Woke, Liberal Rewrite:

Oklahoma's Injustice: Emmanuel Littlejohn's Life on the Line

URL: https://www.nondoc.com/2023/07/17/anti-death-penalty-advocates-seek-clemency-for-next-scheduled-execution/

Video Appeal: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0569Byk5QJE

Once again, the flawed and racist death penalty system in Oklahoma rears its ugly head. Emmanuel Littlejohn, a Black man, is set to be executed on September 26 for a 1992 murder, despite questionable evidence and an unfair trial.

Reverend Jeff Hood and Abraham Bonowitz of Death Penalty Action are fighting for Littlejohn's clemency. They argue that the actual shooter, Glenn Bethany, a white man, is serving a life sentence while Littlejohn faces execution. This clear injustice cannot stand.

"This is a case with many issues and problems," Hood said. And he's right. Littlejohn accepts responsibility for the robbery, but maintains his innocence in the murder. He told USA Today: "They don't want to punish me for what I did do, the robbery and all that...They want to kill me and I didn't kill nobody."

The group is appealing to Governor Kevin Stitt to grant clemency. Bonowitz rightly points out: "How is it that the shooter, the actual shooter, is getting a lesser punishment?"

Stitt has the power to spare Littlejohn, just as he did for Julius Jones. Oklahoma has executed 13 people since Stitt lifted the moratorium on executions in 2020, and the state ranks second in the country for executions since 1976. The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board could recommend a life sentence for Littlejohn on August 7, but Stitt must act to correct this injustice.

Littlejohn and Bethany were convicted for their roles in the 1992 robbery of a convenience store, which resulted in the death of the owner, Kenneth Meers. Witnesses disagreed on who fired the fatal shot, but evidence points to Bethany, the taller man, as the shooter. Yet, Littlejohn was sentenced to death while Bethany received a life sentence.

The prosecution's misconduct is appalling. They argued that Bethany was the shooter in the first trial, then claimed Littlejohn was the shooter in the second trial. This blatant disregard for fairness was rejected on appeal, but the damage was done.

Oklahoma's bloodthirsty death penalty machine must be stopped. Emmanuel Littlejohn's life depends on it.

#EndCapitalPunishment #BlackLivesMatter #ClemencyNow