This week in Oklahoma…

Today, we have been celebrating Juneteenth as the true end of slavery. But was it? No, to the surprise of many, slavery is still legal. It’s time this ends*.  When Congress passed the 13th Amendment in 1865, it included an exception that allows slavery to be used “as a punishment for crime.” The exception was a concession to […]

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Richard Glossip is saved … or is he?

By Jane Corley At a late lunch here in Oklahoma City two hours ago we learned – to jubilant delight – that Oklahoma’s death row prisoner Richard Glossip had at 1:18pm been granted a stay of his execution scheduled for May 18, 2023 by the U.S. Supreme Court.  We hollered, praised our various gods, and […]

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Interview with Raymond Johnson on Oklahoma Death Row

By Cantor Michael Zoosman My name is Cantor Michael Zoosman. I am a former prison chaplain, an advisory board member of Death Penalty Action and the co-founder of “L’chaim! Jews Against the Death Penalty.,” where we are in touch with all human beings in our nation who receive an execution warrant. For the past year, […]

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Jeff Hood : Pull Back The Curtains on Executions!!!

Pull Back The Curtains on Executions!!! crossposted @ Patheos, https://www.patheos.com/blogs/jeffhood/pull-back-the-curtains-on-executions/ By Rev. Dr. Jeff Hood On July 28, 2022 at Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore, Alabama Department of Corrections officials strapped Joe James, Jr. to a gurney and prepared him to be executed. Normally this should take minutes. For over three hours beyond his scheduled […]

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Lamentations: On Frank Atwood

Lamentations is a series of short reflections derived from a reoccurring conversation that takes place before every scheduled execution in the United States between prominent abolitionists Death Penalty Action Executive Director, Abraham Bonowitz and the Convener of Clergy United Against the Death Penalty, the Rev. Dr. Jeff Hood. The 8th Amendment of the Constitution of the […]

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Lamentations: On Virgil Presnell

Lamentations: On Virgil Presnell Lamentations is a series of short reflections derived from a reoccurring conversation that takes place before every scheduled execution in the United States between prominent abolitionists Death Penalty Action Executive Director, Abraham Bonowitz and the Convener of Clergy United Against the Death Penalty, the Rev. Dr. Jeff Hood. Nearly 46 years […]

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Lamentations: On Carman Deck

Lamentations is a series of short reflections derived from a reoccurring conversation that takes place before every scheduled execution in the United States between prominent abolitionists Death Penalty Action Executive Director Abraham Bonowitz and Clergy United Against the Death Penalty Executive Director Rev. Dr. Jeff Hood.     “…abandoned for days at a time.”  “…around […]

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Lamentations: On Carl Buntion & Oscar Smith

Lamentations: On Carl Buntion & Oscar Smith Lamentations is a series of short reflections derived from a reoccurring conversation that takes place before every scheduled execution in the United States between prominent abolitionists Death Penalty Action Executive Director Abraham Bonowitz and Clergy United Against the Death Penalty Executive Director The Rev. Dr. Jeff Hood. Death […]

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