On Friday, Nov. 6, a crowd gathered at Trinity Episcopal Church (125 E. Broad St.) in Youngstown, Ohio, to press Governor Mike DeWine for a clemency hearing for Keith LaMar. LaMar has spent more than three decades on death row at the Ohio State Penitentiary, most of it in solitary confinement, and is scheduled for execution in January 2030 for his alleged role in the 1993 Lucasville Prison uprising.
Why supporters are hopeful
Governor DeWine announced in June that he intends to abolish Ohio’s death penalty, a stance that aligns with his Catholic faith and his expressed willingness to address the issue before the end of his term. The timing of the rally follows a petition delivery deadline of Nov. 9, after which the governor must decide whether to schedule a clemency hearing.
“Given what the governor has said about the death penalty, given his Catholic faith, given his seeming willingness to do something on the issue, we were very optimistic that there was going to be something coming in the final year of his term,” said Sean McCann of the ACLU of Ohio in a March interview.
Voices from the front lines
The rally featured speakers who have themselves been exonerated from death‑row convictions, including Elwood Jones, Lamont Hunter and Derrick Jamison. Bruce Bryan of The Clemency Collective moderated the discussion, and LaMar’s legal team provided an update on ongoing appeals.
LaMar, who has consistently asserted his innocence since his 1993 conviction, told Matter News in October 2025, “I refused to take a plea bargain at 23 years old and stood on my innocence.” He has also participated in the Freedom First concert series, performing via cell phone from his cell while musicians play live onstage across the country.
Freedom First concerts and public awareness
During a 2023 concert recorded in Brooklyn, LaMar’s phone line cut out just before the finale, leaving the musicians to improvise a powerful coda. Amy Gordiejew, who was present at the recording session, described the moment as “the most incredible finale,” noting the musicians’ energy reflected the urgency of LaMar’s situation.
LaMar’s performances have helped bring national attention to the broader debate over capital punishment and the rights of inmates who claim wrongful conviction. While the governor’s death‑penalty abolition proposal remains pending, supporters hope the clemency hearing will provide a venue to examine LaMar’s case in detail.
What’s next?
The petition will be delivered to the governor’s office before the Nov. 9 deadline. If DeWine schedules a hearing, LaMar’s legal team says they will present new evidence and testimony supporting his claim of innocence. The outcome could set a precedent for other long‑time death‑row inmates seeking relief under the governor’s proposed abolition of the death penalty.
Regardless of the final decision, the rally underscores a growing coalition of faith‑based groups, civil‑rights advocates and families united by a shared belief in justice, redemption and the sanctity of life.
Original reporting: Matter News (Columbus) — read the source article.
