Protests Erupt Ahead of John Hanson’s Scheduled Execution in Oklahoma
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLA. (KOKH) — As execution day approaches for death row inmate John Hanson, groups across Oklahoma are ramping up protests against the impending execution, slated for Thursday morning. Convicted of carjacking and murdering a Tulsa woman in 1999, Hanson has been at the center of controversy regarding the fairness of his clemency hearing.
Earlier this week, a district court judge granted Hanson a temporary stay, citing concerns over the clemency process. However, an appeals court swiftly ruled that the judge lacked authority, rendering the stay “an extreme and unwarranted measure.” Hanson’s case is one of four executions scheduled nationwide this week, with additional executions taking place in Florida and Alabama on Thursday, followed by another in South Carolina on Friday.
Anti-death penalty advocates are voicing their discontent with the surge in executions, claiming that governors and judges are failing to intervene. Death Penalty Action stated, “The courts won’t stop it, governors won’t stop it, but we will not stay silent.”
Hanson’s execution has been in preparation for nearly three years, starting in July 2022 when the state first announced execution dates for multiple inmates. Complications arose as Hanson was incarcerated in Louisiana on separate charges, leading to legal battles over his transfer back to Oklahoma. Following delays and a denied clemency request last month, the state made renewed efforts to schedule his execution.
The Oklahoma Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty is set to protest outside the Governor’s Mansion, followed by a vigil after the execution. Another vigil is planned at the St. Joseph Monastery in Tulsa, reflecting the ongoing opposition to capital punishment in the state.
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