AL Political Reporter: “A coalition of numerous Alabama groups will deliver three petitions to the governor’s office this morning calling for transparency during executions and protesting the use of nitrogen hypoxia.
The “Pull Back The Curtains” petition demands greater transparency in Alabama executions. The groups have launched the petition renewing the demand that media and other public witnesses observe the proceedings “from the moment a prisoner walks him or herself into the death chamber until they are declared dead.” It has just over 3,000 signatures so far.
The state’s execution of Joe James Jr. on July 28 has been shrouded in controversy as witnesses including media were kept in vans for two hours, and when they were finally brought in, James was already sedated and unresponsive.
An autopsy showed that he had been subjected to many and varied attempts to establish intravenous access with which to administer the execution drugs.”