Save Sonny Burton!
Charles “Sonny” Burton is facing execution on March 12th for a shooting he did not commit. Now, more than ever, our voices matter.
A message from our NYC Organizer, Vrinda Jagota
In 1992, Charles “Sonny” Burton was sentenced to death for a shooting he did not commit.
He did not pull the trigger, did not order anyone to shoot, and did not even witness it happen.
The triggerman acted alone.
The State later agreed to resentence the shooter to life without parole.
Yet Sonny remains on death row.
This injustice demands action. Governor Ivey must step in and grant clemency.
Sonny Burton is innocent.
TAKE ACTION
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TAKE ACTION 〰️
Sign the petition
Join 10,200+ people from around the world in directly asking Governor Kay Ivey to show mercy to Sonny Burton, and commute his death sentence to life in prison, as the State of Alabama already did for the shooter. Every signature counts.
Amplify on Social Media
Sample social media posts:
In 1992, Charles “Sonny” Burton was sentenced to death for a shooting he did not commit. He did not pull the trigger, did not order anyone to shoot, and did not even witness it happen. The triggerman acted alone. The State later agreed to resentence the shooter to life without parole. Yet Sonny remains on death row. This injustice demands action. Governor Ivey must step in and grant clemency.
Email Governor Ivey #ClemencyForSonnyBurton #Justice #Alabama #DeathPenalty
Charles “Sonny” Burton faces execution despite never pulling the trigger and never intending for anyone to be killed. The man who committed the killing was spared execution. Sonny was not. That disparity should give us pause and demand mercy. Urge Governor Ivey to commute Sonny Burton’s sentence to life without parole.
Email Governor Ivey #Mercy #JusticeNotExecution #EndTheDeathPenalty
Governor Kay Ivey can still stop the execution of Charles “Sonny” Burton.
Sonny did not kill.
Sonny did not intend to kill.
Sonny did not order the killing.
Yet he remains condemned while the triggerman was allowed to live. This is a moment for moral clarity and leadership. Speak up. Demand clemency.
Email Governor Ivey #ClemencyNow #JusticeForSonny #AlabamaLeadership
If you live in Alabama, send a letter to your representatives
Sample Letter Script:
Subject: Urge Governor Ivey to Grant Charles “Sonny” Burton Clemency
Dear Representative [Last Name],
I’m writing as a concerned Alabama resident who believes in justice, mercy, and the constitutional principles we share.
Charles “Sonny” Burton faces execution for a killing he did not commit. Mr. Burton did not shoot Douglas Battle, order the shooting, nor evenwitness it. The decision to take Mr. Battle’s life was made independently by the triggerman, Derrick DeBruce.
Yet the State agreed to have Mr. DeBruce’s death sentence later reduced to life without parole, allowing him to live out his final days in prison. Mr. Burton, who neither pulled the trigger nor intended for anyone to be killed, remains under a sentence of death. That disparity should give us pause.
The death penalty was never intended for individuals who lacked intent to kill and did not commit the act itself. Executing Mr. Burton under these circumstances raises serious questions about proportionality, fairness, and the consistent application of justice protected by the Eighth Amendment.
This is not about minimizing the pain of a terrible crime, but about ensuring punishment is just, measured, and aligned with both the facts and our shared values.
I respectfully urge you to ask Governor Ivey to closely review Mr. Burton’s case and consider granting clemency by commuting his sentence to life without parole. This moment calls for moral clarity and principled leadership.
Thank you for your time and service to our state.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[City, ZIP]
Sample phone script: “Hello, my name is ______________ and I live in ______________. I’m calling to ask Governor Ivey to grant clemency for Mr. Charles Burton. As Alabamians we must demand better of our judicial system, and we must do our best to right our previous wrongs. Executing a man who did not kill anyone, while the triggerman’s sentence was commuted to life without parole, is unjust and I believe it goes against the will of the people of Alabama. I respectfully urge you to ask Governor Ivey to closely review Mr. Burton’s case and consider granting clemency by commuting his sentence to life without parole. Thank you for your time and service to our state.”