In 2018, I used to be a mother and educating pastor newly relocated to Oklahoma. That's after I heard about Julius Jones, who was then on dying row after a 2002 homicide conviction.
I got here throughout his story one night time whereas watching The final protection, an ABC documentary about individuals going through execution with robust claims of innocence. To say I used to be overwhelmed by the issues in his case doesn't seize how a lot his story affected me. Right here was a younger, sensible, black man who appeared to need a lot, all of a sudden caught within the grip of the legal justice system and sentenced to dying proper right here in Oklahoma.
I knew nothing about justice at the moment. All I knew was that God was calling me to do one thing about Julius Jones—to assist lead the trouble to cease his execution. I satisfied a number of pals from my church and different leaders in the neighborhood to affix the trigger.
For 2 years, we shared Julio's story with different Oklahomans by displaying documentaries, holding panel discussions and constructing social media platforms. The Justice for Julius marketing campaign was formally launched in 2020 by way of strategic prayer and each day networking with neighborhood leaders in addition to nationwide influencers and organizations. The timing—across the begin of the COVID-19 pandemic—wasn't perfect, however it couldn't be. Keep away from: The execution date for Julius was resulting from be introduced at any second.
Once I describe the marketing campaign to avoid wasting Julio's life, I all the time seek advice from it as a human chain, like strangers on a seashore linking arms to tug somebody out of the tide. Folks of all demographics – wealthy, poor, younger, outdated, progressive, conservative, white, indigenous, black and extra – got here collectively to cease his execution. We constructed an unlikely coalition at a time of immense political division as a result of we believed that the lifetime of Julius Jones mattered.
Hundreds of letters and cellphone calls have been despatched to the workplace of Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt. Hundreds of thousands of individuals signed an internet petition and hundreds rallied throughout the nation. And in spite of everything that work, we thought we had failed. With no response from the governor, I traveled to McAlester, Oklahoma in November 2021, the place the state “invited” me to witness Julio's execution.
Then we received a name: The governor had commuted Julio's sentence from dying to life with out parole.
Sure, we labored arduous. However we didn't work more durable than we prayed. I consider Julius is alive immediately due to the facility of prayer, the doorways God opened for us, the unlikely companions He allowed to fulfill, and the honest and united effort to guard God's picture—particularly on dying row. We prayed at 5am for 3 years and added a nationwide prayer name at 7pm that lasted 18 months. We’ve seen many occasions how God has miraculously intervened. And we are able to testify: Prayer strikes the hand that strikes the world.
Picture: Courtesy of Cece Jones
Cece Jones
We’re humbled that dying didn’t win that day in Oklahoma, and we’re grateful that the Jones household can go to Julia each week. However our work will not be executed right here. If you consider within the grace, energy, and authority of the Most Excessive, you can not relaxation with the continuing injustice. It eats away on the spirit.
In the event you or a liked one has ever skilled jail in America, you recognize that it’s a place of distress and despair that does nothing to heal, rehabilitate, or put together its residents for return to society. It's actually not the place an harmless man like Julius Jones can be for the remainder of his life.
So the work should proceed. This second section must also start by sharing Julio's story, right here in his personal phrases.
Julio's story
I get up daily fascinated by the horrible occasions that led to my wrongful imprisonment. The identical night time I used to be charged with homicide, I stood in my dad and mom' kitchen telling my mother that my brother and sister have been consuming All the remainder of my nineteenth birthday cookie. Little did I do know that the cookie would turn into the least of my worries. Since then, the state of Oklahoma has taken over 24 years of my life. Yearly, daily and each second of my existence disappears just like the crumbs of that cookie.
Picture: Courtesy of Julio Jones
Julius Jones and his household.
Over two years in the past, I got here inside three hours of being murdered by the state for a person's life that I didn’t take. As an alternative, I used to be blessed when the Most Excessive moved thousands and thousands of individuals all over the world to face up and save my life. After witnessing my lack of authorized protection in court docket, studying of offers with many long-time confidential informants that have been by no means revealed in court docket, in addition to the anomaly of “DNA proof”, the Justice for Julius marketing campaign fought arduous for me as a result of he believed in my innocence! By way of the love I’ve obtained from so many individuals, the Most Excessive has jogged my memory that though I’ve forgotten myself, He has not forgotten me.
My life was spared, however my freedom was not restored. I'm nonetheless in jail for a criminal offense I didn't commit. I wasn't prepared for all times in jail. I assumed I might go dwelling or go dwelling to God. Due to the love of my household and those that proceed to advocate for my freedom, I attempt to maintain on to hope daily, however it's been arduous. Generally I really feel prefer it's getting more durable and more durable.
And since my execution was stopped, ten extra individuals have been executed in Oklahoma, though three of them had suggestions for clemency much like mine from the Board of Pardons and Paroles. How can we strategy this? Is the dying penalty a machine that doesn't care about nuance or new proof? Solely dying? We should proceed to work in the direction of a legal justice system that’s really truthful.
Cece Jones-Davis works on the intersections of religion, artwork and social justice as an award-winning religion chief, facilitator and public speaker. Extra lately, she is thought for her work creating the Justice for Julius marketing campaign.
Julius Jones survived Oklahoma's dying row for over 23 years till his commutation on November 18, 2021. He’s the founding father of the Julius Jones Institute and the writer of JuWels of life and Jewels from Demise Row.
