Rallies, vigils hope to stop Ernest Lee Johnson execution
Watch a vigil outside the Boone County Courthouse in the player below.
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Scores of death penalty opponents and advocates for Ernest Lee Johnson were rallying and holding vigils around the state against his execution, scheduled for Tuesday evening.
The state executed Johnson by lethal injection at a state prison in Bonne Terre for the 1994 murders of Mary Bratcher, Fred Jones and Mable Scruggs at a Columbia gas station.
Johnson's supporters argue his intellectual disability makes his execution unconstitutional. Part of his brain has been removed, and Johnson's lawyers have also argued his execution by lethal injection could also amount to cruel and unusual punishment.
Johnson's legal team filed a last-ditch appeal to stay his execution Monday with the U.S. Supreme Court.
The first rally started at noon outside Gov. Mike Parson's office in Jefferson City. Parson indicated Monday that he would not grant clemency, saying that the state plans to move forward with killing Johnson.
Missourians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty is organizing the rallies, calling the gatherings Vigils for Life.
Elyse Max, executive director of Missourians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, said Parson's decision is immoral.
"Ernest Johnson is someone with an intellectual disability," Max said. "He is very, very kind. He is a mentor to many people, he is strong in his faith, he's an active participant in Christian services at the correctional center. There is no logical reason or no public safety issue. He's not a threat to future safety. It's not a deterrent. this is immoral to take away someone's life in the name of public safety."
The co-founder of the group Death Penalty Action, Scott Langley traveled from New York to advocate for Johnson. Langley said even if the decision was not overturned, the effort was still made.
"Sometimes the courts will intervene at the last minute, and we hope for that. We still have hope for that here in Missouri," Langley said. "But if it doesn't happen, at least we know that we're planting those seeds."
John Bennett, a retired reverend, said a prayer for Johnson during the protest at the Capitol.
"If Ernest Johnson, a child of God, is executed by the state of Missouri, it can only be described as a morally despicable act of murder by the state," Bennett said to end his prayer.
Five Tuesday evening, at least a dozen protesters gathered in front of Boone County Court House. All held signs as they were waiting until the 6 p.m. execution of Johnson.
During the last ten minutes leading up to 6 p.m., the protesters had a moment of silence for Johnson. Some closed their eyes with heads downs in prayer fashion.
Brittany Hughes, Columbia Regional Organizer for Missouri Faith voices also stood on the steps at the columns supporting Johnson. When she heard the confirmation of execution, she said she got her answer.
"It's extremely heartbreaking. It confirms what we know about America and that black and brown lives are not valued here. We feel by and large expendable, and the idea that we can play God or master of the universe with folk's lives is dangerous," said Hughes.
