"This is Our Last Dance. This is Ourselves... Under Pressure." *

Pressure: pushing down on you,
pushing down on me, no man ask for.
~Queen (esp. Freddie Mercury) and David Bowie.

Make no mistake: our most hardened child rapists and killers indeed remain men, not animals, to their dying breath. Sometimes too, we err in this country and release convicted criminals from Death Row. Or exonerate, posthumously, after a state-administered death.

If what happened last night in Oklahoma is not a cruel and unusually punishing way to snuff a man's life -- one that wise people will note was presciently predicted by scientists questioning the administration and efficacy of a killer chemical cocktail untested on humans -- then you tell me: what is?

Courtney Francisco, the reporter who witnessed the execution, provided the following timeline to NewsChannel 4:


6:23 p.m. – Prison officials raise the blinds. Execution begins.

6:28 p.m. – Inmate shivering, sheet shaking. Breathing deep.

6:29 p.m. – Inmate blinking and gritting his teeth. Adjusts his head.

6:30 p.m. – Prison officials check to see if inmate is unconscious. Doctor says, “He’s not unconscious.” Inmate says, “I’m not.” Female prison official says, “Mr. Lockett is not unconscious.”

6:32 p.m. – Inmate’s breathing is normal, mouth open, eyes shut. For a second time, prison officials check to see if inmate is unconscious.

6:33 p.m. – Doctor says, “He is unconscious.” Prison official says, “Mr. Lockett is unconscious.”

6:34 p.m. – Inmate’s mouth twitches. No sign of breathing.

6:35 p.m. – Mouth movement.

6:36 p.m. – Inmate’s head moves from side to side, then lifts his head off the bed.

6:37 p.m. – Inmate lifts his head and feet slightly off the bed. Inmate tries to say something, mumbles while moving body.

6:38 p.m. – More movement by the inmate. At this point the inmate is breathing heavily and appears to be struggling.

6:39 p.m. – Inmate tries to talk. Says “man” and appears to be trying to get up. Doctor checks on inmate. Female prison official says, “We are going to lower the blinds temporarily.” Prison phone rings. Director of Prisons Robert Patton answers the phone and leaves the room – taking three state officials with him.
...
The blinds were then lowered to prevent people in the viewing gallery from seeing inside the death chamber.
...
Minutes later – The Director of Prisons comes back into the room and tells the eyewitnesses that there has been a vein failure. He says, “The chemical did not make it into the vein of the prisoner. Under my authority, we are issuing a stay of execution.”

or
* No More in My Name:
Just Shout No! to Justice Killings.