NAACP Urges Missouri Governor to Halt Marcellus Williams' Execution

Williams' conviction and death sentence face renewed scrutiny amid claims of innocence and racial bias.

NAACP President Derrick Johnson has called on Governor Mike Parson to halt the execution of Marcellus Williams, citing potential wrongful conviction.
Williams, scheduled for execution next Tuesday, has maintained his innocence, with no physical evidence linking him to the 1998 murder of Lisha Gayle.
Prosecutors and the Midwest Innocence Project have filed multiple appeals, including an emergency appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, to stay the execution.
Relatives of the victim, Lisha Gayle, oppose the execution and support commutation of Williams' sentence to life without parole.
The case has raised significant concerns about racial bias, as Williams' original trial included only one Black juror and relied on testimonies from convicted felons seeking rewards.