Downtown demonstration
Increased awareness of death penalty
By Jason Hathaway
Tribune-Star
A group of about 20 local anti-death penalty demonstrators gathered Thursday evening on the front lawn of the federal building in Terre Haute.
They have met at Seventh and Cherry streets on the first Thursday of every month since last July, but this time marked the last time before Timothy's McVeigh's execution May 16 in the U.S. Penitentiary, Terre Haute.
The demonstrators, who held signs with anti-death penalty messages, were met with mixed reactions from passing motorists. Some honked and waved in approval, while others jeered with pro-death penalty epithets.
Demonstrators did not respond to the negative comment flung their way.
"They may not agree, but at least they're thinking about the death penalty," said Suzanne Carter, president of Terre Haute Abolition Network. "I would rather have people thinking what they believe about the death penalty rather than not having them think about it at all.
"We have noticed that [comments from passersby] have gotten shriller and nastier. When you have a high-profile execution in a community, it creates those kinds of feelings."
Dealing with negative comments is something one has to expect when fighting for a belief, said demonstrator Cheri Wallingford of Terre Haute.
"It's so much easier just to smile. [A negative response] is what they want. They want a reaction. You're not going to change anybody's mind by shouting stuff at cars," she said.
The vigils and other anti-death penalty forums around the city have yielded results in increasing awareness and prompting people to think about their beliefs regarding the death penalty, she believes.
"I think that we are close to a turning point in the general population," Wallingford said. "I don't believe that a majority of Americans believe in state killing."
Demonstrator Susan O'Connor of Terre Haute, clutching a white sign that said "Don't Kill For Me," also believes these anti-death penalty awareness events have been helpful.
"It's been very successful in creating a dialogue in Terre Haute where people look at the [death penalty] issue and discuss it," she said. "It has to be discussed. It's an important public issue. I think the most important part is that we talk about it."
At anti-death penalty forums, people can look at statistics on how the death penalty affects the crime rate, recidivism and its deterrence effect. They can then make a more informed decision on their beliefs, she said.
Anti-death penalty demonstrators will meet again 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday at St. Margaret Mary Parish, 2405 S. Seventh St., for a peacekeepers training session led by the Michigan Peace Team. More activities will follow on days leading up to May 16, when they will conduct a vigil at the penitentiary.
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