Sen. Connie Johnson to tour State Penitentiary Death Row with local coalition

Sen. Connie Johnson will join the Oklahoma Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty (OK-CADP) on a tour of the Oklahoma State Penitentiary Death Row, Execution Chamber and Burial Grounds next week. The tour follows the group’s recent meeting with the governor to try to persuade her to issue an Executive Order to study and examine the costs and use of the death penalty in Oklahoma.

“This trip will allow us to get an up close and personal view of the unfortunate reality of the death penalty in our state. While in office, I’ve worked hard both as a legislator and a board member of this coalition to open the eyes of my fellow legislators and the public to the injustice and outrageous expense of this inhumane practice in our state,” said Johnson, D-Oklahoma County. “Standing in the execution chamber and on the burial grounds will strengthen our resolve to abolish the death penalty and give even more meaning and urgency to those moments when we protest in front of the Governor’s mansion before and during executions.”

The tour will take place on Wednesday, October 9 – the day before the Coalition’s and other groups’ observance of World Day Against the Death Penalty on October 10. Members of the coalition will meet at the Oklahoma Conference of the United Methodist Church offices at 1501 NW 24th Street in Oklahoma City at 8:15a.m. The group will leave for the state penitentiary at 8:30am.

The media is invited to join OK-CADP at the OSP from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Johnson noted that a few spaces will also be available in the van for anyone wishing to go to McAlester for the tour.

The Oklahoma Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty (OK-CADP) is a grassroots membership organization working to end the death penalty in Oklahoma. This statewide organization engages in outreach, education and advocacy to raise awareness of issues related to the death penalty, and to mobilize Oklahoma citizens and their elected officials to support abolition of the death penalty.