Before his execution on January 27, 2022, 46-year-old Donald Grant made one last request: that he be killed by firing squad rather than lethal injection! He was denied; the state wanted him dead as soon as possible.
After a botched execution in 2014, Oklahoma had actually paused lethal injection executions for five years. And when they did bring it back, it was botched yet again, leaving the detainee vomiting and thrashing on his gurney! Grant feared the same violent, painful death.
But has this country ever really cared when we’re in pain?
Despite a schizophrenia diagnosis and Grant’s own words at a clemency hearing that he wasn’t in his “rightful mind,” state experts said he’s a “faker,” and the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board just wanted him dead – suffering included.
But what if instead of arguing about HOW he deserved to die, we argued WHY the state put Grant in this situation in the first place? Is it really justice to torture someone to death so revenge can help people feel good for a moment?
Grant is dead, but as more people's lives are on the line, it's critical to ask ourselves these questions. Is this really the system we want dictating our society? Because it certainly isn't a just one.