Viewpoint: Capitalizing on death? Why Oklahoma should abolish all forms of capital punishment
Last week, the world watched as Julius Jones’ life rested solely in Gov. Kevin Stitt’s hands. The state Pardon and Parole Board recommended clemency twice, and people from all over the world called on the governor to save Mr. Jones’ life. And yet, Gov. Stitt waited until the last moment to stop the execution and impose a harsher sentence than recommended by the parole board.
Mr. Jones’ conviction was called into question at multiple hearings. But even those who have caused harm do not deserve to be killed by the state, especially if it means being tortured to death, vomiting and seizing before an audience — as reported with the last two executions carried out in Oklahoma, and five more men have similar fates scheduled.
We must abolish capital punishment now because it is wrong. Appealing to Gov. Stitt on the grounds of right and wrong, however, is not the angle he understands.
Oklahoma imprisons a higher proportion of its residents than any democracy on Earth. Though the state is moving away from using privately owned prisons, every aspect of incarceration has been privatized: architectural design, construction, personnel services, equipment and IT. Prisoner labor is a source of immense profits for companies that contract with the state to exploit the incarcerated population. The basic needs of the prisoners themselves — like communication, banking, education, food, transportation and health care — are sold to them at exorbitant prices by companies invested in and profiting from the degradation of human life. Politicians gain political capital through these state-sanctioned executions, touting their “tough on crime” policies in exchange for campaign donations and name recognition. Our economic system is built on death as a profitable enterprise.
Gov. Stitt’s decision wasn’t an emotional, spiritual or ethical one. That is why he didn’t respond to the righteous calls for #JusticeForJulius, going against the recommendation of the parole board when he sentenced him to life without the possibility of parole. Gov. Stitt’s choice was purely economic: the state and private corrections industry are invested in the death of the citizenry because they profit from it.
The only way to stop the state’s murderous labor is to build a new world. Oklahoma has long been the site of empire’s basest profiteering, and the rich have gained immense wealth by destroying the land and the natural world that humans are part of. As long as it’s profitable to do so, capitalists will continue profiting on death. As long as any Oklahoman suffers cold and callous murder by a state at the service of profit, none of us are free. We must abolish all forms of profit from death. We must, together, build a free, democratic community where all life is valued. Only then will we have peace.
Julie Ann Ward, Ph.D., is a writer and professor in Norman.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Viewpoint: Why capital punishment should be abolished in Oklahoma
