Almost nine decades after the last high-profile public hanging in the United States, the Department of Defense announced it will livestream the execution of Nidal Hasan, the soldier convicted of killing 13 people at Fort Hood in 2009. The decision, initiated by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, has reignited a national conversation on capital punishment, drawing sharp comparisons to historical spectacles and international human rights concerns.
By order of the Pentagon, Hasan’s death by firing squad will be streamed online. Hegseth defended the move as a necessary message regarding the severe repercussions of such crimes, stating, “People need to understand that there’s serious consequences for these types of things.”
The move echoes a grim precedent set on August 14, 1936, in Owensboro, Kentucky. An estimated 20,000 spectators gathered to witness the hanging of Rainey Bethea, who was convicted of raping and murdering 70-year-old Lischia Edwards. Reporters traveled from cities like Chicago and New York, while locals attended “necktie” parties the night before. Although the local sheriff’s widow was rumored to pull the lever, professional hangmen carried out the sentence.
The sensationalism of the Bethea execution horrified Kentucky officials, leading Governor Ruby Laffoon to outlaw public executions 18 months later. While Missouri held a less prominent public hanging in 1937, the US had not witnessed one since until now.
Michael Radelet, a professor emeritus at the University of Colorado and a capital punishment scholar, expressed shock at the revival of the practice. He highlighted a significant shift in public opinion, noting that support for the death penalty has dropped from 80% in 1994 to 52% today, particularly when life without parole is an alternative. “The justification for the death penalty becomes entertainment… bring your popcorn, invite your friends,” Radelet observed.
Sonya Lea, whose grandparents attended the 1936 execution, described the past event as a “carnival of sadism.” She expressed horror that modern technology could broadcast such an act to a global audience, noting that many Kentuckians remained haunted by the event. Lea questioned whether the US was aligning itself with nations known for state-sanctioned killings, such as Iran, North Korea, and Afghanistan.
Political analysts suggest the announcement may reflect broader polarization. Kurt Gray, a social psychology professor at Ohio State University, suggested that while some citizens may desire retribution, many are likely desensitized rather than celebratory. “It’s not like they’re cheering a public execution; they’re just like, ‘Oh, yeah, I guess that’s where we’re at now,'” Gray said.
Opposition to the livestream has come from various quarters. Garen Wintemute of UC Berkeley cited survey data indicating a declining appetite for violence, while the US Conference of Catholic Bishops labeled the plan “barbaric.” Vice President JD Vance stated he would not watch the execution, whereas President Donald Trump confirmed his approval of the decision without specifying if he would view it himself.
Comparing this to Bethea’s 1936 hanging is chilling. We really are bringing back carnival-like sadism with modern technology.
Doesn’t Trump say he approves but won’t specify if he watches? The hypocrisy is staggering and deeply unsettling.
A firing squad livestream? This feels like we are regressing to an era of spectacles rather than justice.