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Biden Fails a Death Penalty Abolitionist’s Most Important Test

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The mystery of Joe Biden’s views about capital punishment has finally been solved. His decision to grant clemency to 37 of the 40 people on federal death row shows the depth of his opposition to the death penalty. And his decision to leave three of America’s most notorious killers to be executed by a future administration shows the limits of his abolitionist commitment. The three men excluded from Biden’s mass clemency—Dylann Roof, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, and Robert Bowers—would no doubt pose a severe test of anyone’s resolve to end the death penalty. Biden failed that test.
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Alabama | Matthew Reeves Given Execution Date of January 27, 2022

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Matthew Reeves is scheduled to be executed on Thursday, January 27, 2022, at the Holeman Correctional Facility in Atmore, Alabama. 44-year-old Mathew is convicted of murdering 38-year-old Willie Johnson on November 27, 1996, in Selma, Alabama. Matthew has spent the last 23 years on Alabama’s death row.

Matthew did not have a stable childhood. He had little structure in the home and little supervision. Before his arrest, Matthew worked in construction.

Matthew Reeves and his younger brother Julius visited Brenda Suttles at her house in Selma on November 27, 1996. Brenda’s 15-year-old cousin, Emanuel was also there. Shortly after noon, all 4 agreed to go out looking for some people to rob. While out, they saw Jason Powell driving his car and convinced Jason to give them a ride to the neighboring town of White Hall. The group planned to rob a drug dealer. Before leaving Selma, Julius retrieved a shotgun and gave it to Matthew.

Between Selma and White Hall, Jason’s car broke down. Eventually, Willie Johnson drove by and agreed to tow Jason’s car back to Selma. Julius rode with Willie in his vehicle, while the others were in Jason’s truck. Upon arriving back in Selma, Julius exited the car and told the others Willie wanted $25 for towing.

Julius claimed he could give Willie a ring as payment, if Willie would take him to his girlfriend’s house to retrieve it. Willie agreed and began unhooking Jason’s car from his. During this time, Julius told the others Willie would be their robbery victim.

Julius again rode in the cab of the truck with Willie, while the others rode in the bed of the truck. Matthew waited until Willie was in the driver’s seat before hopping into the back of the truck with the shotgun. The group retrieved the ring and returned to where they had unhooked Jason’s truck. After turning into an alley, Matthew stuck the shotgun through the rear open window in the truck and shot Willie in the neck. After shooting Willie, Matthew told the others to steal his money.

Matthew, Julius, and Brenda attempted to hide the gun and their bloodstained clothing before returning to their friends. They stole approximately $360 from Willie, who died from his gunshot wound. Throughout that evening, Matthew repeatedly bragged about killing a man.

Willie’s body was discovered the following day, and a blood trail led police to the weapons and bloodstained clothing. Matthew was arrested later that day. Julius and Brenda were also eventually arrested. Julius, Brenda, and the others with them that all testified against Matthew. Matthew was sentenced to death. Julius was sentenced to life in prison, without the possibility of parole. Brenda was sentenced to life in prison, with the possibility of parole.

Pray for peace and healing for the family of Willie. Pray for strength for the family of Matthew. Please pray that if Matthew is innocent, lacks the competency to be executed, or should not be executed for any other reason, that evidence will be presented before his execution. Pray that Matthew may come to find peace through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Source: theforgivenessfoundation.org, Staff, December 28, 2021


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"One is absolutely sickened, not by the crimes that the wicked have committed,
but by the punishments that the good have inflicted." -- Oscar Wilde
Location: Alabama, USA
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