Johnny Depp joins rally against Arkansas' rushed plans to put to death seven inmates by end of April - as drug supplier says its injection wasn't meant for execution

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Johnny Depp joined a rally protesting Arkansas' rushed plans to put to death seven inmates by the end of April, as a drug supplier says the injection wasn't meant for execution.

The famed actor, 53, stood behind a sign that read 'thou shalt not kill' on the front steps of Arkansas' Capitol in an effort to stop the state from hurriedly killing seven inmates on death row before its execution drug expires.

Depp appeared in Little Rock alongside Damien Echols on Friday, a former inmate who spent nearly 18 years on Arkansas' death row before he was freed in 2011 in a plea deal in which he maintained his innocence. 

The Arkansas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty's rally comes as a federal judge weighs whether to grant the inmates' requests to block their upcoming executions. The first executions are set for Monday night.

Amid the efforts to halt the prisoners' death, a medical supplier has chimed in and said one of the three drugs the state plans to use to put the men to death wasn't sold to be used for lethal injection.

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Johnny Depp joined a rally in Little Rock, Arkansas, on Friday in an effort to stop the state from killing seven inmates on death row before its execution drug expires in April

The Arkansas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty's rally (pictured) comes as a federal judge weighs whether to grant the inmates' requests to block their upcoming executions. The first executions are set for Monday night

Between April 17 and April 27, the two-a-day lethal injections will put to death seven people

Two pharmaceutical companies on Thursday filed a court brief seeking to halt the executions and San Francisco-based medical supply company McKesson said it sold Arkansas one drug believing it would be used for medical purposes.

Under Arkansas' protocol, midazolam is used to sedate the inmate, vecuronium bromide then stops the inmate's breathing and potassium chloride stops the heart.

Arkansas plans to execute the seven inmates before the end of April, when its supply of midazolam expires. 

From April 17 to April 27, the two-a-day lethal injections will put to death Ledelle Lee, 51; Don Davis, 54; Bruce Ward, 70; Stacey Johnson, 48; Jack Jones, 52; Marcel Williams, 46, and Kenneth Williams, 35.

U.S. District Judge D. Price Marshall Jr. put on hold the execution of Jason McGehee on April 6.  

Arkansas is racing to put seven men to death next month over a 10-day period, seen here from are inmates Don Davis (far left) and Bruce Ward (center left), who are set for execution on April 17. Jack Jones Jr (center right) and Marcel Williams (far right) are scheduled for execution on April 24

Stacey Johnson (left)  and Ledell Lee (right) are both scheduled for execution on April 20

Kenneth Williams (left) is scheduled for execution on April 27. Jason McGehee (right) had his execution halted on April 6

U.S. District Judge Kristine Baker is considering the inmates' arguments that such a compressed schedule could lead to undue pain and suffering, as well as the drugmakers' desire that their products not be used for capital punishment.

McKesson sold the state vecuronium bromide. In a statement Thursday night, McKesson said it complained to the state after learning that Arkansas planned to use the drug for lethal injections. 

The state said it would return the drug, McKesson said, and the company issued a refund, but the drug was never returned.

U.S. District Judge D. Price Marshall Jr. put on hold the execution of Jason McGehee, one of eight inmates who was set to die in an unprecedented series of double executions this month 

McKesson said it's considering 'all possible means' to get the drug back, including legal action.

A prisons spokesman did not immediately return a call seeking comment Friday. Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson's office did not have an immediate comment on the supplier's statement.

Damien Echols, who was exonerated from death row in Arkansas, spoke about his experience

Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson talked with a reporter at the Governor's Mansion in Little Rock on Thursday (pictured). It was the same day two pharmaceutical companies filed a court brief seeking to halt the executions

The Associated Press last year used redacted drug labels to identify Hospira, which was purchased by Pfizer, as the likely manufacturer of vecuronium bromide. Pfizer has objected to the use of its drugs in lethal injections and has put controls in place to prevent them from being used in executions. 

Pfizer said McKesson sold the drug to Arkansas without Pfizer's knowledge. The company said it has asked the state twice to return any restricted Pfizer or Hospira drugs.

'We believe we have sought to appropriately enforce our policy and have fully explored everything within reason to seek the return of the product,' Pfizer spokeswoman Rachel Hooper said in an email.

Arkansas has not executed an inmate since 2005 because of drug shortages and legal challenges

Fresenius Kabi USA and West-Ward Pharmaceuticals Corp. filed a friend of the court brief objecting to their drugs' use in the executions. Fresenius Kabi said it appeared it had manufactured the potassium chloride the state plans to use, while West-Ward had previously been identified by the AP as the likely manufacturer of the state's midazolam.

Baker is expected to rule Friday on the inmates' request to halt the executions. The lawsuit is among a flurry of challenges to the executions.

Arkansas has not executed an inmate since 2005 because of drug shortages and legal challenges. If carried out, the executions would mark the most inmates put to death by a state in such a short period in modern history.

Hutchinson defended the execution timeline Thursday, saying he believed prison officials were prepared. He also said he believed the secrecy law had helped Arkansas in obtaining new supplies of its lethal injection drugs.

'I don't think we would have acquired the drugs that we have without that confidentiality agreement,' Hutchinson said.