When the State of Florida killed James Barnes tonight, his execution sadly sealed what James experienced from his first breath to his last – rejection, isolation, and the belief that his life did not matter. Tonight the State of Florida helped James end his life, after he waived all appeals and volunteered for execution. Whether he believes it or not, James’ life mattered.
There have been a lot of questions over the last 6 weeks about why we continue to stand against his execution if this is what James asked to happen. And while the question is understandable, the use of the death penalty, and especially who we execute, says more about us than it says about the condemned.
James was serving a life sentence in 2005 when he confessed to the 1988 murder of Patsy Miller. He did so to provide closure to the victim’s family of their loved one’s unsolved murder. He waived his right to counsel, represented himself, pled guilty, waived a jury, and waived the presentation of mitigation, essentially asking for the death penalty.
James’ childhood was rife with abuse and trauma, and he especially was singled out for the brunt of the abuse. James’ father would line up all the children in the living room and he would close the blinds. The “blanket party” would begin. His father put a blanket over James’ head, took a belt, and made all of James’ 4 siblings stand there and whip him. And if they refused to participate, they would be beaten. By the time James was allowed out of the blanket, his body was covered in welts and his face streamed red with tears.
James was abused and betrayed by the people who were supposed to protect him. We make no excuses for James’ actions, and there is no way to bring his victims back. But there was also no justice for the child who was rejected and beaten. That child is as much the man that committed these murders, and as much the man who was executed tonight. This is why we stand against all executions. This is why we have to care.
Condoning the execution of volunteers like James still perpetuates Florida’s broken and unjust system. It still puts innocent people at risk of execution. It still allows the executions of people with serious mental illness. It flatly rejects the idea that people, even those who commit heinous acts, are capable of change.
We don’t make exceptions for when the death penalty is acceptable. Whether it’s against someone’s will or by their own choosing, every execution dehumanizes us all.
Whether James believed it or not, his life mattered, and we the people of the State of Florida did not deserve to take it from him.