A conversation with Death Penalty Action Co-founder and Executive Director Abe Bonowitz. Now that Joe Biden is a lame duck president, activists are holding him accountable to make good on his promise to end the federal death penalty during his remaining six months as president. Biden’s election campaign in 2020 had pledged to end the federal death penalty and incentivize the remaining 27 states that still allow executions to do the same. While he made history as the first president in the United States to openly oppose the death penalty, there has been no movement to actually end federal executions during his nearly four years in office.
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➤ Clemency
2019. USA. Director: Chinonye Chukwu. Writer: Chinonye Chukwu. Cast: Alfre Woodard, Richard Schiff, Aldis Hodge. Running time: 1h52
Synopsis:
The movie revolves around the life of Bernadine Williams (played by Alfre Woodard), a prison warden who oversees death row at a maximum-security penitentiary.
As she prepares for another execution, the emotional toll of her job begins to take a heavy toll on her. She grapples with the moral and psychological challenges of her role, while trying to maintain a sense of professionalism. However, her growing internal turmoil and the impending execution of a death row inmate, Anthony Woods (played by Aldis Hodge), forces her to confront her own humanity and the devastating impact of the criminal justice system.
Reception:
"Clemency" received critical acclaim for its powerful performances, especially Alfre Woodard's portrayal of the conflicted prison warden.
The film has been praised for its thought-provoking exploration of the death penalty, its impact on individuals involved in the process, and the overall criminal justice system. It won the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival, highlighting its compelling storytelling and poignant social commentary.
The film's reception underscores its significance in addressing complex moral and emotional issues within the context of the American justice system.
➤ The Current War
2017. USA. Director: Alfonso Gomez-Rejon. Writer: Michael Mitnick. Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Oliver Powell, Katherine Waterston. Running time: 1h42
Synopsis:
"The Current War" is a historical drama that primarily focuses on the rivalry between Thomas Edison (played by Benedict Cumberbatch) and George Westinghouse (played by Michael Shannon) during the late 19th century.
The film explores their fierce competition in the "War of Currents" as they vied to establish their electrical systems as the dominant one for lighting up America.
Edison advocated for direct current (DC), while Westinghouse promoted alternating current (AC).
The invention of the electric chair plays a significant role in the film's plot.
In an effort to discredit Westinghouse and the dangers of alternating current, Edison becomes involved in the development of the electric chair as a means of execution. He collaborates with Harold P. Brown (played by Tom Holland) to design the first electric chair and demonstrate the perceived risks of AC power by using it for capital punishment.
This historical backdrop and the development of the electric chair become central to the film's narrative, shedding light on the ethical and moral dilemmas associated with the use of electricity for execution.
Reception:
"The Current War" received mixed reviews from critics upon its initial release, with some praising the performances of the cast, particularly Benedict Cumberbatch and Michael Shannon. The film's portrayal of the technological and personal conflicts between Edison and Westinghouse was appreciated for its historical significance.
However, the film's reception was somewhat subdued due to its pacing and storytelling choices. It underwent some re-editing after its initial festival screening, and the version released to theaters received a more positive reception.
While it may not have been a critical darling, "The Current War" remains an intriguing exploration of a pivotal period in electrical history, including the controversial introduction of the electric chair as a method of execution.
➤ Just Mercy
2019. USA. Director: Destin Daniel Cretton. Writer: Destin Daniel Cretton, Andrew Lanham. Cast: Jamie Foxx, Charlie Pye Jr., Michael Harding. Running time: 2h17
Summary:
"Just Mercy" is a powerful and moving drama based on the real-life story of Bryan Stevenson (played by Michael B. Jordan), a young and idealistic lawyer who founded the Equal Justice Initiative. The film centers around Stevenson's early career and his mission to provide legal representation to death row inmates, particularly those who were wrongly convicted.
One of his most high-profile cases is that of Walter McMillian (played by Jamie Foxx), an African American man wrongly convicted of murder and sentenced to death in Alabama.
Stevenson and his dedicated team, including Eva Ansley (played by Brie Larson), work tirelessly to uncover evidence of McMillian's innocence and to challenge the deeply ingrained racial bias and systemic injustice in the criminal justice system.
The film explores themes of racial discrimination, inequality, and the struggle for justice, shedding light on the challenges faced by Stevenson and his clients as they fight for truth and the right to a fair trial.
