Spiver W. Gordon, Rev.Samuel Ezell and Mary R.McInnis
The Alabama Civil Rights Museum Movement, Inc., (ACRMM) is sponsoring a series of programs commemorating the contributions of Dr. Martin Luther, King, Jr. and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference to Greene County, the State of Alabama, and this nation. Mr. Spiver W. Gordon, ACRMM President, organizes these events each year in celebration and as a reminder of the struggles and sacrifices of so many leaders who brought about civil, social, and economic changes in our lives. The work of Dr. King and SCLC, the Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), the National Democratic Party of Alabama (NDPA) and others provided the courageous leadership that changed laws and practices on voting rights, holding public office, desegregating public education, public accommodations, and employment opportunities for Black people in particular. As Mr. Gordon noted: “These rights are still not secured, especially the right to vote. There are strong movements to diminish those and other civil rights going on right now.” The annual events of ACRMM, open to the public, are scheduled as follows: On Wednesday January 15, 2025, at 10:00 am, the Dr. MKL, Jr. Educational Seminar Student Development Session will be held at New Peace Baptist Church on Prairie Ave., Eutaw, AL. Greene County High School students are the primary invitees. State Representative Curtis Travis the keynote speaker, with special guest, Dr. Monty Thorton and Dr. Dionne Edison, Moderator of Eutaw, AL. On Sunday, January 19 at 3:00 p.m., the MLK, Jr. County Wide Freedom Gospel Singing at St. Paul United Methodist Church, Eutaw, AL Rev. Toya Brown, Pastor. Rev. Kelvin Cockrell, Keynote Speaker Eutaw, AL. On Monday, January 20, 2025, Freedom Unity Breakfast will be held at the Eutaw Activity Center on Harris Ave., Eutaw, AL, Rev. / Dr. Samuel Ezell, of Zion Brush Creek, Eutaw Alabama, is the keynote speaker. The Freedom Breakfast is followed by the Countywide Freedom March to the William M. Branch Courthouse. Religious Women Freedom Rally, 10:30 a.m. Keynote Speaker, Hon. Mary R. McInnis, Special Guests, Dr. Carol P. Zippert, Pastor Carolyn Branch and others. Come join us for music, food, and celebration, “We can never let ourselves forget from whence we have come. We must keep the vigil to protect our rights and continue to serve and build our communities,” Gordon said.
U. S. Capitol under attack by Trump supporters on January 6, 2021
By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
On Monday, January 6, 2025, the Department of Justice released a detailed update on its ongoing investigation into the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. The attack disrupted a joint session of Congress certifying the 2020 presidential election results and caused extensive injuries and damages. The DOJ report comes as Georgia GOP Rep. Mike Collins, and other MAGA Republicans faces criticism for false claims about the events of that day.
In a post on X, Collins described the insurrection as a peaceful gathering, alleging that “thousands of peaceful grandmothers” had toured the Capitol. He claimed individuals “peacefully explored the building before leaving” and that “hundreds of peaceful protestors” had been unfairly prosecuted.
Collins’ description of the attack conflicts with DOJ findings. The department reported that more than 140 police officers were assaulted during the riot, including over 80 from the U.S. Capitol Police and over 60 from the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department. Property damage exceeded $2.8 million, and stolen government property added to the losses.
DOJ Investigation Milestones
As of January 3, 2025, the DOJ has charged approximately 1,583 individuals in connection with the Capitol attack:
608 defendants face charges for assaulting, resisting, or impeding law enforcement, including 174 accused of using dangerous weapons. 18 individuals have been charged with seditious conspiracy. 91 have been charged with destruction of government property, and 68 with theft of government property. All defendants face charges related to trespassing or disorderly conduct. In addition, over 1,000 defendants have pleaded guilty, including 327 to felony charges, and 667 have been sentenced to incarceration.
The DOJ said it continues to pursue suspects, including those captured on video assaulting law enforcement officers, and is asking for public assistance in identifying fugitives.
