By Darla Shelden, Metropolis Sentinel Reporter —
OKLAHOMA CITY – Erica Gomez, proprietor and operator of Addi’s SugaShack in Norman, will host a fundraiser to help Oklahoma demise row prisoner Julius Jones’ commutation marketing campaign on Saturday, July 24.
Oklahomans seeking to cool off this weekend will be capable of buy a shaved ice deal with and know their {dollars} are serving to to free an harmless man from demise row, based on Gomez.
On Saturday, 100% of income earned by the SugaShack positioned at 1228 N. Interstate Drive in Norman, will go in the direction of the hassle to commute Julius Jones’ demise sentence and launch him from jail. Proceeds will probably be donated to the Julius Jones Coalition.
Supporting Jones’ trigger is second nature to Gomez and her staff.
“Over twenty years in the past, a younger Black man was railroaded right into a demise sentence and by no means received an opportunity to share his story,” mentioned Gomez.
“I imagine Oklahoma has modified and other people assume otherwise,’ she added. “I wish to contribute to that optimistic change in each approach I can, together with with our enterprise. I hope we promote numerous snacks and shaved ice this Saturday, as a result of saving Julius Jones’ life is a trigger we should always all be getting behind.”
Jones was arrested and convicted of the 1999 homicide of Paul Howell, an Edmond businessman who was shot and killed throughout a carjacking.
Jones, who was 19 on the time of the capturing, has maintained his innocence and says he was nowhere close to the scene of the crime. A number of folks have signed sworn affidavits saying that Jones’ codefendant Chris Jordan has repeatedly confessed to the homicide.
Over 6.3 million signatures have now been gathered on the Change.org petition supporting Jones’ commutation which was began in 2019. 6.2 million signatures had been delivered to the Pardon and Parole board on February 25 of this 12 months.
The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board will maintain a Stage Two commutation listening to for Jones on Monday, September 13, throughout which his attorneys can have the chance to current the case for his innocence.
Latest polling signifies that six in ten Oklahoma voters help commuting his sentence to one thing apart from demise. The Julius Jones Coalition has organized rallies, digital boards and different occasions to advocate for his launch from jail.
“Erica Gomez is a strong instance that it takes all of us to make use of no matter sources we’ve to save lots of an individual’s life,” Cece Jones-Davis, an ordained minister, activist and founding father of the Julius Jones Coalition acknowledged. “The Julius Jones Coalition is made up of passionate, brave folks like Erica, and we’re grateful that SugaShack helps Julius in such a artistic, beneficiant approach.”
Cece first turned conscious of the Jones case by watching the ABC documentary “The Final Protection” government produced by Academy Award profitable actress Viola Davis. The three half docu-series examined the issues of the case revealing new proof of Jones’ innocence.
Previous to the homicide, Jones graduated highschool on the honour roll and was a pupil on the College of Oklahoma on a tutorial scholarship with desires of becoming a member of the basketball crew.
In 2023, a two-hour abridged model of the documentary, “The Final Protection: Julius Jones – ABC 20/20 Particular Report, revealed up to date particulars of the crime and trial.
Jones’ case has garnered the help of celebrities together with activist Kim Kardashian West and famend legal professional Bryan Stevenson in addition to NBA gamers Russell Westbrook, Trae Younger, and Blake Griffin.
Jones’ attorneys proceed to uncover new proof within the case.
Addi’s SugaShack, positioned at 1228 N Interstate Drive, Norman, OK 73072, will probably be open from 12 to 9 p.m. this Saturday, July 24. For extra data, visitaddissugashack.com.
To learn the commutation utility and study extra about Julius’ case, go to justiceforjulius.com.
