Weekly Report from the Board Meeting at Holman Prison 1.29.25

              Weekly Report from the Board Meeting at Holman Prison 1.29.25

Governor Ivey has set February 6th as the execution date for Demetrius T. Frazier. The Talking Points for letters and emails to the Governor are at https://www.phadp.org/execution-alert-3/. And from our friends at Death Penalty Action: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/stop-the-execution-of-demetrius-frazier-in-alabama. We will be delivering the petitions after a rally on the steps of the Capitol at noon February 4th and invite all to join us.

Frazier’s attorneys have filed a federal lawsuit seeking to block the execution unless the state revises its protocol, arguing that nitrogen hypoxia causes undue suffering. It is a documented fact that Kenneth Smith and Alan Miller were both fully conscious for several minutes as the nitrogen gas suffocated them. Carey Grayson was fully conscious for at least six minutes as the nitrogen gas suffocated him. This method of execution is the conscious suffocation of human beings, and it is abhorrent and absolutely torture. It amounts to cruel and unusual punishment which is barred by the U.S. Constitution. Demetrius was in court at a hearing yesterday.

  • Another lawsuit on behalf of Demetrius Frazier was filed in which his lawyers argued that his “Michigan life sentences have not been commuted and he has not been pardoned.” And the northern state’s law says, according to Frazier’s lawyers, that an inmate like Frazier “shall not be eligible for custodial incarceration outside a state correctional facility or a county jail.”The Michigan Department of Corrections lists Frazier as a prisoner on their online database, with his current status listed as prisoner and his location listed as Alabama. Although this lawsuit was “dropped Frazier’s lawyers noted that since it became a state Michigan hasn’t executed anyone and in 1846, that state became “the first government in the English-speaking world to abolish capital punishment for murder and lesser crimes.”The lawyers also said Whitmer could still issue an executive order seeking his return.” The petitions were delivered yesterday by Death Penalty Action to Governor Whitmer, as well as a hand written letter by Demetrius’ mother. Death Penalty Action made a video and as always organized excellent media coverage so that there were 4 Michigan news agencies as well as a TV zoom from Birmingham. We are very grateful and please continue to Sign the petition to Alabama Governor Kay Ivey to halt the execution of Demetrius Frazier
  • Sign the petition to oppose gas suffocation executions
  • Invite others to also sign the petition to Governor Whitmer. Here is a simple message you can send.

Please join me in signing a petition to Governor Whitmer: Bring back #DemetriusFrazier before he is executed in Alabama with gas suffocation on Feb. 6.  Michigan has always opposed the death penalty. Learn more and take action at bit.ly/ReturnDemetrius #StopExecutions @PHADP

 Beth Shelburne in an article entitled “A Song for Toforest Johnson” brought to our attention that earlier this month Susie, a Birmingham singer and songwriter released in a new single a song that she had written “Mercy for Toforest” as a call to action and a call out to state leaders who have met the mountain of evidence demonstrating Toforest’s innocence with astonishing indifference.

We thank all who are working so hard and diligently to stop all killing in Alabama! And as always in closing, we thank all our generous donors who either gave by going to our website and using the “donate” button or who gave directly. Thank you also to all who took the time to read our notes, commented, liked and shared them on Facebook. Stay safe and be kind to each other! 

                                                              Esther

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Weekly Report from the Board Meeting at Holman Prison 1.29.25
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