During the Presidential campaign, Donald Trump said he wanted to pardon all participants in the January 6th attack on the Capitol on his first day in office. Since winning the 2024 election, Trump said he was evaluating pardons on a “case by case” basis.
Law Enforcement Responds to False Narratives
Former U.S. Capitol Police Sgt. Aquilino Gonell, who was injured in the attack, rejected Collins’ claims and criticized efforts to minimize the events of January 6. Gonell, who has testified about his experiences, said Trump’s promises to pardon rioters dishonor the sacrifices made by officers.
“Releasing those who assaulted us from blame would be a desecration of justice,” Gonell said in a statement. “Trump and the rioters broke laws and committed crimes. They should not be rewarded.” Gonell added that such actions could endanger officers like himself who continue to testify in court.
Former Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn echoed those concerns. Referring to Trump’s recent election win, Dunn described it as a “gut punch.” He added, “The voters sent a message that what happened on January 6 wasn’t a big enough deal to disqualify him.”
Leaders Reflect on January 6
President Joe Biden called for accountability and defended the need for a peaceful transfer of power. “We’ve got to get back to basic, normal transfer of power,” he said.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also weighed in, questioning the rationale behind pardoning individuals involved in the attack. “It’s really a strange person who’s going to be president of the United States who thinks that it’s OK to pardon people who are engaged in an attack,” she said.
Gonell, in his remarks, urged Americans not to forget the sacrifices made by law enforcement that day. “These dishonorable elected officials are alive because of what officers like myself did, not because of the mob’s lack of trying,” he said. “Remember the names of the officers who died and the families they left behind.”
By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
The U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, has issued an advisory linking alcohol consumption to an increased risk of cancer, calling for updated warning labels on alcoholic beverages to inform consumers better. Alcohol is listed as one of the leading preventable causes of cancer in the United States, contributing to 100,000 cases and 20,000 deaths each year.
Current warning labels on alcoholic beverages focus on general health risks, impaired driving, and pregnancy-related concerns but omit the established connection to cancer. Dr. Murthy urged Congress to mandate updated labels that address the cancer risks associated with alcohol consumption—a move like requirements for cigarette packaging.
Research Confirms Alcohol-Cancer Connection
Decades of research confirm that alcohol is causally linked to at least seven types of cancer, including breast, liver, colorectal, and throat cancers. For example, studies show that consuming even one drink daily raises the risk of breast cancer by 10 percent compared to non-drinkers, while the risk of mouth cancer increases by 40 percent for the same level of consumption.
The advisory explains that the lifetime risk of breast cancer for women rises from 11.3 percent for those drinking less than one drink per week to 13.1 percent for those consuming one daily and 15.3 percent for two daily beverages. Among men, the risk of developing alcohol-related cancers increases from 10 percent with less than one drink per week to 11.4 percent for one drink daily and 13 percent for two daily beverages.
The Surgeon General noted that cancer risk increases with higher alcohol consumption but added that even low levels of drinking are not without risk. Health officials have noted that there is no safe limit for alcohol consumption, which aligns with the World Health Organization’s findings.
Mechanisms Behind Alcohol-Related Cancers
The Surgeon General’s advisory notes several ways in which alcohol contributes to cancer development. Dr. Murthy noted that alcohol breaks down in the body into acetaldehyde, a toxic compound that damages DNA and interferes with cellular repair processes. He said it generates reactive oxygen species, leading to inflammation and further DNA damage. Additionally, alcohol alters hormone levels, including estrogen, which plays a role in breast cancer development.
Alcohol’s interaction with tobacco also increases the absorption of carcinogens, compounding the risk for cancers of the mouth and throat. These biological pathways are consistent across different types of alcoholic beverages, including beer, wine, and spirits.
Global Perspective and Recommendations
Globally, alcohol was linked to over 740,000 cancer cases in 2020. While countries such as South Korea and Ireland have begun implementing cancer-specific warnings on alcohol labels, the United States lags. Ireland, for instance, reportedly plans to introduce labels by 2026 stating a direct connection between alcohol and fatal cancers.
