NAACP Calls For Missouri Gov. To Stop Execution Of Black Death Row Inmate

Photo: Innocence Project The NAACP is urging Missouri Governor Mike Parson to stop the scheduled execution of Marcellus Williams on Tuesday (Sept. 24), Essence reports. Williams, now 55, was convicted in 1998 of killing former newspaper reporter Felicia Gayle. Williams, who’s been on death row for years, has maintained his innocence. In an open letter, NAACP President Derrick Johnson and Missouri State Conference President Nimrod Chapel Jr. said executing Williams would be a “horrible miscarriage of justice.” “Taking the life of Marcellus Williams would be an unequivocal statement that when a white woman is killed, a Black man must die. And any Black man will do,” Johnson wrote in the letter. Johnson also included a statement from the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, indicating that there was no physical evidence that links Williams to Gayle’s death. Williams’ lawyers are asking the Supreme Court to step in the case, citing that his rights have been violated throughout his legal battle. In 2017, former Governor Eric Greitens paused Williams’ execution and appointed a board to investigate whether he should be granted clemency. However, Governor Mike Parson disbanded the board and reinstated the execution. Williams’ lawyer believe he was stripped of his...