Emmanuel Littlejohn Social Media Toolkit

#EmmanuelLittlejohn is slated to be executed September 26, 2024 for a crime his more culpable co-defendant got life for. The OK Pardon and Parole Board, whose members were  hand-picked by Gov. Stitt, voted to recommend clemency/mercy after hearing exhaustive arguments from all sides. It is incumbent on Gov. Stitt to see clemency through for Emmanuel.

The tremendous stress and anxiety of preparing for his execution has exacerbated Emmanuel's already significant health issues. He has been in and out of the medical unit for the last several days and if his execution happens in a few weeks, he will be rolled into the execution chamber in his wheelchair. In this state, Emmanuel is no threat to anyone around him and should be allowed to live.

Pick up the phone. Drop a letter in the mail. Sign the petition: https://buff.ly/3yoDgnm Read or listen to Emmanuel tell his story in his own words.

Contact Gov. Stitt ASAP

WRITE A LETTER

PLEASE follow these guidelines:

  • Simple letters.
  • 1 paragraph.
  • Single argument clearly stated.
  • Add why you care.
  • Ask Governor Stitt to follow the recommendation of the Oklahoma Pardon and parole Board to grant clemency to Emmanuel Littlejohn by commuting his death sentence to life without parole.

Honorable Governor J. Kevin Stitt

Office of Governor J. Kevin Stitt

2300 N. Lincoln Blvd., Ste 212

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73105

PICK UP THE PHONE

Call Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt at 405-521-2342 (Option "0") to speak with a staff member to urge Governor Stitt to #LetLittlejohnLive!

405.521.2342

PLEASE DO NOT SEND MESSAGES AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY. KEEP IT ABOUT EMMANUEL LITTLEJOHN AND NOTHING MORE. 

Governor Kevin Stitt should be addressed as the only person who can save Littlejohn... because he is. Words thanking Gov. Stitt for his service, your appreciation for the gravity of the situation and begging him for clemency are welcome. DO NOT SAY ANYTHING NEGATIVE. Think about it like this... we are begging Gov. Stitt on Littlejohn's behalf.  DO NOT BITE THE ONLY HAND THAT CAN SAVE LITTLEJOHN.

Pick 1 argument to make the focus of your communication: You’re welcome to send multiple communications, each with a different argument.

  • MIXED ACCOUNTS / INCONCLUSIVE EVIDENCE: Prosecutors gave mixed accounts. Though there was only one shooter, prosecutors told one jury that Emmanuel Littlejohn was the shooter and then told another jury that Littlejohn's accomplice Glenn Bethany was the shooter. No one has conclusively proven that Emmanuel Littlejohn has ever actually killed anyone.
  • UNFAIR SENTENCING: Convicted of the same crime, Emmanuel Littlejohn got the death penalty and Glenn Bethany got a life sentence without parole. Furthermore, the unfair sentencing instructions that were given at Littlejohn's trial (which led him to get the death sentence) were later overturned by the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals.
  • HEALTH STRUGGLES: Emmanuel Littlejohn was the product of a dysfunctional and abusive upbringing. As he has aged, Littlejohn has had numerous major health struggles based on both his past and present. His health has continued to deteriorate in recent weeks as he inches closer to his possible execution date. Confined to a wheelchair, Littlejohn is not a threat to anyone.
  • CLEMENCY RECOMMENDED: The Pardon and Parole Board heard exhaustive accounts of all sides of this case and recommended clemency for Emmanuel Littlejohn. We want Governor Stitt to follow their recommendation.

SEND YOUR LETTERS ASAP!

MEDIA RELEASES (by DPA)  News items are below

July 29, 2024: Billboard, Video & Letter Campaign Intensifies Ahead of Littlejohn Clemency Hearing

July 8, 2024: Press Conference to Feature Next Man Set for Execution in Oklahoma. (Execution date 9/26/24)

NEWS COVERAGE (Since execution date was set)

McAlester News-Capital, July 20, 2024 (blocked by paywall): GUEST COMMENTARY: 'Eye for an Eye, Tooth for a Tooth'

Front Page Detectives, July 13, 2024: JAILHOUSE INTERVIEW: OKLAHOMA DEATH ROW INMATE SAYS TRIGGERMAN WAS ACCOMPLICE IN 1992 ROBBERY, FIGHTS FOR CLEMENCY

NewsNation, July, 9, 2024: Advocates plead clemency for Oklahoma death row inmate

Radar, July 9, 2024: Jailhouse Interview: Oklahoma Death Row Inmate Says Triggerman Was Accomplice in 1992 Robbery, Fights for Clemency

100.3 WHEB, July 9, 2024: Supporters Call For Clemency For Oklahoma Death Row Inmate

KOSU (NPR), July 9, 2024: Third Oklahoma execution of 2024 scheduled for September

USA Today, July 8, 2024: Advocates launch desperate effort to save Oklahoma man from execution in 1992 murder

KOCO News 5, July 8, 2024: Oklahoma death row inmate maintains innocence in 1992 deadly robbery

KFOR, July 8, 2024: Anti-death penalty group pushing to halt next Oklahoma execution

McAlester News-Capital, July 8, 2024 (blocked by paywall): Supporters launch campaign to save Oklahoma death row inmate 

Norman Transcript, July 8, 2024: Supporters launch campaign to save Oklahoma death row inmate

The Oklahoman, July 5, 2024 (blocked by paywall): Date for Oklahoma execution for Emmanuel Littlejohn set... 