Dr. Murthy recommended strengthening public education campaigns to increase awareness of the risks associated with alcohol. He also encouraged healthcare providers to inform patients about these risks and incorporate alcohol screening into routine care. “Many people assume that drinking within current guidelines of one drink daily for women and two for men is safe, but the evidence does not support that assumption,” Dr. Murthy said. “Less is better when it comes to reducing cancer risk.”
Rep. Sewell celebrates passage of her legislation to rename the Marion Post Office in Perry Co. Alabama, after Civil Rights Legend Albert Turner, Sr.
Washington, D.C. —U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07) celebrated the passage of her legislation to rename the Marion Post Office after the late civil rights leader Albert Turner, Sr. H.R. 7893 passed the Senate unanimously on December 19th. The bill previously passed the House of Representatives in the summer. It was signed into law by President Biden on January 4, 2025..
The bill was supported by every member of Alabama’s congressional delegation.
“Albert Turner Sr. was a civil rights legend whose enormous contributions to Perry County, the State of Alabama, and our nation should never be forgotten,” said Rep. Sewell. “I am thrilled that Congress has passed my bill to honor his legacy by officially renaming the Marion Post Office after him. I thank my colleagues of the Alabama Delegation for their help getting this important legislation across the finish line.”
“I and my family are deeply honored that the United States Congress saw fit to recognize my father and the significant contributions he made to the civil rights of Americans,” said Perry County Commissioner Albert Turner, Jr. “I personally want to thank the entire Alabama delegation, both Democratic and Republicans, who made this idea into law. More specifically, I want to thank the sponsor, my Congresswoman, Terri Sewell, for leading the charge of honoring my hero, my father, Albert Turner, Sr.”
Albert Turner, Sr. was born in Perry County, Alabama in 1936. He devoted his life to the Civil Rights Movement, fighting to ensure equal access to the ballot box for African Americans. Turner worked closely with prominent leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., served as the Alabama Field Secretary for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and founded the Perry County Civic League to organize protests and boycotts for the racial integration of public facilities and schools.
Turner also served as Manager of the Southwest Alabama Farmers Cooperative (SWAFCA), a ten county association of farmers in the Alabama Black Belt, to market cucumbers, okra and other vegetable products. Turner also worked to involve the cooperative in producing alcohol fuel from agricultural waste – which was a forward-looking plan to produce renewable fuel to combat climate change.
In 1985, Turner, his wife Evelyn and Spencer Hoage were indicted on over 200 counts of “voter fraud” by then U. S. Attorney Jeff Sessions, for their work to help people in Perry County to use the absentee ballot. A Federal jury acquitted the three of all charges at a trial that was designed to intimate Back voters but failed.
Turner passed away on April 13, 2000, at the age of 64.
Plans for an official ceremony for the post office re-naming are pending. H.R. 7893 will officially rename the Marion Post Office, located at 306 Pickens Street, as the “Albert Turner, Sr. Post Office Building.”
Bill text is available from Congresswoman Sewell’s office and website.
Vice President Kamala Harris, next to House Speaker Mike Johnson, announces that the votes are certified in the House chamber at the U.S. Capitol on Monday, Jan. 6, 2025 Saul Loeb / AFP – Getty Images
By Natasha Korecki and Brennan Leach, NBC News
Upon entering the Senate chamber on Monday, Vice President Kamala Harris issued a simple declaration when NBC News asked her about presiding over the certification of the 2024 election: “Democracy prevails. ” Minutes later, Harris carried through, steering Congress’ collective endorsement of the electoral vote that she lost and affirming Donald Trump’s return to the White House.
Hands clasped before her, Harris looked ahead plainly and intently as four senators took turns reading off the electoral totals from each state. She broke into a wide smile both when the vote total reached a threshold to declare Trump the next president and when she got a standing ovation from her party when her vote total was read.
