Julius Jones, a Black man who has spent 20 years on death row who was scheduled to be executed today at 4 p.m. CT was granted clemency by Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, the HuffPost reports.
Stitt had not made a decision on whether to grant Jones clemency, according to CNN. But after the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board voted 3-1 to commute Jones’ sentence to life in prison with the possibility of parole, Stitt finally stepped in. Jones will now serve life without parole.
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“Personally, I believe in death penalty cases there should be no doubts. And put simply, I have doubts about the case,” board Chairman Adam Luck said in September at Jones’ first clemency hearing.
Many activists put pressure on Stitt to make a decision, even protesting outside his office.
Reality star Kim Kardashian was pivotal in fighting for Jones to receive clemency and posted a message thanking the governor for his intervention.
Jones’ mom, Madeline Davis-Jones, spoke Wednesday night with dozens of Jones’ supporters behind her.
“Monday, you know, I was denied, and I know denied is not delayed, but today I had high expectations to hug my son. I saw him but I’ve been seeing him through a glass. A lot of people think I get to hug him. I don’t get to hug him,” said Davis-Jones.
Source: Julius Jones’ Life Is Spared, Won’t Be Executed After Receiving Clemency By Oklahoma Governor
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