Students attended an anti-death penalty rally in Hartford this past Sunday on the steps of the Connecticut capitol building. The rally recognized the upcoming 1000th execution in the United States since the Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty in 1976.
“I’m sorry we have to meet here today,” said Deputy Majority Leader of the Connecticut State Senate Mary Ann Handley. “It is in this place, it is in this time, that there is very little hope that our federal government is going to take action. It becomes our job here to make it clear to folks that there must be a change, and that the landmark of 1000 people [has] reduced all of us.”
A group of about 100 people gathered in front of the capitol building. About 20 Wesleyan students joined students from Trinity College, members of Connecticut Network to Abolish the Death Penalty (CNADP), and several clergy members from all over Connecticut.
“As far as the overall turnout, I was hoping there would have been more people there,” said Erin Wisman ’06. “In terms of Wesleyan kids going though, this is probably the most we’ve ever had go to a protest or vigil outside the Wesleyan campus. It would have been nice to have more people overall, but that’s pretty exciting.”
Handley was the first of several speakers introduced by CNADP President John Cummings. Other speakers included Pastor Gordon Bates from the United Church of Christ, and Robert Nave, Amnesty executive director of the CNADP and Amnesty International state death penalty abolition coordinator.
“Not only are we breeding a culture of violence, but we’re handpicking a certain group to suffer,” Nave said. “This group is majority minorities, almost all poor. We have to promote and nurture a culture of peace and justice in honor of all victims of violent crime.”
The group walked a few blocks through downtown Hartford to the First Church of Christ. A “breaking of bread” dinner and a movie screening in the church followed, but most Wesleyan students only attended the rally and walk.
“I don’t think it’s a religion issue,” said Erin Pannell ’07. “I think it’s a humanity issue. I don’t like it being associated with that aspect of the movement, and I was kind of shocked. It wasn’t advertised [at Wesleyan] as being a religious event. I think it was kind of a cheap trick. I probably wouldn’t have attended [if I had known].”
Other students said they didn’t mind the religious aspect of the rally.
“I think religion can scare some people, but it can also do a lot of good things,” said Ellen Dinsmore ’08. “It doesn’t offend me [that] religion is so heavily involved in this movement. You take what you can get.”
Although the majority of students in attendance were from Wesleyan Amnesty International and the Wesleyan Prisoner Resource and Education Project (WesPREP), other students found out about the rally through Amnesty posters, word of mouth, or Kerry Max Cook’s recent speech in the Memorial Chapel. Cook was the longest tenured death row inmate in U.S. history to be freed.
“One of my dorm mates told me about this,” said Lonnie Gibbs ’09. “I’m glad I came. It is wrong to take someone’s life, and I don’t think this government or anyone should have the right to do it.”
Although students who attended the rally seemed very firm in their convictions, they cited various reasons for their positions.
“What I don’t like is that the death penalty isn’t a deterrent,” Pannell said. “People who have committed violent crimes aren’t going to pay attention to it, and it’s also irreversible. I think [this rally] is a start, or at least a step, and I also feel like the tide of liberalism is starting to surge again.”
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