Harris’ message of this Jan. 6 was one that both she and her predecessor on the campaign trail, President Joe Biden, conveyed time and again to voters. They advocated for “freedom” and democracy and shunned the events of the violent riot by Trump supporters on Jan. 6, 2021, which led to an unprecedented attack on the nation’s Capitol.
Missing on this day compared to four years earlier were gallows and a noose constructed outside the Capitol grounds. Or chants in support of hanging the vice president for failing to reject the will of the people and the true outcome of the election. Instead, the event transpired in the way it was meant to unfold, pro forma, taking only 30 minutes.
Ultimately, the American electorate rejected Harris, ushering in Trump and his vows to blow up the status quo. Trump claimed 312 electoral votes to Harris’ 226, won the popular vote and swept across battleground states, including toppling Democrats’ so-called blue wall of states typically necessary for their party’s victory.
Unlike Trump’s refusal to accept the outcome of the 2020 vote, Harris conceded her loss and tried to offer her supporters comforting words a day after the election. “The outcome of this election is not what we wanted, not what we fought for, not what we voted for, but hear me when I say … the light of America’s promise will always burn bright,” she said.
Traffic stops remain the most common reason for police-initiated contact across all racial groups, according to a new report from the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS). The report, part of a series examining police interactions with U.S. residents since 1996, reveals that racial disparities in these encounters persist. The Prison Policy Initiative responded to the report by noting a need to address inequities and rethink public safety strategies.
The BJS data show that Black drivers are more than twice as likely as drivers of other racial groups to be searched or arrested during a traffic stop. Black individuals are also over three times as likely as White individuals to experience the use of force in their most recent encounter with law enforcement. Although Black people accounted for only 12% of those whose most recent contact was initiated by police or related to a traffic accident, they represented one-third of those who reported being threatened or experiencing nonfatal use of force.
Alarming Trends for Older Adults and Women
The report also laid bare troubling trends regarding the use of force against older adults and women. In 2022, people aged 65 or older made up 5% of those who experienced the threat or use of force. While the figure may seem small, it represents a more than tenfold increase since 2015. The rise suggests that even older populations are not spared from escalating police aggression.
Women also face an increasing risk of police force. In 1999, women comprised only 13% of those subjected to police force. By 2022, that figure had doubled to 28%. Among those who experienced force, women were more likely than men to perceive it as excessive, with 51% of women reporting excessive force compared to 44% of men.
Persistent Disparities Across Age Groups
Young adults aged 18-24 were the most likely age group to experience police contact, with 25% reporting interactions in 2022. They were also the most likely to experience police-initiated contact (15%) and traffic accident-related contact (4%). Alarmingly, more than 1 in 5 individuals who reported the threat or use of force in their most recent police encounter were between 16 and 24 years old. The Prison Policy Initiative noted that these kinds of interactions can have life-threatening consequences, as over 70% of police killings in 2023 began with non-violent incidents or situations where no crime had been reported.
Systemic Issues and Data Gaps
Officials at the Prison Policy Initiative published a “wish list” of 22 critical gaps in criminal legal system data. The list includes data on arrests for technical violations, the quality of healthcare in correctional facilities, and the outcomes of pretrial supervision. Officials said the absence of such data hampers efforts to understand and address the criminal legal system’s impact fully.
The Case for Alternatives to Policing
Further, the available data suggest that many police encounters could be handled more effectively by alternative community resources. In 2022, nearly 30 million people initiated contact with police, but only half of those interactions involved reporting possible crimes. Many sought help for non-crime emergencies, such as medical issues, car accidents, or quality-of-life concerns. A 2022 analysis of 911 calls in major cities found that only 4% involved violent crimes. Officials said this indicates a need for investments in community-based services to reduce the risks associated with police intervention.
The Path Forward
Some officials noted that the decline in police contact does reduce opportunities for abuse. However, they said, the deep-seated racial disparities in policing remain unresolved.
