KIt is said that an attempt is made to fulfill the last wish of every person before death. Because he is at that last stage of life, where desires remain only in memories. Be it savoring your favorite food, seeing someone special for the last time or just spending a few moments peacefully with them.
This is the reason why death row prisoners in American prisons were given the right to order the last meal of their choice the night before their execution. But one prisoner, with his unique and controversial demand, ended this long-running tradition.
Actually, this incident happened on September 21, 2011, when a 44-year-old prisoner named Lawrence Russell Brewer was given death sentence for murdering a person. He was not at all remorseful for his crime, but before being hanged, he took a step that completely shook the prison system of Texas.
Strange demand in the name of “last mile”
According to The Mirror, Brewer was allowed to ask for a last meal of his choice as part of tradition. But the list he gave surprised the jail officials. For his last meal, he requested a triple meat bacon cheeseburger, a meat lover’s pizza, a cheese omelette filled with beef and vegetables, three fajitas (grilled meat), two chicken fried steaks with gravy and onions, a large bowl of okra and ketchup, a pound of barbecue meat, half a loaf of bread, peanut butter fudge with crushed peanuts, a pint of ice cream, and last but not least, three root beers. The jail kitchen staff prepared food as per his complete list. But when it came time to eat, Brewer said very coldly, “I’m not hungry.”
Big decision of jail administration
Hearing this the jail officials became angry. Despite all this expense and hard work, Brewer did not eat a single morsel. This action shocked the entire Texas prison system. In just a few hours, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) ruled that no inmate would henceforth be allowed to have a “special last meal dish.” Now all prisoners will be given the same food as normal prisoners, even if it is the last meal before hanging. According to The Mirror, Texas Senator John Whitmire said, “It is absolutely wrong to give this special privilege to a criminal. The person who murdered did not give his victim any choice. Therefore, he too should not get this privilege.” After his statement, the tradition of “Last Mile” in Texas was ended forever.
There is still debate among the public
This incident of Brewer remains in discussion even today. Many people say on social media – “It is difficult for someone to feel hungry amidst the fear of death.” Some people believe that Brewer had deliberately given this big order so that the jail officials could be harassed. The strange action of a prisoner ended more than 10 years old tradition in an instant. Now in Texas as well as in many states, death row prisoners are not entitled to any kind of “special dish”. It can also be said like this – ‘Lawrence Russell Brewer created history with this action.