Where Pro-Life Ends

Examining South Carolina's death penalty on the eve of Freddie Owen's execution

Photo by Travis Bell/STATEHOUSE CAROLINA

For over twenty years, the state of South Carolina has been run by the "pro-life" Republican party. This is the party that allows women to die in childbirth by banning abortions, doesn't take significant enough steps to stop school shootings, and supports state-sanction executions. Republicans are only "pro-life" up to birth; then, you no longer matter to Republican voters, donors, or politicians.

On Friday, September 20th, South Carolina is set to conduct its first execution in 13 years. Freddie Eugene Owens will be executed by lethal injection and will be the first of the five executed across the nation between September 20th and 26th. In 1997, 19-year-old Owens was charged with the murder of 41-year-old Irene Graves, a convenience store worker killed during a robbery attempt. While Ownes declared he wasn't even at the scene, he was convicted. While awaiting sentencing, he went on to kill his cellmate.