Stop the Execution of Emmanuel Littlejohn in Oklahoma
Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt
Emmanuel Littlejohn has been scheduled for execution in Oklahoma on September 26, 2024 for his presence at the 1992 murder of Kenneth Meers.
There's just one problem: Prosecutors told one jury he's the killer, and another jury that he's not. Click here to read Emmanuel's story in his own words. Watch the short film below to hear Emmanuel tell the story in his own words. See below for links to and screenshots from legal documents pointing out how the state itself prosecuted Emmanuel's co-defendant was the actual shooter.
URGENT UPDATE: On August 7, 2024, the Oklahoma Pardon & Parole Board voted YES to recommend clemency for Emmanuel Littlejohn. We can't let up now. Please sign this petition and CALL GOVERNOR STITT at 405-521-2342 to urge him to "show mercy by following the recommendation FOR clemency."
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Emmanuel's attorneys are also raising concerns about extensive brain damage that Emmanuel suffers from as a result of multiple factors, including his teenage mother’s prenatal substance abuse, which significantly affects his executive functioning. His cognitive limitations were exacerbated by the relentless trauma and pervasive neglect of his childhood. Emmanuel’s jury did not know about these aspects of his background, nor were they aware that his co-defendant, the actual killer, was sentenced to life imprisonment.
This particular execution is just one in a series of 25 executions scheduled by Oklahoma despite serious concerns around the fairness and accuracy of Oklahoma's capital punishment system.
Oklahoma's aggressive execution schedule marks it as an outlier in its use of the death penalty while the majority of other states are on a downward trend of executions. In the last few years, Oklahoma has been one of only a handful of states that have carried out death sentences - and it continues to do so targeting the poor, the mentally ill and people of color.
Please sign the petition asking Governor Stitt and the Pardon and Parole Board to do everything within their power to ensure this execution does not go forward, and to seek a path to clemency in the case.
Item #23 of this document:
From Page 9 of this document:
Sponsored by
To:
Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt
From:
[Your Name]
We are writing to you regarding Emmanuel Littlejohn, who is on death row in Oklahoma for the 1992 murder of Kenneth Meers. He is scheduled to be executed on September 26, 2024.
On August 7, 2024, the Oklahoma Pardon & Parole Board voted YES to recommend clemency for Emmanuel Littlejohn. We urge you to follow that recommendation as soon as possible.
Among the problems in this case: Prosecutors told one jury he's the killer, and another jury that he's not. Further details are forthcoming.
Several factors support a reversal of his death sentence.
* As noted, Prosecutors told one jury he was the killer, and another jury that he was not. However, eyewitnesses reported that the shooter was the taller and darker of the two men accused of this crime. Emmanuel is the shorter and lighter man.
* Emmanuel has extensive brain damage, the result of multiple factors. These include his teenage mother’s prenatal substance abuse, which significantly affected his executive function; and the exacerbation of these cognitive limitations by the relentless trauma and pervasive neglect of his childhood
* Emmanuel’s jury did not know of these aspects of his background, nor were they aware that his co-defendant, the actual killer, had already been sentenced to life imprisonment.
This particular execution is just one in a series of 25 executions scheduled by Oklahoma in the coming months, despite serious concerns around the fairness and accuracy of Oklahoma's capital punishment system.
We are concerned that while the vast majority of states with capital punishment continue on a downward trend of executions, Oklahoma has continued to go against trend by carrying on an aggressive execution schedule - targeting the poor, the mentally ill and people of color.
We, the undersigned, ask that you do everything within your power to ensure this execution does not go forward, and affirm the recommendation FOR clemency in the case.
Thank you for time and attention to this urgent and serious matter.