Randa Abdelfattah

Irene Noguchi. Voice over work in this episode was also done by Aidan Crowe, Greg Hards, Felix Salmon, Jonathan Levin, Chris Springthorpe, and Ghislaine Cardin-Retti.

Irene Noguchi. Voice over work in this episode was also done by Aidan Crowe, Greg Hards, Felix Salmon, Jonathan Levin, Chris Springthorpe, and Ghislaine Cardin-Retti.

Fact-checking for this episode was done by Kevin Volkl. This episode was mixed by Robert Rodriguez.

Fact-checking for this episode was done by Kevin Volkl. This episode was mixed by Robert Rodriguez.

Fact-checking for this episode was done by Kevin Volkl. This episode was mixed by Robert Rodriguez.

A note before we get started. This episode includes descriptions and discussion of violent acts, including murder and execution.

A note before we get started. This episode includes descriptions and discussion of violent acts, including murder and execution.

A note before we get started. This episode includes descriptions and discussion of violent acts, including murder and execution.

Cruel and unusual punishments. A term that was adopted from England and meant to protect the people from a tyrannical government. But what was cruel and unusual punishment?

Cruel and unusual punishments. A term that was adopted from England and meant to protect the people from a tyrannical government. But what was cruel and unusual punishment?

Cruel and unusual punishments. A term that was adopted from England and meant to protect the people from a tyrannical government. But what was cruel and unusual punishment?

On the day of his execution, Wallace Wilkerson sat in a chair facing three guns about 30 feet away. He made a short speech and said he hoped God would forgive him. Then three concealed gunmen fired. He continued breathing for 27 minutes before being pronounced dead. almost 150 years later. The firing squad is still a legal way to execute someone in five states.

On the day of his execution, Wallace Wilkerson sat in a chair facing three guns about 30 feet away. He made a short speech and said he hoped God would forgive him. Then three concealed gunmen fired. He continued breathing for 27 minutes before being pronounced dead. almost 150 years later. The firing squad is still a legal way to execute someone in five states.

On the day of his execution, Wallace Wilkerson sat in a chair facing three guns about 30 feet away. He made a short speech and said he hoped God would forgive him. Then three concealed gunmen fired. He continued breathing for 27 minutes before being pronounced dead. almost 150 years later. The firing squad is still a legal way to execute someone in five states.

The death penalty is still constitutional. But debates over what exactly is cruel and unusual are ongoing and wide-ranging.

The death penalty is still constitutional. But debates over what exactly is cruel and unusual are ongoing and wide-ranging.

The death penalty is still constitutional. But debates over what exactly is cruel and unusual are ongoing and wide-ranging.

And I'm Randa Abdelfattah. On today's episode of ThruLine from NPR, the latest installment in our We the People series, where we look at the past, present, and future of amendments to the U.S. Constitution, why they were created, how they've been enforced, and why fights over their meaning continue to shape life in the United States.

And I'm Randa Abdelfattah. On today's episode of ThruLine from NPR, the latest installment in our We the People series, where we look at the past, present, and future of amendments to the U.S. Constitution, why they were created, how they've been enforced, and why fights over their meaning continue to shape life in the United States.

And I'm Randa Abdelfattah. On today's episode of ThruLine from NPR, the latest installment in our We the People series, where we look at the past, present, and future of amendments to the U.S. Constitution, why they were created, how they've been enforced, and why fights over their meaning continue to shape life in the United States.