The 13th Annual March to Abolish the Death Penalty was Saturday November 3, 2012 at 2 PM in Austin, Texas at the Capitol.
Texas has the highest number of executions of any state in the country. With that in mind, hundreds of protestors took the streets of Austin to make a change, but not everyone is happy to see them there.
Hundreds marched through downtown Saturday, protesting the death penalty and the governor they say supports it.
Marchers chanted, “Rick Perry you can’t hide! We charge you with homicide!”
“We just saw the 250th execution under Governor Perry and that includes some controversial executions,” said organizer, Lily Hughes.
Protestors allege that innocent people have been executed in Texas during recent years and brought up controversial executions like that of Cameron Todd Willingham. Willingham has already been executed, but family is trying to exonerate him from charges that he murdered his three young children. Protesters are also hoping to stop future executions like that of Darlie Routier, the Rowlett, TX mother convicted of murdering her two children in 1996. Her family is reportedly working to retest forensic evidence that they say will prove Routier’s innocence.
I’m telling you this could happen to you. If your children or anybody dies in your home, your grand kids die in your home, do not for a minute think they’re not going to accuse you,” said Sarilda Routier, Darlie Routier’s former mother-in-law.
Meet at the Texas State Capitol Building on the South Side (11th and Congress). After a short pre-march speaker’s program, the attendees will march through the streets of downtown Austin with a stop in front of the Texas Governor’s mansion and return to the Texas Capitol to hear more speakers against the death penalty.
If you want to help promote the march, you can download a black and white flyer or a color version and put them up on bulletin boards or hand them out.
There is a bus coming from Houston. Contact Gloria Rubac at 713-503-2633, if you would like to ride the bus from Houston.
HOUSTON BUS
LEAVES: 9:00 AM from S.H.A.P.E. Community Center, 3815 Live Oak, Houston 77005
TICKETS: $10, $5 for students, unemployed, and fixed income
RETURN: 8:00 or 9:00 PM that evening
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