Republican Gov. Mike Parson and the Missouri Supreme Court let the lethal injection occur. So did the six corrupt Republican fascist member of the U.S. Supreme Court, USA Today reported. The right-wing blood lust is a harbinger of the fascism should Republicans gain control of our government this year.
Today, as third-world state Alabama prepares another nitrogen execution, the public will likely get another “white wash” from officials that the process, like the prior one, was “textbook.” Also today, Oklahoma plans to execute Emmanuel Littlejohn despite the state’s Pardon and Parole Board recommendation to spare his life. Oklahoma Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt, at this hour, not indicated he will follow his board’s recommendation, but in the past he has let his death machine work unimpeded.
It is no secret that the U.S. disproportionately executes people of color, specifically Blacks. This has been particularly true for the former Dixie states. What many are willing to overlook, however, is that the use of the death penalty was a form of Jim Crow intimidation. The idea was to keep Black people in their place. If you don’t believe me, research South Carolina’s electrocution of 14-year-old George Stinney. That is sure to continue of former president and convicted felon Donald Trump wins a second term. Remember how Trump triggered federal executions during his first term. Trump and his fascist allies like Texas Fuhrer Greg Abbott will now use this threat against any of those who oppose them.
That is one more reason for citizens to reject the right-wing in November.
Editor’s Note: Rather than embed links, I’ve provided them below for easier navigation and study of this issue.
https://theintercept.com/2024/09/24/alabama-execution-team-misconduct-death-row/
https://apnews.com/article/death-penalty-nitrogen-gas-alabama-kenneth-smith-54848cb06ce32d4b462a77b1bb25e656
https://apnews.com/article/nitrogen-execution-death-penalty-alabama-6d66344d3199f8c58f2408baa3df0738
https://dpic-cdn.org/production/documents/pdf/SecrecyReport-2.f1560295685.pdf?dm=1683576587
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/local/missouri/2024/09/25/marcellus-williams-execution-missouri-lethal-injection/75376315007/
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/local/missouri/2024/09/25/marcellus-williams-execution-missouri-lethal-injection/75376315007/
https://apnews.com/article/executions-oklahoma-alabama-missouri-texas-south-carolina-d77a31bea7a4839424afc8889c7d8755
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2024/09/24/south-carolina-execution-freddie-owens/?commentID=0c6dc995-3558-4269-bf45-fb74ac6d42eb
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2024/09/24/south-carolina-execution-freddie-owens/
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