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this to a friend March 24, 2004
LAS VEGAS (AP) - Two days before Nevada's first scheduled execution in
three years, a group of death penalty opponents gathered for a vigil to
highlight what they call an unjust practice.
About a dozen death penalty activists attended a news conference and
vigil Wednesday afternoon at Christ Episcopal Church. As the names of the
nine people executed in Nevada since 1979 were read aloud, members of the
group placed daisies in a large red bucket.
"We are here today to express our outrage and our dismay that Nevada is
about to kill one of its citizens," said Nancy Hart, president of the
Nevada Coalition Against The Death Penalty. "Nothing justifies the taking
of human life when there are so many frailties and flaws within the
system."
The group plans a candlelight vigil outside the Nevada State Prison in
Carson City on Friday night, when convicted killer Lawrence Colwell Jr. is
scheduled to be executed.
Colwell, 35, asked for and received a death sentence for strangling
tourist Frank Rosenstock, 76, in 1994 in Las Vegas. Colwell's girlfriend
lured the New York widower who had retired to the Fort Lauderdale, Fla.,
area to his room then called Colwell who strangled Rosenstock with a belt.
Many in the group said they were troubled by Colwell's decision to
commit what they called "state-assisted suicide."
"In this state, the death penalty is only used when the prisoner is
volunteering to be executed," said Abe Bonowitz, director of Citizens United for
Alternatives to the Death Penalty. "That's not the way it should be. Real
punishment would be not to let them have the cowardly way out."
All but one of the nine inmates executed in Nevada since 1979 cleared
the way for their executions by voluntarily surrendering their rights to
appeal. Nevada's last execution was held in April 2001 when Sebastian
Bridges refused to stop his execution and was put to death.
The group also read the names of the victims killed by those who have
been executed.
"We remember the victims, but not with more killing," Bonowitz said. "We are for accountability. We believe
victims' families are entitled to see the person who killed their loved
one locked up - and throw away the key."
Bill Pelke, director of Journey of Hope, a victims rights organization
opposed to the death penalty, said healing does not come when a killer is
executed.
"I didn't need to see someone die to have that healing," said Pelke,
whose grandmother was murdered in 1985. "It's simply continuing the cycle
of violence. Violent acts are never going to lead to peace and healing and
justice."
The group planned a forum Wednesday night at University of Nevada, Las
Vegas.
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On the Net:
Nevada Coalition Against The Death Penalty, http://www.nodeathpenaltynv.org/
Citizens United for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, http://www.cuadp.org/
Journey of Hope, http://www.journeyofhope.org/
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