In 2018, I was a mother and teaching pastor newly moved to Oklahoma. That’s when I learned about Julius Jones, who was then on death row after being convicted of murder in 2002.
I came across his story one evening while watching The last defense, an ABC documentary series about people facing execution with strong claims of innocence. To say that I was devastated by the issues surrounding his case cannot convey how much his story affected me. Here was an intelligent young black man who seemed to have so much going for him, suddenly caught up in the criminal justice system and sentenced to death in the middle of Oklahoma.
I knew nothing about the justice system at the time. All I knew was that God was calling me to do something about Julius Jones: to help lead the effort to prevent his execution. I convinced several friends from my church and other community leaders to join the cause.
For two years, we shared Julius’ story with other Oklahomans by screening docuseries, hosting panel discussions, and creating social media platforms. Through strategic prayer and daily work connecting with community leaders as well as national influencers and organizations, the Justice for Julius campaign officially launched in 2020. The timing – at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic COVID-19 – wasn’t ideal, but it couldn’t be done. This was not to be avoided: an execution date for Julius was to be announced at any moment.
When I describe the campaign to save Julius’ life, I always talk about it as a human chain, like the way strangers on a beach link arms to pull someone from a rising tide. People from all walks of life – rich, poor, young, old, progressive, conservative, white, indigenous, black and more – came together to stop his execution. We built an unlikely coalition at a time of immense political division because we believed Julius Jones’ life mattered.
Thousands of letters were sent and phone calls were made to Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt’s office. Millions of people signed an online petition and thousands rallied across the country. And after all this work, we thought we had failed. With no response from the governor, I traveled to McAlester, Oklahoma in November 2021, where I had been “invited” by the state to witness Julius’ execution.
Then we got a call: the governor had commuted Sentencing Julius from death to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Yes, we worked hard. But we didn’t work more than we prayed. I believe Julius is alive today because of the power of prayer, the doors God opened for us, the unlikely partners he brought together, and a sincere, unified effort to protect the image of God, especially on death row. We prayed at 5 a.m. for three years and added a national call to prayer at 7 p.m. which lasted for 18 months. We have seen God intervene miraculously on several occasions. And we can testify to this: prayer moves the hand that moves the world.
Image: Courtesy of Cece Jones
Cece Jones
We are honored that death did not win in Oklahoma that day and grateful that the Jones family is able to visit Julius every week. But our work here is not finished. When you believe in the grace, power and authority of the Most High, you cannot settle for continued injustice. It eats away at the mind.
If you or someone you know has ever experienced prison in America, you know that it is a place of torment and despair that does nothing to heal, rehabilitate, or prepare its occupants for successful reentry into society. This is definitely not a place where an innocent person like Julius Jones can live for the rest of his life.
The work must therefore continue. This second phase should also begin with sharing Julius’ story, here in his own words.
Jules’ story
I wake up daily thinking about the terrible events that led to my wrongful incarceration. The same night I was going to be charged with murder, I was in my parents’ kitchen and I was telling my mother that my brother and sister had eaten. all the rest of my 19th birthday cookie. Little did I know that a cookie would become the least of my worries. Since then, Oklahoma State has occupied over 24 years of my life. Every year, every day and every moment of my existence disappears like the crumbs of this cookie.
Image: Courtesy of Julius Jones
Julius Jones and his family.
A little over two years ago, I was nearly murdered by the state less than three hours after killing a man I didn’t take. Instead, I was blessed when the Most High moved millions of people all over the world to stand up to preserve my life. After witnessing my lack of legal defense at trial, learning about agreements with several long-time confidential informants that were never disclosed in court, as well as the ambiguity of “DNA evidence”, the Justice Campaign for Julius fought hard for me because they believed in my innocence! Through the love I received from so many people, the Most High reminded me that even though I had forgotten myself, He had not forgotten me.
My life was spared, but my freedom was not restored. I’m still in prison for a crime I didn’t commit. I was not prepared for life in prison. I thought I was going home, or I was going home to God. Thanks to the love of my family and those who continue to defend my freedom, I do my best to remain hopeful every day, but it has been difficult. Sometimes it feels like it’s getting harder and harder.
And since my execution was stopped, ten other people were executed in Oklahoma, despite three of them having clemency recommendations similar to mine from the Pardon and Parole Board. How can we bear this? Is the death penalty a machine that is not interested in nuance or new evidence? Just death? We must continue to work toward a truly just criminal justice system.
Cece Jones-Davis works at the intersections of faith, art, and social justice as a faith leader, facilitator, and award-winning speaker. She is known more recently for her work in creating the Justice for Julius campaign.
Julius Jones survived Oklahoma’s death row for over 23 years until his commutation on November 18, 2021. He is the founder of the Julius Jones Institute and author of JuWels of life And Death Row JuWels.
