Preachers, Julius Jones' sister denied meeting with Gov. Kevin Stitt as execution looms

Carla Hinton, Oklahoman
·4 min read
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Several spiritual leaders, including one who offered to exchange his life for Julius Jones's life, tried unsuccessfully to meet with Gov. Kevin Stitt on Tuesday as Jones's scheduled execution drew closer.

Julius Jones, 41, is on death row for the fatal shooting of Paul Howell during a 1999 carjacking in Edmond. He has maintained that he did not commit the murder. Jones is scheduled to be executed on Thursday.

Staff members in the waiting room outside the governor's office told the ministers and Jones's sister, Antoinette Jones, that Stitt was unavailable.

More: Julius Jones' mother, supporters seek meeting with Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt

A receptionist in Gov. Kevin Stitt's office talks to the Rev. John A. Reed, left, and Rev. Derrick Scobey on Tuesday as the Rev. Marvin L. Morgan of Charlottesville, Virginia, waits.
A receptionist in Gov. Kevin Stitt's office talks to the Rev. John A. Reed, left, and Rev. Derrick Scobey on Tuesday as the Rev. Marvin L. Morgan of Charlottesville, Virginia, waits.

"I am here on behalf of my family. I feel like if he (Stitt) can meet with the Howell family, then he can definitely meet with the Jones family," Antoinette Jones said, referring to reports that the governor had met with Paul Howell's family members.

"As citizens of Oklahoma, he is for the people, not just for certain particular people."

The Rev. Marvin L. Morgan, of Charlottesville, Virginia, was also told the governor wasn't available to meet with him. He submitted a letter to the governor's staff in which he asked to take Julius Jones's place in the execution chamber if the death-row inmate is denied clemency.

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Julius Jones supporters stand vigil outside Gov. Kevin Stitt's office on Tuesday at the Oklahoma Capitol.
Julius Jones supporters stand vigil outside Gov. Kevin Stitt's office on Tuesday at the Oklahoma Capitol.

"I am here in Oklahoma today because I've made an offer to Gov. Stitt that if another Black man is going to be killed under the guise of capital punishment, that it could be any Black man," he said.

"So I would like the governor to allow me to lie on that table and to die in place of Julius Jones."

Morgan, an interim pastor in the United Church of Christ denomination, said he had made such an offer several years ago in Georgia for another death-row inmate, Troy Davis, but the state of Georgia executed the man.

More: Gov. Kevin Stitt challenger Joy Hofmeister says she would grant Julius Jones clemency

The Rev. Marvin L. Morgan of Charlottesville, Virginia, waits in the hall outside the governor's office on Tuesday at the state Capitol.
The Rev. Marvin L. Morgan of Charlottesville, Virginia, waits in the hall outside the governor's office on Tuesday at the state Capitol.

The minister said the situation in Oklahoma is different from Georgia because it is up to Stitt to decide if he will grant clemency.

"One person holds the key to life or death for Julius Jones. The governor holds that key," he said.

Morgan said he wasn't a "lone ranger" and had the backing of many ministers across the country, including the Rev. Malika Cox, who is a minister at The Table OKC. He said he made his "genuine" offer to the governor because there would be backlash against the elected official should he accept the unusual request, showing how capital punishment is wrong.

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More faith leaders call on Gov. Kevin Stitt to grant Julius Jones clemency

Meanwhile, several local pastors and Antoinette Jones said they had hoped to persuade Stitt to consider his own Christian faith and morals and grant clemency for Julius Jones.

"We are here just to ask the governor to make the right decision, to accept the decision made by the parole board, and that he make his decision based on the spiritual and not the political," said the Rev. John A. Reed, leader of the Concerned Clergy for Spiritual Renewal and Oklahoma City Baptist Ministers Association.

Antoinette Jones, the sister of death-row inmate Julius Jones, prays with ministers and other Julius Jones' supporters in the waiting room at Gov. Kevin Stitt's office.
Antoinette Jones, the sister of death-row inmate Julius Jones, prays with ministers and other Julius Jones' supporters in the waiting room at Gov. Kevin Stitt's office.

Antoinette Jones offered similar comments.

She said she was optimistic about the governor's decision because she is a person of faith and an optimist at heart. She said she was also frustrated that a decision had not come by early Tuesday afternoon.

Jones said she is not angry that Stitt was unavailable to meet with her. She said she is simply praying that he has heard her family's pleas on behalf of her brother.

"I'm praying that he's heard my mother's words, my words, my brother's words and my family's words," she said.

"He said he was going to make a decision swiftly. I'm just wondering what 'swift' means to me. We're asking that he takes the recommendation of his pardon and parole board. That's why I'm here today."

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Preachers, Julius Jones' sister denied meeting with Gov. Kevin Stitt