Bending the Arc references a quote by Rev. Dr. King who said, “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” This digital newsletter from the CSA Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation office showcases the work of changemakers, opportunities to learn, and opportunities for you to help “bend the arc” toward justice. Full contents of the newsletter are published on this page.
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Death Penalty via Nitrogen Hypoxia
January 25, 2024
There is no true justice being served, or an ounce of humanity being considered, in what the state of Alabama is planning.
Kenneth Smith is scheduled for execution on January 25, 2024 for the 1988 murder of Elizabeth Sennett. Mr. Smith’s case is unusual in several respects. First, he has already survived one execution attempt, which left him with post-traumatic stress disorder, according to a clinical psychologist and trauma expert who examined him. On November 17, 2022, the state tried and failed to execute Mr. Smith using lethal injection but abandoned its efforts after four hours when staff were unable to access a vein.
Second, Mr. Smith would likely not be sentenced to death today. In 1996, a jury recommended that he receive a sentence of life in prison by a vote of 11 to 1, but the judge overrode its recommendation and sentenced him to death. Alabama judges no longer have the ability to override jury sentencing recommendations, so if sentenced today, Mr. Smith would not be facing execution.
Third, unless an appeals court intervenes, Mr. Smith will be the first human being executed using nitrogen gas. The consequences of using this protocol are completely unknown, even to Alabama officials. Read the full story.
You can be sure groups such as Death Penalty Action have been working diligently to prevent this. But if the execution is not halted, please join Death Penalty Action, Project Hope to Abolish the Death Penalty and a variety of experts and special guests for an informative and prayerful vigil to protest the execution of Kenneth Smith. They’ll be live from Atmore, Alabama on Thursday, January 25 starting 5pm CT and will continue until after the execution is either stayed or completed, at which time they will be joined by Rev. Dr. Jeff Hood, Kenny's spiritual advisor, to hear his first-hand experiences and observations of the first-ever nitrogen hypoxia prisoner-extermination. Register here to be a part of the live audience, or watch on the Death Penalty Action Facebook or YouTube platforms.
Should this horrific event happen, you can still take action in preventing it from happening again. Sign this letter and tell state governors to Say NO to the Gas Chamber.
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Death Penalty & Restorative Justice