The Pennsylvania Abolitionists United Against the Death Penalty held a rally in October 2003 on the Capitol steps in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. It was an example of the growing public sentiment against state-sponsored killing. The crowd at the rally was vocal and friendly. They were young and old, politician and student; a compassionate group of people drawn together in an important cause. The several speakers drew the audience together, making us cling to each word they uttered. State Senator Allen G. Kukovich (Democrat from Westmorland County) effectively presented arguments for a moratorium on the death penalty. He spoke in behalf of himself and retired state Senator Edward W. Helfrick (Republican from the 27th District). His primary pleas were for changes in attitude. He encouraged the audience to stand up for its convictions. Sylvester and Vicki Schieber spoke eloquently about the death of their beloved daughter and about a police cover-up. She and other young women in Philadelphia might have been saved had the police acted ethically. Although they have had a lifelong objection to the death penalty, Philadelphia's infamous District Attorney, Lynn Abraham, insisted that the death penalty be sought for their daughter's murderer. Personally, I could feel their sadness, a double loss. Before the trial, they had asked to speak with then Mayor Ed Rendell (now Governor) about their views as victims of murder. He refused to even grant them an audience. Rendell has proven to be a very great disappointment to everyone interested in prison reform and restorative justice. The Schiebers' struggle has been long and painful. They seem to be good people. A few protest songs were sung and there was music by REM, a band dedicated to progressive political advocacy. Who knows how many innocent people are languishing on Pennsylvania's Death Row. We got to see the faces of a few who have been released, many on DNA evidence which bloodthirsty prosecutors fought against. The prosecutors feel that DNA is fine for conviction, but not good for setting someone free. They insist that someone be punished, even if it's the wrong person. Nick Yarris is still waiting for his prosecutors to decide if they can build a new case against him, no matter how flimsy, without the DNA evidence because DNA has proven that he didn't commit the crime. Jay Smith whose case has been sensationalized to the point of a soap opera, spoke about wrongful prosecution and the payments to the detectives to find him guilty by an author who was writing a book about the case. We've come to expect former Pennsylvania Attorney General Ernie Preate to deliver a moving speech, and he didn't let us down. He recounted his personal history of arguing in support of Pennsylvania's death penalty law before the United States Supreme Court. He cited all the reasons that (as he than believed) it was fail-proof; the wrongly accused could not be convicted. The Supreme Court voted 5 to 4 to support the death penalty. So far, at least five men have been wrongly accused, convicted and sentenced to death. Having seen how wrong he was, Attorney Preate now dedicates his life to finding a way to abolish that law. His theme was that it's time for a change. A series of young people, students, advocated for the people in prison and those who are mentally retarded. I wish them well. Perhaps we'll have a better world because of them. Former Illinois Governor George Ryan is an impressive man not only in stature and speech, but also in his undaunted bravery in the political arena. After 13 prisoners in Illinois had been found to have been falsely convicted, Governor Ryan first put a moratorium on all executions and then commuted everyone then on death row, over 160 persons. Pennsylvania has over 230! While the Governor addressed the crowd, there wasn't a sound. We listened spellbound to his story and how he came to realize that the justice system was flawed. Unlike almost all other politicians, Ryan decided to do something about it. George Ryan was part of the Illinois' General Assembly when that state's death penalty legislation was reinstated. He voted in favor of it. He recalled a dissenter asking rhetorically if those supporting the proposal could be the executioner. The words haunted him, but he felt that the system was just and fair; that it was what the people wanted. Many years later he was put in the position of being the executioner or at least the one who signed the execution warrants. When Ryan was elected Governor, nine persons on the Illinois Death Row had been exonerated of their crimes. Nine persons had been convicted only to later be proven innocent. When he was faced with becoming the de facto executioner by signing an execution warrant, he thought long and hard about the problem. Reasoning that the man was surely guilty of the crime, he signed the warrant. It was a very difficult choice and the thoughts surrounding the situation would not leave his mind. When another man was scheduled to be executed, there was a last minute investigation by a group of college students. They believed that the convict had been wrongly convicted. Governor Ryan signed a stay of the execution just in the nick of time. The man was later released. George Ryan doesn't feel that he's brave or a hero, but in all senses, he qualifies. He stood up for his convictions where it would have been much easier to have done nothing. He could have simply retired and done what other governors have done, but George Ryan has taken the path of trying to save others from the savage legalized murders carried out in our name. He's traveled far and wide in support of a kinder, saner world where one human being doesn't kill another.

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