Dear John, Oklahoma has been at the center of the nation’s attention recently. And not for good reason.
The case of Richard Glossip has had many Americans questioning the use of the death penalty. Glossip's compelling claims of innocence and the undeniable flaws in his conviction reveal some of the most alarming problems with our criminal justice system.
Oklahoma Republican Attorney General Gettner Drummond asked the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals back in April to vacate Glossip's conviction due to the case’s questionable evidence. And earlier this month, I was in Oklahoma with Republican lawmakers and faith leaders to make an appeal to Governor Stitt to order a stay of execution.
The next day, the U.S. Supreme Court halted Glossip's May 18 execution date in order to consider his claims of innocence.
But what really stood out to me was the posture of Republican State Representative J.J. Humphrey, who shared his frustration on how fragmented the criminal justice system is in Oklahoma on Twitter.
His words "I'm shaken" have been playing on a reel in my mind over and over again.
The death penalty leaves us all shaken. From those involved in the execution process, to the victim’s families, to the communities shattered and marred by loss, it harms everyone it touches. It should shake us all to action.
If you're in Oklahoma, join the call for a moratorium on executions by contacting your lawmakers today.
If you're not in Oklahoma, be sure you've signed our Conservative Statement of Support to End the Death Penalty. We will continue to bring you opportunities to lift your voice and take action against the death penalty around the country.
Richard Glossip's life was spared, for now, but there are more scheduled executions on the way in Oklahoma and elsewhere. As conservatives, we must continue to speak up to stop them and to put an end to the death penalty once and for all. |