“Just because the sheer number of police interactions was lower than it has been in decades does not mean the problems with our nation’s fraught system of policing are solved,” the Prison Policy Initiative stated in its release. “Racial disparities in police interactions, misconduct, and use of force remain pervasive and demand immediate attention.”
President Biden with Associate Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson
By Char Adams, NBC News
President Joe Biden has appointed more federal judges of color than any president before him, and overtaking Donald Trump’s record for overall federal judge appointments in the process.
On Friday the Senate confirmed Biden’s judicial nominee for the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California Benjamin Cheeks. With Cheeks’ confirmation, Biden has appointed 63 Black federal judges, the most of a presidency of any length, according to the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.
Earlier this month, the Senate confirmed Tiffany Johnson, Biden’s judicial nominee for the Northern District of Georgia, making her the 40th Black woman he has appointed to lifetime federal judgeships — more than any president in a single term. Overall, about 60% of Biden’s 235 appointees are people of color, according to figures the White House shared with NBC News. The Senate confirmed Cheeks and Serena Raquel Murillo last week.
Trump appointed 234 federal judges during his first term. White House communications director Ben LaBolt said in an emailed statement that Biden is “proud to have strengthened the judiciary by making it more representative of the country as a whole and that legacy will have an impact for decades to come.”
“Even before taking office, President Biden signaled to the Senate that he wanted to make sure that people who had been historically excluded from our judiciary” are included, said Lena Zwarensteyn, senior director of the fair courts program and an adviser at the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.
“The research shows that when you have more judges that have different perspectives because they’ve worked on different types of issues or they come from different communities, it improves the decision-making and it certainly improves the trust that communities might have in these institutions. So making sure we have fair-minded judges at all levels is really important.”
Barack Obama appointed 26 Black women lifetime judges during his two terms, and Trump appointed two Black women judges to the federal bench in his first term. Jimmy Carter appointed 37 Black lifetime judges in his one term. Both Obama and Bill Clinton each appointed 62 Black judges over the course of their two terms. Biden has beaten their record by one, according to the Leadership Conference. These numbers include multiracial judges and account for those appointed to multiple courts under the same president.
Senate Democrats vowed to confirm as many Biden nominees as possible before Trump takes office in January and Republicans take control of the Senate. They’ve confirmed dozens since Election Day, but these circuit nominees are in limbo amid some opposition from Democrats as well as GOP senators.
In November, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., wrote in a post on X that, “This Senate will keep working to confirm more of President Biden’s excellent judicial nominees.”
In an interview, Marge Baker, executive vice president at People For the American Way, a national progressive organization focused on combating far-right extremism, said it was crucial that the remaining nominees be confirmed.
“As pleased as we are with the quality and quantity of nominees that have been confirmed so far, these circuit court nominees are also really, really important,” Baker said. The four circuit judges in limbo are Adeel Abdullah Mangi of New Jersey, nominated for the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals; Julia M. Lipez of Maine, 1st Circuit; Karla M. Campbell of Tennessee, 6th Circuit; and Ryan Young Park of North Carolina, 4th Circuit.
“These courts make decisions that affect the lives of hundreds of millions of people,” Baker added. “They decide questions about voting rights, about consumer rights, about workers’ rights, about antitrust laws, about climate change, about abortion. There’s just a whole range of issues where these courts of appeals are often the final deciders on.”
Biden has long made it his goal while in office to reshape the overwhelmingly white and male federal judiciary by appointing judges from various professional and demographic backgrounds. He’s managed to do that, confirming record numbers of former public defenders, civil rights lawyers or lawyers representing workers. More than half his appointees have been women, according to the White House, and his appointments include several LGBTQ judges and judges from several racial and ethnic minority groups.
Biden made history by appointing Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman on the U.S. Supreme Court. Dozens of his appointments account for various “firsts.” “Biden has been a leader in terms of appointing Black judges,” said Dedrick Asante-Muhammad, president of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, a Washington-based think tank. “The great thing about this is that these appointments will have long-term impacts, at least in terms of representation. This is showing the public that the inclusion of Black judges should be natural, regular.”
