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Thursday, May 1, 2014

You're Not Doing Fine, Oklahoma: Botched Execution

Thursday Updates:   NYT, long the strongest major media outlet calling for end to capital punishment, repeats it firmly again today in editorial, after the latest death by "torture."  Note: I've written two books on the full debate and history, including  this recent ebook, Dead Reckoning.

Sen. Tom Coburn says his state's botched execution doesn't change his mind on favoring the death penalty:  "It's an unfortunate thing, but any time you're doing something with a body, things can go wrong."

UPDATE #3  NYT closes story on Euorpeans outraged by U.S. executions with this:  "A Twitter message by someone who pretends to be God somehow caught the European mood. From @TheTweetOfGod: 'How could Oklahoma botch an execution? If there’s one thing I would expect Americans to know how to do by now, it’s kill somebody.'”

UPDATE #2:  Petition drive calls on pharmacists to stop making drugs for lethal injections or otherwise participating in executions. 

UPDATE #1:  Former corrections officials call for independent probe 

Earlier: You hate to see this happen but perhaps this one last night will help end the death penalty in the USA.  See email appeal (below) I just got from the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty.    President Obama, of course, backs capital punishment but White House today said the latest fell short of being "humane"--as if any state murder is humane.

Dear supporter,

Yesterday we informed you of two executions taking place last night in Oklahoma.  Today I write you in disbelief. Clayton Lockett died after the State of Oklahoma botched his execution. He called out “man,” and writhed and twitched in wrenching agony 20 minutes after the procedure began.
It was too late. Unfortunately when Mr. Lockett cried out, nobody heard his heartfelt plea, and he passed away in this botched execution. Will you join me in making a contribution today to help us prevent such cruelty from ever happening again?
Timing is of the essence, as the scheduled execution of Charles Warner was delayed only 2 weeks.
While the Governor and Department of Corrections investigates the botched execution, we need to put pressure on the legislature that the death penalty has flaws, is barbaric, and has no place in our country. Make a financial contribution today, as we don’t have much time. Mr. Warner’s life is at stake. Please answer his pleas for help now, before it’s too late.
We cannot be silent!
The government of Oklahoma has hidden what drugs they use. They have threatened to impeach 5 state Supreme Court justices who wanted to delay last night’s scheduled double execution. Your support today will help NCADP and our affiliate in Oklahoma defeat a bill that would impeach the 5 justices who have exposed the flaws in administering lethal injection.

2 comments:

Christina Dunigan said...

It would have been nice if there'd been some outcry and investigation after the botched execution of Sarah Brown. Two attempts at lethal injection left her blind, mute, mentally disabled, and unable to walk. She lingered for five years until her deaths.

Sarah got no trial, no appeal, no representation, no due process whatsoever. Her crime was being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Her executioner was "hero" abortionist George Tiller.

Anonymous said...

Well, what did the guy do? Why was he sentenced to death?

More than likely, he killed someone, or raped someones daughter.

And you care about he had to suffer for 20 minutes before he died?

Seriously?

I bet his victim - THAT GOT HIM THE DEATH PENALTY - suffered for more than 20 minutes.

You hippy people seriously need to get a reality check and fight for something worth fighting for.