Wave of Executions in Five States Raises Alarms Over US Death Penalty

Five men were executed across the South and Midwest this week, spotlighting issues of innocence, racial bias, and judicial oversight.

Five executions occurred in Alabama, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Texas over six days, a concentration not seen in over 20 years.
Marcellus Williams and Khalil Divine Black Sun Allah were among those executed despite significant claims of innocence and prosecutorial misconduct.
Racial disparities were evident, with three of the five executed men being Black, reflecting broader national trends in death penalty cases.
The Supreme Court, with its conservative majority, denied last-minute appeals, drawing criticism for its handling of capital cases.
The use of experimental execution methods, like nitrogen gas in Alabama, has raised concerns about the cruelty and humanity of current practices.