Urgent calls for justice ahead of Freddie Owens’ execution

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WACH) — Hours before Freddie Owens is set to be executed by the state of South Carolina, anti-death penalty advocates are urgently calling on Governor Henry McMaster to stop the execution.

Owens will be the first inmate put to death in the state of South Carolina in over a decade.

South Carolinians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (SCADP) is urging the public to contact McMaster to prevent Owens’ impending death.

Owens, who changed his name to Khalil Divine Black Sun Allah after converting to Islam in prison, was convicted of shooting store clerk Irene Graves during a robbery in 1997.

On Wednesday, Owens’ lawyers released a signed affidavit from Stephen Golden, a co-defendant in the robbery and a friend of Owens, claiming he lied during the trial to avoid the death penalty.

READ MORE |Co-defendant claims SC inmate Freddie Owens is innocent on eve of execution

In his statement, Golden says that Owens was “not actually there” and that he fabricated his testimony due to being under the influence of cocaine and fearing retaliation from the “real shooter.”

I thought the real shooter or his associates might kill me if I named him to police. I am still afraid of that. But Freddie was not there…

I’m coming forward now because I know Freddie’s execution date is September 20 and I don’t want Freddie to be executed for something he didn’t do. This has weighed heavily on my mind and I want to have a clear conscience.

SCADP has issued an urgent appeal for public action following Golden’s new revelation.

“This is a crucial moment for justice and we cannot stand by as the state executes someone…especially someonewith a legitimate innocence claim!We will continue to stand alongside Khalil, his family, and his legal team and not stop fighting until this murderous system is dismantled,” a statement from the SCADP read.

To mobilize public pressure on the governor, the advocacy group has launched the #FreddieKhalilOwens hashtag.

Three vigils are also planned for Friday in remembrance of Owens.

Charleston Vigil:

• Location: North Charleston United Methodist Church
• Date/Time: Friday, September 20, 2024, at 4:00 PM
• Contact: bwpigford@umcsc.org

Columbia Vigil:

• Location: Broad River Correctional Institution
• Date/Time: Friday, September 20, 2024, at 4:30 PM
• Contact: info@scadp.org (Register for parking details)

Greenville Vigil:

• Location: Triune Mercy Center
• Date/Time: Friday, September 20, 2024, at 5:30 PM
• Contact: trevor@triunemercy.org

WACH Fox News will continue to provide updates ahead of this historic execution.