Georgia is scheduled to execute Brian Terrell tonight at 7 p.m., which would make for the final U.S. execution for the year.
Should Terrell’s execution go forward, it will be the 28th execution to be carried out in the U.S. this year. Amnesty International USA denounced the execution, while noting that this is the lowest number of executions since 1991—last year’s number was 35.
“The death penalty is in steep decline in the United States, but even one execution is unacceptable,” said Margaret Huang, interim executive director of Amnesty International USA. “We urge Governor Deal to stop this execution from going forward and bring Georgia in line with the national trend toward abolition. The death penalty is cruel and inhuman and has no place in the criminal justice system.”