We Put the System on Trial

Original Image from the Innocence Project

Marcellus was slain, but the criminal injustice system was on trial. 
 
We saw people flock out in droves, 
their eyes wide with hope. 
Justice, it seemed, 
was on the scene. 
An innocent man was he, 
his skin was Black. 
We hoped that this instance would deny historical fact: 
 
Another one of us was slain for just being Black. 
 
Imam Khaliifah ibn Rayford Daniels, also known as Marcellus Williams, was executed on the evening of September 24th. He was a Black man, a devout Muslim, a poet, a father, and a grandfather. He was a man proven innocent. Despite his push for clemency and public outcry against the wrongful state execution of a Black man, the Attorney General and Missouri Governor Mike Parson denied the request. He was slain by way of lethal injection on September 24th, 2024. Even as he was set to be wrongfully executed, Khaliifah found peace in his faith. These were the last words he wrote: 
 
“All Praise Be To Allah In Every Situation!!!” 
 
I saw Black people, white folks, and the brown 
come together and say: 
“Another innocent man won’t be put down!” 
 
Committed to justice, 
on their faces were no frowns. 
The executioner responded by taking him down. 
But little did they know, we have put the whole damn system on trial. 
 
Marcellus Khaliifah Williams looked like Breonna Taylor, like Sandra Bland, like Sonya Massey. They were all slain. 
 
Marcellus Khaliifah Williams looked like Lester Owens, like Anthony Gay. They were all wrongfully incarcerated. 
 
As people of faith and goodwill, let’s feel our anger, frustration, and zeal for justice. This is important. Then, we should alchemize this into action. Let’s call for the death penalty to be abolished; join us as we push for police accountability; take action with us for reparations. All these systems of oppression are connected, and we stand together for justice, because we know: 
 
Marcellus Khaliifah Williams was slain, 
and the whole criminal injustice system is on trial.