President Obama Condemns Oklahoma Execution; Asks Attorney General to Investigate Death Penalty

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WASHINGTON, DC – Laura Murphy, Director of the American Civil Liberties Union’s Washington Legislative Office, responded to President Obama’s statements about the botched execution of Clayton Lockett in Oklahoma:

“President Obama’s remarks resonate with the millions who are appalled by the inhumane deaths administered recently by Oklahoma, Ohio, South Dakota, and other state governments. We are encouraged that he has placed the death penalty on the Attorney General’s agenda to address not only the cruelty of lethal injection but also the racial disparities in death sentences. The ACLU has long believed that we must end America’s unjust and discriminatory use of capital punishment. We look forward to working with the Attorney General on the President’s mandate.”