Public executions are a hallmark of conservative governments around the world. They'd have them all across the American South if they could get away with it.

#11 | Posted by qcp

There used to be public executions all across the South. Public hangings were a celebratory event.

In fact, after its invention, there were even companies that leased out electric chairs for public electrocutions in town squares.

The last public execution in the South was in 1936 in front of an estimated 20000 spectators. Rainey Bethea was hanged in Owensboro, Kentucky. His was the last public execution before they were outlawed nationally.