Now, experts say the stakes are high as these appointments can affect court decisions during Trump’s second term. Elliot Mincberg, a Supreme Court expert and counsel for the People For the American Way, said Biden-appointed judges have “had an enormous impact on improving justice for Americans all across the country.”
Zwarensteyn called it “a tremendous and often not-discussed part” of Biden’s legacy. “He’s really taken it to what I would say is the next level in terms of administrations who have done this.”
Donald Trump was dealt a sobering dose of reality recently when the New York Attorney General’s office said there was “no basis” to drop a mammoth civil fraud judgment against the president-elect.
The firm rejection of Trump’s repeated requests to drop the nearly half-billion-dollar judgment came as he has been trying to assert his immunity in other legal cases against him, seemingly emerging victorious in those instances.
But not when it comes to New York Attorney General Letitia James, whose civil fraud suit against Trump led to a jury in February finding that he exaggerated the worth of his business and assets to secure loans and other financial benefits without revealing that he’s not as wealthy as he claims. The punitive damages owed by Trump were initially $464 million, but that figure has since inflated to $497 million because of the interest accrued while he tries to legally maneuver out of paying it.
And, according to the letter from New York Deputy Solicitor General Judith N. Vale responding to a letter from D. John Sauer, an attorney nominated by Trump to be solicitor general, the president-elect is still very much on the hook to pay the bill. “Your letter presents no basis for this Office to seek to vacate the final judgment or to dismiss this action,” Vale wrote in no uncertain terms to Sauer in the latter dated Monday.
Vale explained the reason for keeping the judgment as-is was twofold. Citing legal precedent, Vale shot down claims that the judgment would adversely affect Trump’s presidency, saying they had “no merit” and noting that the “ordinary burdens of civil litigation do not impede the President’s official duties in a way that violates the U.S. Constitution.”
In addition, Vale reminded Sauer that “the overwhelming evidence supports [New York] Supreme Court’s conclusion that Mr. Trump and the other defendants engaged in repeated and persistent fraud and illegality” – a non-negotiable fact that prompted “awarding disgorgement and other equitable relief.” Trump’s lawyers previously said that the purported billionaire couldn’t afford to pay the judgment.
Vale’s defiant response contrasts with the actions of federal special counsel Jack Smith, who was prosecuting Trump in a 2020 election interference case before moving last month to dismiss all the charges. Those dropped charges came after the U.S. Supreme Court decided in July to grant immunity for crimes that a president may commit.
Now’s a good time to be reminded that Trump has relentlessly taunted James, and he even doxxed her while he was under a gag order. He repeatedly called her and other Black prosecutors who brought cases against him “racist” without bothering to give a single example of their racism — which would have been rich anyway coming from a man who provides endless examples of his own racism.
Given those above facts, Sauer still brazenly appealed to James to drop the judgment under the purported guise that it would help Trump – a man who the U.S. Department of Justice claimed“ pursued unlawful means of discounting legitimate votes and subverting election results” – end “our Nation’s partisan strife” and be “for the greater good of the country.” This is America.
On Sunday, December 15, 2024, The Greene County Children’s Policy Council held its annual Community Christmas Reading program. The program was held at the Robert Young Community Center. Over one hundred individuals attended the event and was inspired by community individuals reading their favorite Christmas book or poem. Mrs. Mildred Morgan, Ziya Strode, Dr. Carol Zippert and Mrs. Julia Spree read their favorite Christmas book or poems at the event. The SPOT and YLI (Youth Leadership Institute) students read the symbols of Christmas and Luke 2: 1-20.
A delicious Sunday dinner was served to all in attendance. The children were excited for the entrance of Santa Claus. The children had the opportunity to take a picture with Santa and each child attending the event was given a Christmas book and a toy.
After the event, the SPOT and YLI students donated the poinsettias used to decorate the tables at the event to the residents at the Greene County Nursing Home.
