Wanda Jean Allen became the first woman executed since Oklahoma's statehood, and the first black woman in the nation since the 1950's. Her impending execution helped draw international attention to eight other impending executions scheduled in the state in a 29-day period (eight executions were eventually carried out in a 24-day period). Twenty-nine protesters, including the Rev. Jesse Jackson, were arrested outside Mabel Bassett Correctional Center January 10, 2001, about an hour after Jean was transferred to the state penitentiary to await her execution. Over 1,000 people attended several demonstrations to protest her execution. Rev. Jackson joined over 200 people at a prayer vigil outside the gates of the Governor's Mansion. A guard announced to him Jean's time of death: 9:20 p.m.
Her final appeals and the last three months of her life were chronicled by filmmaker Liz Garbus in the documentary The Execution of Wanda Jean (2002).
Her final appeals and the last three months of her life were chronicled by filmmaker Liz Garbus in the documentary The Execution of Wanda Jean (2002).
Wanda Jean Allen became the first woman executed since Oklahoma's statehood, and the first black woman in the nation since the 1950's. Her impending execution helped draw international attention to eight other impending executions scheduled in the state in a 29-day period (eight executions were eventually carried out in a 24-day period). Twenty-nine protesters, including the Rev. Jesse Jackson, were arrested outside Mabel Bassett Correctional Center January 10, 2001, about an hour after Jean was transferred to the state penitentiary to await her execution. Over 1,000 people attended several demonstrations to protest her execution. Rev. Jackson joined over 200 people at a prayer vigil outside the gates of the Governor's Mansion. A guard announced to him Jean's time of death: 9:20 p.m.
Her final appeals and the last three months of her life were chronicled by filmmaker Liz Garbus in the documentary The Execution of Wanda Jean (2002).
Her final appeals and the last three months of her life were chronicled by filmmaker Liz Garbus in the documentary The Execution of Wanda Jean (2002).
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