Reception:
"Just Mercy" received critical acclaim for its powerful storytelling and performances. Michael B. Jordan's portrayal of Bryan Stevenson was highly praised for its emotional depth and authenticity. Jamie Foxx's performance as Walter McMillian also garnered recognition for its compelling portrayal of a wrongfully convicted man.
The film's examination of systemic racism and the flaws in the criminal justice system struck a chord with audiences and critics alike. "Just Mercy" was praised for its emotional impact and its role in raising awareness about issues related to race, inequality, and the death penalty. It was considered an important and timely film that prompted discussions about the need for criminal justice reform.
Overall, "Just Mercy" was lauded for its social relevance and its commitment to telling a story that highlights the injustices faced by many marginalized individuals within the American legal system.
➤ Monster's Ball
2001. USA. Directed by Marc Forster. Cast: Billy Bob Thornton as Hank Grotowski, Halle Berry as Leticia Musgrove, Heath Ledger as Sonny Grotowski, Peter Boyle as Buck Grotowski. Running time: 112 minutes.
Synopsis:
"Monster's Ball" is a drama film directed by Marc Forster. The story revolves around Hank Grotowski, a prison guard at a death row facility, and Leticia Musgrove, a widow who struggles to make ends meet for her son. Hank's son, Sonny, is involved in a tragic accident, and both Hank and Leticia find themselves at a crossroads in their lives. The film explores themes of grief, racism, and redemption as their paths intersect, leading to a complex and unconventional relationship.
The death penalty serves as a backdrop and a thematic element that highlights the dark and complex aspects of the characters' lives. The film is set in a Southern U.S. state, where the death penalty is still in practice.
The main character's job is to oversee executions, which puts him in close proximity to the grim reality of the death penalty, and a large segment of the film deals with the emotional toll that the death penalty takes on those involved in its execution. Hank struggles with guilt and a sense of moral conflict as he becomes disillusioned with his role in the execution process.
In "Monster's Ball," the relationship between Hank Grotowski, played by Billy Bob Thornton, and his son Sonny, portrayed by Heath Ledger, is characterized by violence, tension, and a sense of familial dysfunction. Hank, as a prison guard, represents the stern, authoritarian figure in their household, while Sonny is impulsive and struggles to live up to his father's expectations.
The violent nature of their relationship is epitomized in a pivotal scene where a tragic accident occurs, leading to a turning point in the story. This incident not only deepens the emotional chasm between father and son but also sets the stage for profound changes in their lives. The tension and conflict within this father-son dynamic serve as a significant element in the film, contributing to the complex web of emotions and experiences explored throughout the narrative.
Reception:
"Monster's Ball" received critical acclaim upon its release. Halle Berry won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in the film, making her the first African-American woman to win the Oscar in that category.
The movie was praised for its powerful performances and its exploration of challenging themes. It was also well-received by audiences and remains a significant work in American cinema.
➤ The Chamber
1996. USA. Directed by James Foley. Based on John Grisham's 1994 eponymous novel. Cast: Chris O'Donnell, Gene Hackman, Faye Dunaway. Running time: 112 minutes
Synopsis:
"The Chamber" is a legal thriller directed by James Foley and based on the novel of the same name by John Grisham. "The Chamber," both the book and the film, draws inspiration from real historical events and cases, although it is a work of fiction.
The story follows the life of Adam Hall (played by Chris O'Donnell), a young attorney who is determined to save his racist and convicted grandfather, Sam Cayhall (played by Gene Hackman), from the gas chamber.
Cayhall, a member of the Ku Klux Klan, is on death row for his involvement in a 1967 bombing that resulted in the deaths of two young children. As Adam delves into his family's dark past and attempts to delay the execution, he faces challenges from both his own family and the legal system. The film explores themes of racism, forgiveness, and the complexities of the death penalty.
While the characters and specific details in "The Chamber" are fictional, they are rooted in the broader historical context of racial tensions and crimes in the American South.
The use of such a backdrop allows the story to explore themes of racism and family legacy within the context of a legal thriller.
Reception:
"The Chamber" received mixed to negative reviews from critics.
While Gene Hackman's performance was generally praised, the film as a whole was criticized for its handling of the sensitive racial themes and the adaptation of Grisham's novel. Some felt that it didn't capture the novel's depth and intensity.
