On January 25, 2024, Alabama conducted the first-ever execution by nitrogen gas, and the execution was as painful as projected. Nevertheless, a growing list of states, including Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Oklahoma, plan to use gas suffocation for death penalty executions.

The gas and devices used for these executions are supplied by private corporations, in some cases willingly and some cases not. For example, the gas mask used is manufactured by Allegro Industries, a subsidiary of Walter Surface Technologies, owned by Onex Corporation, all of which refused to take a stand. On the other hand, the nitrogen gas used is supplied by Airgas, a subsidiary of AirLiquide, which has disavowed the use of its gas for such purposes but failed to enforce the prohibition.

We cannot stop demanding these corporations take action to prohibit the use of their products in nitrogen gas for executions. Take action today!

Over the past decade, the growing inaccessibility of lethal injection drugs and public outrage over brutally botched executions have moved some states to end or suspend the death penalty. But others, like Alabama, have begun exploring new execution protocols instead, including nitrogen suffocation. It’s appalling on its face, but especially since nitrogen suffocation is outlawed in the state for animal euthanasia. In fact, the United Nations warned that this execution method violates international human rights law.

To carry out gas executions, states need the support or complicity of the private sector. Multiple corporations have supported the state in its plan, some knowingly and some likely unwittingly. Thanks to your action, over the past two years, workplace safety firm FDR Safety withdrew from their related contract with Alabama and gas supplier Airgas, subsidiary of Air Liquide, notified the state that their nitrogen could not be used for executions.

Join the continued call to stop corporations from any involvement in gas executions. The death penalty is unethical, profiting off of it is morally incomprehensible.