Sen. Nice to join Oklahoma Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty in observing World Day Against the Death Penalty

OKLAHOMA CITY – State Sen. Nikki Nice, D-Oklahoma City, will join the Oklahoma Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty (OK-CADP) on Thursday, October 9 at 10:30 a.m. in room G-5 of the state Capitol to commemorate World Day Against the Death Penalty, a global call to end capital punishment and promote a more just and humane criminal justice system.

Observed annually on October 10, the World Day Against the Death Penalty mobilizes political leaders, legal professionals, civil society, and the public in a united state against capital punishment. The initiative was launched in 2003 by the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty, a global alliance of over 160 non-governmental organizations, bar associations, and local authorities.

“This year, the annual observance is dedicated to challenging the misconception that the death penalty is a deterrent and makes communities safer,” Nice said. “This so-called ‘security argument’ not only politicizes what should rightly be an impartial and fair judicial process, but it also opens the door to human rights violations carried out under the guise of public protection.”

Nice said research and lived experiences have shown that the death penalty fails to protect individuals or society. Instead, it undermines human dignity and disproportionately targets marginalized communities, reinforcing existing social and economic disparities within the justice system. Her participation reflects a continued commitment to meaningful criminal justice reform in Oklahoma, including the fight to end practices that perpetuate injustice and inequity.

"Affirming that every life deserves dignity, transparency, and fair justice is the purpose of World Day Against the Death Penalty,” Nice said. “I look forward to joining the continued conversation in advancing thoughtful reform and strengthening Oklahoma’s commitment to human rights."

The press conference is open to credentialed members of the Capitol press corps. For more information about the event or the movement to abolish the death penalty in Oklahoma, contact: Sen. Nikki Nice at 405-521-5531 or Nikki.Nice@oksenate.gov.

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