MCALESTER, Okla. — Julius Jones supporters rested after a 100-mile walk aimed at sending a message for justice.
A large group of supporters gathered outside the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester after a four-day, 131-mile walk. They started at the state capitol building in Oklahoma City and walked to McAlester.
Julius Jones used a collect call to offer thanks to his collection of supporters. He urged them to keep fighting alongside him, "I know it’s been a long journey but I just ask y’all to keep on keeping on.”
One supporter, Jabee Williams, told 2 Works for You, "just shows we are willing to sacrifice everything for this cause we believe in.”
Jones is on death row and has been behind bars since a murder conviction in 2002. A jury found Jones guilty in the 1999 killing of Paul Howell.
Nearly two decades after being sentenced to state execution, Jones maintains his innocence and he's not alone.
"New year, new justice," a march ringing in 2021 ranging across central Oklahoma.
“We want in 2021, we want Julius to be reunited with his family. We don’t want to go into another year where he isn’t going home. We know it’s not easy or something that can happen overnight but we want this year to be new justice for him," Williams said.
The group sent up dozens of cheers of support loud enough for Jones to hear and let him know they're behind him.
“We may not live to see the effect of what we did, but we do know that Julius and ourselves will be part of that story when it does happen," Williams said.
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