As a result, the film didn't achieve the same level of critical acclaim as other adaptations of Grisham's work.
A conversation with Death Penalty Action Co-founder and Executive Director Abe Bonowitz. Now that Joe Biden is a lame duck president, activists are holding him accountable to make good on his promise to end the federal death penalty during his remaining six months as president. Biden’s election campaign in 2020 had pledged to end the federal death penalty and incentivize the remaining 27 states that still allow executions to do the same. While he made history as the first president in the United States to openly oppose the death penalty, there has been no movement to actually end federal executions during his nearly four years in office.
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — The Mississippi attorney general on Tuesday requested an execution date for the state’s longest-serving death row inmate. Richard Gerald Jordan, now 78, was sentenced to death in 1976 for the kidnapping and killing of Edwina Marter earlier that year in Harrison County. The Mississippi Supreme Court rejected Jordan’s latest appeal Tuesday, and Attorney General Lynn Fitch filed papers hours later asking the court to set a date for the lethal injection.
A Texas man convicted of fatally stabbing twin 16-year-old girls more than 3 decades ago was executed on Tuesday evening. Garcia Glenn White was pronounced dead at 6:56 p.m. CDT following a chemical injection at the state penitentiary in Huntsville. He was condemned for the December 1989 killings of Annette and Bernette Edwards. The bodies of the twin girls and their mother, Bonita Edwards, were found in their Houston apartment. White, 61, was the 6th inmate put to death in the U.S. in the last 11 days. His execution took place shortly after the U.S. Supreme Court, without comment, rejected 3 last-ditch appeals.
The Idaho Department of Correction is renovating the execution chamber at the Idaho Maximum Security Institution near Kuna, according to building permits from the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses. The change comes after the failed execution attempt of 74-year-old Thomas Creech on Feb. 28, in which the medical team could not establish an IV line to carry out his execution by lethal injection. The department called off his execution.
The Islamic Republic's authorities have executed two people in public. The executions come amidst a concerning trend of increasing use of the death penalty in the country. Ebrahim Gamizi, the prosecutor of central Khomein, announced that the sentence of two "armed robbers responsible for the death of Second Lieutenant Morteza Barati” was carried out in public. According to ISNA news agency, the execution took place on Monday morning in Khomein, located in the central Markazi Province.
Crimes now punishable by death seem to now include anti-state propaganda and illegal manufacturing, according to reports North Korea is expanding its list of crimes punishable by death, according to reports. Supreme leader Kim Jong Un's regime expanded the list of offenses warranting the death penalty from 11 to 16 via revisions of criminal law, according to Yonhap News Agency.
Texas serial murderer Garcia Glen White is scheduled for execution this week for the murders of 16-year-old identical twin sisters and their mother in 1989. This will be the nation's sixth execution in a 10-day period. But White's attorneys argue that his mental deficiencies − combined with prolonged use of crack cocaine − are more to blame than White, described by those who knew him as a gentle giant whose life went off the rails because of football injuries, job loss and an ensuing drug addiction.
JEDDAH – A Pakistani citizen has been sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia on charges of heroin smuggling. The Saudi Ministry of Interior stated that a Pakistani named Nadeem Shahzad was arrested for heroin smuggling. A local court sentenced him to death after the crime was proven, a decision that was upheld by the appellate court and the Supreme Court. It added that the execution of the death penalty was carried out today, September 30, in Dammam.
Singaporean authorities are reportedly set to execute Mohammad Azwan Bin Bohari (“Azwan“), a 47-year-old Singaporean, on Friday, 4 October 2024. A copy of an execution notice dated 30 September 2024 from the Singapore Prisons Service was published by local rights group Transformative Justice Collective (“TJC“) on Instagram. According to TJC, this is the second execution notice that Azwan’s family received this year. The first scheduled execution in April 2024 was halted as Azwan had a “pending case” before the Courts, TJC said.
Saudi Arabia has carried out its highest number of executions in more than three decades after three executions announced Saturday took the 2024 figure to 198, according to an AFP tally. The Gulf monarchy executed the third highest number of prisoners in the world after China and Iran in 2023, according to Amnesty International. The latest tally surpassed its previous highs of 196 in 2022 and 192 in 1995, according to the London-based human rights group, which began recording the annual data in 1990.
