Statement: Response to the Execution of Marcellus “Khalifah” Williams

Yesterday evening, the state of Missouri carried out the execution of Marcellus “Khalifah” Williams, despite DNA evidence of his innocence and a request from the victim’s family to revoke the execution. In response to this tragedy, Dream.Org issued the following statement:

Oakland, Calif. - The execution of Marcellus “Khalifah” Williams was a horrible injustice. Despite the prosecution having new evidence of his innocence & the victim’s family calling for his execution to be revoked, Marcellus spent over 20 years in prison & was executed for a crime he did not commit. 

Our hearts mourn for Marcellus as we are reminded of why we stay in the fight for justice & freedom for all. We want to acknowledge the efforts of thousands of organizers, including ML Smith and Kenneth Nixon, as well as organizations such as Missourians Against the Death Penalty, The Organization of Exonerees, and numerous other influencers from across the country. The work to dismantle mass incarceration & restore the rights of those harshly impacted by the criminal legal system is not easy work, but it is necessary work. 

In honor of Marcellus, and the many others who have unnecessarily lost their lives to an unjust system, we remain committed to this work.

ABOUT DREAM.ORG

At Dream.Org, we dream of a world beyond mass incarceration. We build communities with fewer prisons, safer neighborhoods, and transformed lives. We bring people together across racial, social, and partisan lines to create a future with freedom, dignity and opportunity for all.