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John, this can’t wait.
Marcellus Williams has been serving time in prison since 2001 when he was convicted of murder. However, new DNA evidence has shown that there was contamination of key evidence that led to this ruling, clearly proving Marcellus’s innocence.
Not only has this innocent Black man been serving time in prison for 23 years for a crime he didn’t commit, but he is now facing execution by the state of Missouri.
Williams’ lawyers and St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell filed a joint brief Saturday asking the Missouri Supreme Court to send the case back to a lower court for a “more comprehensive hearing” on Bell’s January motion to vacate Williams’ 2001 conviction and sentence.
Even though there is absolutely no DNA evidence linking him to the crime, the state is still pushing forward with this execution.
Back in 2017, Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens halted the execution in light of new DNA evidence. Now, we’re demanding that current Missouri Gov. Mike Parson do the same.
We only have until 6 pm CT tonight, John. Can you take action now? We’re uplifting the Innocence Project's page. From there, you can sign a petition to Governor Parson, make a call, or send a text to advocate for Marcellus Williams’ life.
Gov. Parson seems to have stopped taking the public's emails, texts, and phone calls but that doesn't mean we're going to stop. We're going to keep flooding his contacts until he puts a stop to this unjust execution.
After you take action on the Innocent Project's page can you take the next step and share the following graphic and tag the Governor's socials (we've linked them below). We will not be silenced.
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The fact that Marcellus is in this situation is beyond disturbing. We’ve said it many times before: Our criminal “justice” system is beyond broken and not centered around justice or humanity in any way, shape, or form.
There should never be a situation where an innocent person is facing a state-sanctioned execution. There should not be a standard where state-sanctioned execution is the answer at all. This is not public safety.
We have seen time and time again that this system values Black lives less than others. Marcellus Williams is not just a case number; he is a father, a mentor, and a spiritual leader to many. To take his life in the face of so much uncertainty is not just wrong—it is a deliberate act of violence that will forever stain Missouri’s history.
Governor Parson chose to pardon Mark and Patricia McCloskey—two individuals who pointed guns at peaceful Black Lives Matter protesters. He showed them mercy, even after video evidence clearly showed them as they brandished weapons in a clear act of intimidation against those fighting for justice in the name of Black lives.
Where is that same mercy for Marcellus Williams? Why, in the face of doubt and with overwhelming calls for clemency, would he allow an innocent Black man to be killed by the state despite evidence proving him innocent?
We are calling on Governor Parson to stop this execution, and we’re not going to stop until he intervenes and stops this.
Join us, John. We need every single voice in our collective movement to take action right now and take action on the Innocence Project's page. Don’t stop calling. Don’t stop sharing. Don’t let the pressure on Governor Parson wane for a second. Together, it’s not too late to save an innocent life.
After you sign the petition and take action with the Innocence Project, don't forget to share Black Lives Matter's letter to Gov. Parson and tag his social accounts!
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In solidarity,
Black Lives Matter
Our grassroots movement is pushing for Black liberation every single day. We are striving to create a world where Black people do so much more than just survive. It’s time we thrive.
As an organization one of our biggest hurdles is consistency.
A recurring contribution of anything you can afford goes a long way as we plan for the months, years, and even decades ahead. This is the most effective way for small-dollar donors (like you) to power our Black liberation work.
Will you make a recurring contribution of $5 or more today so that we can keep building momentum for our movement?
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