October 19, 2022 Lamentations: On Benjamin Cole (w/ Abe Bonowitz) Benjamin Cole is scheduled to be executed for killing his infant daughter, Brianna, on October 20, 2022 Abe: You were speaking earlier about what these executions remind you of? Do you mind sharing that again? Jeff: We live in a culture that greatly romanticizes hunting. Set up camp under the cover of darkness. Sleep restlessly on a cot. Get up early. Pour some... Read more
October 16, 2022 Jesus’ First Execution: Dirt, Oklahoma, Anthony Sanchez & The Struggle to End the Death Penalty Jesus was such an effective teacher that people were constantly trying to trip him up…especially on moral issues. One day, as he was teaching, some religious leaders…some preachers if you will…slung a woman at his feet. To make sure that there was no mistaking what they were accusing the woman of, they loudly declared that she had been caught in... Read more
A Primer on Moral Ethics For a number of years, I spent every weekend in the streets of Dallas. During the time, I was one of the local leaders of the movement for black lives. I’d venture to say that during that time I organized tens of thousands of people to hit the streets. To say that I was critical of local churches and their lack of participation in these moments would be an understatement. Constantly, I would... Read more
On February 14, 2018, Nikolas Cruz shot and killed 17 students and staff at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Earlier today, a jury in Florida sentenced Cruz to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Here are some quotes from the reactions expressed by victim’s families about Cruz not getting the death penalty… “The system continues to fail us…” “…we thought Cruz would get the death penalty…It’s just so upsetting.” “This jury... Read more
the REAL BENJAMIN COLE. / a Death Penalty Competency Test for Oklahoma Back when I was a child, I used to play a video game entitled, “James Bond 007.” I’m sure many remember that game. I used to sit around with my buddies and play all day long. There is no doubt that it was fun. While I don’t know if it’s the same version that Benjamin Cole was playing…I can assure you I didn’t love it as much... Read more
The Devil in Disguise? : The Unbelievable Incompetence/Criminality of Joyce Gilchrist & The Fight to Save Anthony Sanchez Based on flawed forensic analysis, Michael Blair spent 15 years on death row for a crime that he did not commit. https://innocenceproject.org/cases/michael-blair/ Based on flawed forensic analysis, Malcolm Rent Johnson was executed for a crime many suspect he did not commit. https://www.nytimes.com/2001/09/02/us/oklahoma-retraces-big-step-in-capital-case.html?pagewanted=2 Based on flawed forensic analysis, Curtis McCarty spent 20 years on death row for... Read more
*I constructed this letter to the editor for Indigenous People’s Day (October 10). It was sent out to dozens of newspapers in Oklahoma. Dear Editor, On this Indigenous People’s Day (October 10), there is a Choctaw man sitting on death row in Oklahoma, named Anthony Sanchez. On April 6, 2023, Sanchez is scheduled to be executed for the 1996 murder of Juli Busken in Norman. At this point, most advocates for people on death row would dive into a... Read more
*Delivered on a Death Penalty Action vigil immediately following the October 5, 2022 Execution of John Ramirez in Texas I’m tired of these vigils. Really tired. We show up. We try to do what we’re supposed to do. We try to be present. We feel like we’ve accomplished something. Then, a few weeks later we do the same thing all over again. Why? Why are we so comfortable going through the motions? The truth is, you can get... Read more
The Executioner. : On the Executioners of John Ramirez Tonight, John Ramirez is scheduled be executed in Texas. Close your eyes. Imagine for a second that you are one of the ones tasked with killing him. Evenings aren’t what they used to be. The kids run around laughing. Your spouse keeps talking. All you can do is stare off into space. The questions haunt your every thought. Grace? Mercy? Judgment? Eternity? You’d heard these... Read more
Football is Evil: Tua Tagovailoa & Our Addiction to Watching the Destruction of Others Over the last few days, I’ve followed the injuries of Miami Dolphins’ Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Last Sunday in a game against the Buffalo Bills, Tagovailoa was injured and, despite stumbling around disoriented and needing to go back to the locker room, was ultimately put back in the game. Fast forward to tonight, Tagovailoa was slammed hard to the ground by a large defensive player. Immediately,... Read more
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