Crime Victims Rally for Repeal in Maryland

Today's Annapolis Capital Gazette reports, "Death penalty opponents rally at State House."  It's by Alex Jackson.

Opponents of capital punishment came to Annapolis on Monday, rallying support for Gov. Martin O’Malley’s proposal to repeal the death penalty.

Around 100 people turned out for the rally, which was organized by Maryland Citizens Against State Executions.

“Thousands” of others joined a “virtual lobby day” online, showing their support by signing an open letter delivered to lawmakers Monday evening, according to the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty.

Family members of murder victims spoke at the event, which began at Lawyers Mall and moved to St. Anne’s Parish Hall, where participants got food and directions to their legislators’ offices.

According to the bill, all savings from repealing the death penalty would bolster resources for the families of murder victims in the state.

Bonita Spikes, whose husband was murdered at a convenience store in 1994, spoke at the rally about her fight to get help for her son Michael, who had emotional problems after his father’s death.

Spikes, a nurse, said she didn’t have the resources to get her son the depression medication he needed.

“By passing the repeal bill this year we will have the resources needed to get murder victims’ families help,” Spikes said. “Continue to call your legislators ... Stand by us.”

Legislation to repeal the death penalty was introduced in the Senate Jan. 18 as Senate Bill 276, and in the House of Delegates on Jan. 23 as House Bill 295. There will be hearings on both bills on Feb. 14.

"Relatives of murder victims call for repeal of death penalty," is the WTOP-FM post.  There is video at the link.

Relatives of five murder victims are calling for a repeal of Maryland's death penalty.

They joined a rally in Annapolis Monday.

"You start to realize that revenge is taking up space that you need to heal," Erricka Bridgeford of Reisterstown told the group. Bridgeford's brother was murdered in 2007.

"We have learned that one more dead body cannot be justice," Bridgeford said.

Earlier coverage from Maryland begins at the link.