Oklahoma Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty sets protest of scheduled execution
Oklahoma City – On Thursday, January 12, the Oklahoma Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty (OK-CADP) is asking fellow Oklahomans to join them at the Scott Eizember “Don’t Kill for Me” demonstration in protest of his scheduled execution that morning at 10 a.m.
The demonstration will begin at 9 a.m. in front of the Governor’s Mansion, at 820 N.E. 23 Street at Phillips Avenue.
Participants will begin a silent vigil at 10:00 a.m. until notice of a stay of execution is received or the execution is carried out.
The vigil will conclude with a circle prayer. The vigil will be canceled if the execution is postponed or canceled.
On December 7, the five-member Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board voted 3-2 to reject clemency for Eizember.
Mr. Eizember’s attorney, Mark Henricksen, appealed to the Board to grant clemency because the crimes Eizember committed were unplanned and impulsive. Henricksen told the Board that Eizember has been a model prisoner since he was incarcerated 19 years ago and that he recognizes that he deserves to spend the rest of his life in prison.
Eizember has taught himself five languages and studied higher mathematics and physics while on death row. He would like to spend the rest of his life helping to teach literacy and basic math skills to other prisoners.
Eizember appeared at the hearing by video link and apologized to the victims and their families.
“Scott Eizember’s actions caused much pain and tragedy,” said Rev. Don Heath, OK-CADP chair.
“He is 61 years old, but he is no longer a threat to society. For the State to kill him only compounds violence and tragedy. The Pardon and Parole Board again asked no questions of the parties and had no discussion before it voted. These votes are becoming pro forma. Pleas for mercy and forgiveness are futile.”
The clemency packet filed by Eizember’s attorneys is available here:(https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CnEDG5CteNs7gxJh07vZL5mthClP7GQF/view )
The Pardon and Parole Board’s 3-2 decision to deny a clemency recommendation in the case was applauded by former Oklahoma Attorney General John O’Connor. It was also supported by State House Speaker Pro Tempore Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow.(https://www.capitolbeatok.com/reports/pro-tem-hilbert-comments-on-clemency-denial-for-eizember/ )
Mr. Eizember would be the fifth to die of the 25 people that have been scheduled to be executed in Oklahoma between 2022 and 2024.
Other actions hosted by the state chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU-OK), Death Penalty Action and OK-CADP include:
Wednesday, January 11 at 4 p.m. — Coalition Petition Delivery – Gov. Stitt’s Office, Second Floor, Oklahoma State Capitol
Wednesday, January 11 at 5:30 p.m. — Visibility Action outside Governor’s Mansion
Thursday, January 12 at 9 a.m. — Visibility Action at OK State Penitentiary in McAlester
Thurs., January 12 at 5 p.m. — Prayer Vigil Lazarus Community at Clark Memorial Church, 5808 NW 23 Street, Oklahoma City, 73127.
Note and Disclosure: Patrick B. McGuigan — founder, publisher and editor of CapitolBeatOK.com — is a dues-paying member of the Oklahoma Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty. McGuigan adapted this report from a press release sent by OK-CADP. McGuigan has written hundreds of articles and commentaries on the death penalty process in Oklahoma, the nation, and around the world. CapitolBeatOK.com is an independent, non-partisan and locally-managed news service based in Oklahoma City.