For Immediate Release: Oct. 29, 2021
Contact: Katlyn Toelle at katlyn@catholicsmobilizing.org
Website: catholicsmobilizing.org Twitter: @CMNEndtheDP
(Washington, D.C.) Oklahoma took the life of John Marion Grant Thursday in what turned out to be an appallingly problematic execution that left Mr. Grant convulsing repeatedly and vomiting before his death. Grant’s was the first execution in Oklahoma since the 2014 botched execution of Clayton Lockett and the 2015 execution of Charles Warner using the wrong drug.
“Oklahoma’s track record for problematic executions is nothing short of horrendous,” said Krisanne Vaillancourt Murphy, Executive Director of Catholic Mobilizing Network. “The excessive pain and suffering experienced by John Grant during his execution last night warrants an immediate halt to the six pending execution dates in Oklahoma through March of next year.”
Grant’s execution took place amid ongoing litigation surrounding the constitutionality of Oklahoma’s lethal injection protocol. A trial on the issue is scheduled in federal court for February 2022.
“The reality is there is no humane way for the state to take a life and all methods of execution violate the Catholic Church’s teaching on the dignity of the human person.” said Vaillancourt Murphy. “That said, Oklahoma’s protocol has proven itself particularly egregious.”
