Tonight, we lost Marcellus ‘Khalifah’ Williams, a man who maintained his innocence until his last breath, to a grave injustice. Read more...
MPAC Condemns the Execution of Marcellus Williams
Washington, D.C. | www.mpac.org | September 24, 2024 — Tonight, we lost Marcellus ‘Khalifah’ Williams, a man who maintained his innocence until his last breath, to a grave injustice. His life was stolen by a system that continues to be plagued by deep-rooted racial bias and white supremacy. Once again, a Black man accused of killing a white woman was denied a fair trial, much like the Central Park Five and countless others who have faced wrongful convictions due to the color of their skin. The denial of clemency for Marcellus by Missouri Governor Mike Parson, the Missouri Supreme Court, and the conservative justices on the Supreme Court of the United States is not just a failure of our criminal justice system; it is a moral failure by our nation.
As stated by Marcellus Williams' lawyers, there was a clear lack of reliable evidence proving that Marcellus was guilty of the 1998 murder of Felicia Gayle, who was fatally stabbed during a burglary.
“Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell’s office acknowledged that Marcellus Williams’ conviction and death sentence are unreliable, that the previous administration’s mishandling of evidence has foreclosed Mr. Williams’ ability to conclusively prove his innocence at this moment in time, and that under these circumstances, it would be unconscionable to allow his execution.”
Marcellus served as the imam for Muslim prisoners at Potosi Correctional Center. His handwritten final statement was “All Praise Be to Allah in Every Situation!!!”
Let us be clear: this was not an oversight, it was a deliberate state-sanctioned execution.
MPAC remains committed to advancing criminal justice reform that guarantees our institutions serve all Americans equally, regardless of race, background, or status. We will continue to demand of our leaders at all levels, local, state, and federal, meaningful change to protect the rights of all Americans, especially our most vulnerable communities.
To the family of Marcellus Williams, MPAC extends our deepest condolences. Your pain is immeasurable, and it should never have come to this. We stand with you, and we will continue to fight for the justice Marcellus was denied.
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