AUSTIN, Texas – Close to 100 people gathered on the steps of the Texas Capitol on Saturday for an annual rally against the death penalty.
What we know:
The march has been organized by those opposing capital punishment for the past 27 years.
Families share personal stories
Some people shared personal stories of being on death row and others were family members of loved ones still on death row.
These families and advocates all say the death penalty is not the answer.
By the numbers:
At least 203 people who were wrongly convicted and put on death row have been exonerated.
‘I’m hoping that they take it away’
What they’re saying:
The family of Melissa Lucio, a woman convicted of the death of her daughter, says she is innocent.
“I’m really hoping that this, us protesting, doing this, will show the government that she is innocent and for them to release everybody. Because this is uncalled-for. They right away want to kill people, which is not right,” said Lucio’s cousin, who came to the rally from Houston. “I get it, some of them do deserve it, but not everybody does. And I’m hoping that they take it away, they revoke it.”
Protestors comment on Nidal Hasan’s execution
Big picture view:
In response to former Army psychiatrist Nidal Hasan’s military execution, one speaker questioned the need to livestream it, calling it a theatrical display of violence.
Families at the rally said no one should have to endure the death penalty, and that they should instead spend life in a cell.
The Source: The information in this article was reported by Fox 7’s Dominique Leh.