The Christmas Community Reading is a part of the Policy Council‘s “Read Greene Read Campaign.” The next community reading will be held in April 2025. We encourage all Greene Countians to continue to “Read Greene Read.”
Alabama’s lethal injection chamber at Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore, Ala., is pictured in this Oct. 7, 2002 file photo.
By Ivana Hrynkiw, AL.com The nation’s death penalty watchdog group released its annual report Thursday, showing Alabama led the country in executions in 2024. It’s the first time Alabama has executed more people than any other state.
The Death Penalty Information Center, a national nonprofit who provides data and analysis on capital punishment, released its year-end report and showed that while nine states carried out executions in 2024, just four states made up three-fourths of the total 25 executions.
Those four states included Alabama. The Yellowhammer state executed six people in 2024: Kenneth Smith, Jamie Mills, Keith Gavin, Alan Miller, Derrick Dearman, and Carey Grayson. Smith, Miller, and Grayson were put to death using nitrogen gas.
The other three leaders were Missouri (4), Oklahoma (4), and Texas (5). The others were South Carolina two executions with one each in Georgia, Utah, Florida and Indiana. Smith was the first inmate to be executed using the new method in the United States. The method was approved by the Alabama Legislature years ago, and inmates had a chance to request to change their method of execution to gas in June 2018 instead of the default method of lethal injection. Smith elected to make that change.
That execution, which happened on the evening of Jan. 25, set off calls from around the world to discontinue use of nitrogen executions after the 58-year-old writhed and thrashed on the gurney for several minutes.
In her dissent in the Smith case, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote, “Having failed to kill Smith on its first attempt, Alabama has selected him as its ‘guinea pig’ to test a method of execution never attempted before. The world is watching… With deep sadness, but commitment to the Eighth Amendment’s protection against cruel and unusual punishment, I respectfully dissent.”
But the calls didn’t help. In September, Miller, who killed three men in a string of workplace shootings in 1999, was executed with nitrogen pumped through a gas mask, just like Smith. Miller had no pending appeals at the time of his death and had entered into a confidential settlement with the state weeks prior.
Miller struggled against his restraints for about two minutes, shaking and trembling. The shaking was similar to what was seen at Smith’s execution but was not as long nor violent. Alabama Department of Corrections Commissioner John Hamm said after Miller died that those movements weren’t surprising.
“There’s going to be involuntary body movements as the body is depleted of oxygen, so that was nothing we did not expect,” Hamm said.
Officials from the Alabama Attorney General’s Office have argued that Smith’s execution was prolonged because he held his breath, delaying the nitrogen entering his body.
According to the Death Penalty Information Center’s report, public support for the death penalty remains at 53%, a 50-year low. This year was the 10th consecutive year with fewer than 30 executions, according to the report.
The report also notes lawmakers and elected prosecutors from both sides of the aisle who publicly supported prisoners with innocence claims, including Richard Glossip in Oklahoma, Marcellus Williams in Missouri, and Robert Roberson in Texas.
“In 2024, we saw people with credible evidence of innocence set for execution, followed by extraordinary levels of public frustration and outrage,” said Robin Maher, Executive Director of the Death Penalty Information Center.
“Several high-profile cases fueled new concerns about whether the death penalty can be used fairly and accurately. A new poll also predicts a steady decline of support in the future, showing for the first time that a majority of adults aged 18 to 43 now oppose the death penalty.”
The report shows 26 people were sentenced to death in America this year, including four in Alabama. Three of the four were imposed by non-unanimous juries. Alabama and Florida are the only two states where non-unanimous juries can impose a death sentence: eight out of 12 are needed in Florida, while 10 out of 12 are needed in Alabama.
Six of those 26 death sentences in 2024 were imposed in Florida. Yet, the courts are not taking up more death-penalty cases. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to review 114 of 117, or 97%, of appeals from death-sentenced prisoners in 2024, according to the nonprofit report.
