Tennessee execution survivor Christa Pike was thought to be on the brink of death in a Nashville hospital when the 50-year-old’s eyes suddenly popped open, one of her lawyers said Oct. 7. “Monday night it was our understanding that Christa…
After failed execution in Tennessee, more questions remain
Christa Pike remained unconscious and under guard in a Nashville hospital days after a botched lethal injection that led to the resignation of the state’s top corrections official. Two rounds of pentobarbital over a two-hour period could not kill the…
‘Bring back the electric chair,’ Tennessee GOP candidate urges after botched execution
Christa Pike remained in critical condition in a Tennessee hospital Oct. 1 after surviving two execution attempts and numerous agonizing efforts to insert IVs during her failed lethal injection the day before. Tennessee Republican Gov. Bill Lee responded by announcing…
Doctors warn against Tennessee death penalty protocols
Tennessee’s execution protocol is medically unethical and should be revamped before further executions occur, nearly 40 health care professionals said in a letter to Gov. Bill Lee. Like the coalition of faith leaders who asked for a moratorium on executions…
Tennessee governor urged to commute death sentence of intellectually disabled man
Advocates and families of people with intellectual disabilities are pleading with Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee to halt the Aug. 5 execution of an inmate suffering from brain damage, dementia and lifelong cognitive impairment. While federal legal precedent and state statute…
How King’s ‘Letter from Birmingham Jail’ parallels the Tennessee Three
It was Holy Week and two young Black men, motivated by the courage of their Christian convictions, took part in a nonviolent demonstration. Colleagues chided them for their participation. It was “untimely” given the circumstances, they complained. Furthermore, the young…
Spurred on by conservatives’ fears, Tennessee turns down federal funds to fight HIV/AIDS
June 27 is National HIV Testing Day, but beginning June 1, testing and treating HIV/AIDS in Tennessee will become more challenging for residents. Gov. Bill Lee has rejected a multi-million-dollar federal grant from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, a…
Tennessee governor commended for ordering review of lethal injection protocols
Faith and civic leaders opposed to capital punishment commended Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee last week for ordering a deeper review of the state’s lethal injection protocols after an independent investigation discovered corrections officials consistently failed to follow proper procedures in…
It’s not just the SBC banning Critical Race Theory; now state legislatures are joining the fight
Southern Baptist seminary presidents aren’t the only ones up in arms about Critical Race Theory. Their affirmation that the six SBC seminaries will not teach about systemic racism and inherent injustices is sweeping Republican-led state legislatures this year. Bills in…