In response to Alabama Governor Kay Ivey commuting the death sentence of Rocky Myers, TJ Riggs, Alabama State Death Penalty Abolition Coordinator for Amnesty International USA said the following: 

“We celebrate the news that Alabama Governor Kay Ivey has commuted Rocky Myers’ death sentence, even more so at a time when the state had initiated the process to set his execution date. After over 30 years on death row, this moment could not come any sooner.

“The U.S. criminal justice system is terribly flawed and discriminatory, and Rocky Myers’ case has been emblematic of many of those flaws. Today’s decision by Governor Ivey to commute his death sentence is a first critical step towards justice for him and his family. 

“The death penalty is the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment. We urge Governor Ivey to pause all other executions in the state. She must conduct a review of all cases, including the more than two dozen individuals like Rocky Myers who remain on death row even though they were sentenced through the now outlawed practice of judicial override.  

“Amnesty International has advocated for Rocky Myers alongside so many others. Thank you to the hundreds of thousands of activists across Alabama, the United States, and the world who took action for Rocky Myers by sending letters, making phone calls, and signing petitions.” 

Rocky Myers

Rocky Myers, a Black man with an intellectual disability, was on death row since 1994 despite flawed legal proceedings and no evidence directly linking him to the crime for which he was convicted.

Amnesty has long advocated for Rocky Myers, and he was part of the organisation’s Write for Rights campaign in 2023, in which hundreds of thousands of people from around the world signed a petition asking Alabama Governor Kay Ivey to commute his death sentence.

Amnesty opposes the death penalty unconditionally, in any cases and under any circumstances.