Georgia Executes Willie Pye Despite Claims of Intellectual Disability

The execution, Georgia's first in four years, ignites debate over death penalty standards and the impact of racial bias.

Willie Pye, 59, was executed in Georgia despite evidence of intellectual disability and a history of ineffective legal representation.
Pye's execution marks the first in Georgia in four years, raising concerns about the state's death penalty practices and standards for proving intellectual disability.
Efforts to save Pye's life included a clemency petition with over 5,000 signatures and legal arguments highlighting racial bias and procedural issues.
The Georgia Board of Pardons and Parole decided not to grant clemency, and the U.S. Supreme Court denied a stay of execution.
Activists and legal experts criticize the execution for ignoring evidence of Pye's intellectual disability and the impact of racial bias in his sentencing.