AOL (via the Oklahoman), July 5, 2024: Death row inmate Emmanuel Littlejohn set for execution Sept. 26 

The Mirror US, July 5, 2024: Death row inmate reveals he's 'not sleeping' and protests innocence as execution date set

Vanguard News Group, July 5, 2024: OKLAHOMA SETS EXECUTION DATE FOR MANUEL LITTLEJOHN, PERSON WITH EXTENSIVE BRAIN DAMAGE – CO-DEFENDANT RECEIVED LIFE SENTENCE

KOCO News 5, July 4, 2024: Execution date set for Oklahoma death row inmate Emmanuel Littlejohn

KOKH (Fox 25 Oklahoma City), July 3, 2024: Oklahoma court sets execution date for man claiming unfair sentencing

 Oklahoma Voice, July 3, 2024: Oklahoma County killer set to die Sept. 26

McAlester News-Capital, July 3, 2024 (blocked by paywall): Oklahoma AG requests OCCA to set next execution date

CAMPAIGN SCHEDULE

Please engage everyone you can think of to help stop this next execution using the following simple opportunities for action.

TOOLKIT LINK: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1NSOaF6NGjfZu5lLLJjgqSk5BPZ-zePSZ6PXHeyw7E38/edit?usp=sharing

Toolkit includes graphics and sample social media posts. Additional resources will be added as available.

VIDEO: Three minute video is embedded with the petition. It can also be found on Death Penalty Action social media, and on YouTube at https://youtu.be/0569Byk5QJE?si=Y2Ml6NSytZWmh1sw

PETITION: Bit.ly/EmmanuelLittlejohn

GRAPHICS: Here is a folder of graphics for use on social media. 

The hashtags we are using are: #LetLittlejohnLive #SaveEmmanuelLittlejohn #EmmanuelLittlejohn #Oklahoma25

Action Items

  • Emmanuel Littlejohn didn't kill anyone. He was offered and rejected a plea deal for life. Glenn Bethany (the actual shooter) went to trial and got a life sentence.  In a separate trial, Emmanuel got death. It's simply not fair. The Pardon and Parole Board, who heard exhaustive accounts of both sides, reconciled the issues in this case. With Emmanuel’s significant health decline, he is no threat to anyone around him. If this execution goes forward, Emmanuel will have to be wheeled into the execution chamber. We implore you to Let Emmanuel Live.
  • Handwritten, physical mail ASAP

Honorable Gov. J. Kevin Stitt

Office of Governor J. Kevin Stitt

2300 N. Lincoln Blvd, Ste. 212

Oklahoma City, OK 73105

  • Phone calls: 405-521-2342(Press “0” to speak to member of Governor’s Staff)
  • Chip in to help us fight Emmanuel’s execution(including paying for 10 billboards around Oklahoma City)

Sample Social Media Captions

  • Prosecutors told one jury he's the killer, and another jury that he's not. Eyewitnesses say it was his codefendant: Sign/share this video about #EmmanuelLittlejohn! https://buff.ly/3yoDgnm #LetLittlejohnLive
  • “I am about to be killed for never having killed anyone...I ain’t going to say that I killed Kenneth Meers when I know I didn’t.” Take action to #SaveEmmanuelLittlejohn: bit.ly/EmmanuelLittlejohn #LetLittlejohnLive
  • “I am about to be killed for never having killed anyone. I shouldn’t have been there. I shouldn’t have taken part in any of it.... But it doesn’t make sense for Bethany to get a life sentence and for me to get the death penalty. Right before trial, prosecutors offered me a life sentence with parole. They knew I wasn’t the shooter. None of the witnesses said I was the shooter. I’d be out by now! But I knew I didn’t shoot anybody. Damnit! I ain’t going to say that I killed Kenneth Meers when I know I didn’t.” Sign the petition to #SaveEmmanuelLittlejohn: bit.ly/EmmanuelLittlejohn #LetLittlejohnLive
  • 10 billboards went up in Oklahoma City declaring that “Emmanuel Littlejohn Did Not Kill Anyone”. Emmanuel faces execution 8/7/24, while the actual shooter got a life sentence. How’s that fair? Sign the petition to #SaveEmmanuelLittlejohn: bit.ly/EmmanuelLittlejohn