A Mississippi man is scheduled to be killed Tuesday (May 7) at 6pm. In a last minute 5-to-4 vote, the courts denied DNA testing that could prove his innocence. Willie Jerome Manning is set for execution. What will we do? Make phone calls to the governor (Phil Bryant 601-359-3150)? Perhaps folks in Mississippi can nonviolently put their bodies in the way? Perhaps all of us can pray for an end to such a dis-graceful and merciless practice?
After doing an event last week with an exonerated death row inmate who spent his entire adult life in prison for a crime he did not commit, I have more become deeply troubled than ever by the logic and the horror of the death penalty system… especially as a follower of the executed and risen Christ. Let’s do something to get in the way or death.
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Shane Claiborne is a prominent author, speaker, activist, and founding member of the Simple Way. He is one of the compilers of Common Prayer, a new resource to unite people in prayer and action. Shane is also helping develop a network called Friends Without Borders which creates opportunities for folks to come together and work together for justice from around the world. His most recent book is Red Letter Revolution, which he co-authored with Tony Campolo.