The Inhumanity of the Death Penalty
In America, the history of the criminal justice system—and of executions—is inseparable from white supremacy.
Fifteen years ago, Clayton Lockett shot Stephanie Neiman twice, then watched as his friends buried her alive. Last week, Lockett was tortured to death by the state of Oklahoma. The torture was not so much the result of intention as neglect. The state knew that its chosen methods—a triple-drug cocktail—could result in a painful death. (An inmate executed earlier this year by the method was heard to say, "I feel my whole body burning.") Oklahoma couldn't care less. It executed Lockett anyway.
Over at Bloomberg View, Ramesh Ponnuru has taken the occasion to ostensibly arguing against the death penalty. But Ponnuru, evidently embarrassed to find himself in
