This Week in 2011

“Even though I lay on this gurney, seconds away from my death, I am at total peace. May the Lord Jesus Christ be with me. I am at peace. Hate is going on in this world and it has to stop. Hate causes a lifetime of pain. Even though I lay here I am still at peace. I am still a proud American, Texas loud, Texas proud. God bless America, God bless everyone. Let’s do this damn thing. Director Hazelwood, thank you very much. Thank you everyone. Spark, I love you, all of you. I love you Conna. It’s all good, it’s been a great honor. I feel it; I am going to sleep now. Goodnight, 1, 2 there it goes.”

– Mark Stroman, convicted of murder, lethal injection, Texas. Executed July 20, 2011.

A self-declared white supremacist, Stroman went on a shooting rampage following the 9/11 attacks, resulting in the deaths of two South Asian convenience store employees and severe injury to another. One of his victims, Rais Bhuiyan, was inspired by his religious faith to forgive his attacker and began an online petition to stay Stroman’s execution.