Ernest L. Johnson, aged 61, was executed a few hours ago for murdering three people during a convenience store robbery in 1994. Before his death, a number of prominent figures pleaded for clemency, both for all the usual reasons against deliberately killing another person in your power who poses no threat to you or anyone else, and because intellectually he was a child.
He wrote a final statement which I reproduce here.
“I am soory and have remorse for what i do. I want to say that i love my family and friends, I am thankful of all that my Lawer has done for me. They made me feel love as if I was family to them. I love them all. for all the people hat has prayed for me i them from the bottom of my. I Love the Lord with all my heart and soul. If i am Executed i no were I am going to heaven. becaus i ask him to forgive me God everone. Whit Respect Ernest L Johnson.”
Jesus, reminds me of Flowers for Algernon
On a related note, I recently posted an outline of how Albert Camus came to oppose the death penalty, on principle, and the legitimacy of political violence, more generally. https://publicthings.substack.com/p/on-the-influence-of-the-purge-on