The slow death of the death penalty

ON THE afternoon of March 19th a ragtag group of protesters gathered outside the Huntsville Unit, home to America’s busiest execution chamber. At 6pm Texas was set to execute Ray Jasper, convicted of murdering the owner of a recording studio. Protesters held up signs (“The Death Penalty: Guilty on All Counts: Shut it Down!”), made statements and read a few poems the condemned man had written. A priest rang a bell 14 times, once for every year Jasper had spent on death row. At 6.34 the prison door opened, letting out a few civilians whom protesters said they recognised as witnesses to the execution.

No one from the prison announced Jasper’s death. A little after 7 the protesters dispersed, stowing signs and megaphones away in their trunks, ready for use at the next execution.