President & CEO Stanley Richards Released Statement on the Execution of Marcellus Williams

The execution of Marcellus Williams is one of the most egregious examples of injustice carried out by the American criminal legal system. The inherent injustice of our criminal legal system is evident by the prosecution against Mr. Williams, which was based entirely on flawed testimony and contaminated evidence. The prosecutor no longer stands by the conviction, let alone the execution, and asked the circuit court to “correct this manifest injustice.” Despite the diverse voices calling to stop the execution, Mr. Williams was put to death.

It has been shown in studies, and in court cases for decades, that the harshest of penalties cannot be applied in a fair manner. Death sentences are meted out disproportionately based on the race of the victim. Capital punishment serves no deterrent purpose and is simply vengeance by another name, which is not a value that should be upheld – let alone celebrated – in a civilized, humane society. In the name of Marcellus Williams, The Fortune Society calls for an end to the death penalty and we recommit ourselves to amplifying the humanity of all people impacted by the criminal legal system.