OKLAHOMA CITY — Rep. Jason Lowe, D-OKC, Chair of the Oklahoma Legislative Black Caucus, released the following statement after members of the Black Caucus met and spoke with Oklahoma death row inmate Julius Jones this afternoon.

“Today was about letting Julius know there are people, elected officials, who are fighting to stop his state-sanctioned death.

“This was my first visit with Julius, and our conversation felt genuine. He understands the situation but also seemed in good spirits.

“Knowing about the systemic injustice that has taken place in Oklahoma for more than a century, how can we commit ourselves to the finality of killing someone?

“It continues to be my core belief that the state doesn’t have the right to kill people. Beyond the moral and ethical objections to capital punishment, the death penalty is an ineffective and expensive deterrent to crime.”