300-MILE PROTEST

Group wants death penalty abolished

KIMBERLY BELLAMY

Seeing a group of people walking down Main Street in Tarboro carrying crosses, and a big yellow sign around one of their necks struck the attention of Michael Earl Jones as he was leaving Edgecombe County Memorial Library.

In curiosity, Jones joined them on their walk and was able to make a connection with them.

The walkers were members of Sojourners for Abolition and Reconciliation (SOfAR), and were in the midst of 300-mile pilgrimage across Eastern North Carolina as their way to call for the abolishment of the death penalty.

Jones witnessed first-hand the effects of the death penalty while incarcerated at Central Prison in Raleigh.

Since his incarceration, Jones found work as a truck driver for several years, until he was recently laid off. Now he is finding that his past is creeping back up on him.

“Now, I’m having a problem reentering back into the work society,” he said.

Jones shared his story with the walkers about his recollection of the death penalty while in prison, his present situation and even gave them an invitation to have lunch with him at Tarboro Community Outreach, which they accepted.

“We really want to have conversations with people,” said Scott Bass, SOfAR member.

Since they began their walk on Sunday at Central Prison, the SOfAR walkers talked with many people on their journey that’s taken them through Zebulon, Wilson, Rocky, Tarboro, and Princeville.

Conversations have been struck with pastors, an employee of a retirement home, interested community members, and District Attorney Robert Evans.

They will continue their walk today beginning in Bethel and walking to Williamston. From there they will visit Greenville Grifton, Kinston, Jacksonville, Emerald Isle, New Bern, Smithfield and end in Wake County, where they will be lobbying on June 30 at the state General Assembly.

This is the second year that the group has taken a 300-mile pilgrimage in an effort to end capital punishment. The first walk began in Raleigh and took them to Washington D.C.

They believe that for offenders that have committed serious crimes should be sentenced to life in prison without parole.

Bass said it is a safe alternative for the community, a severe punishment, and frees up resources that could be used elsewhere.

“It also provides a sooner resolution to the situation than does the death penalty,” Bass said.

SOfAR are advocates of giving the criminals a chance to pay the debt to society for their crime instead of ending their lives.

“We don’t believe that people on death row are beyond redemption,” said SOfAR member David Biesack.

Their efforts go beyond ending the sentencing of death row, but reaches out to murder victims and their loved ones.

“We really want to make it known that we that we’re in favor of supporting the family members of victims,” Biesack said.

Of the walkers were Bass, Biesack, and his wife Debbie Biesack and Neil Mohlman, who have depended on the shelter and food of churches on their journey.

“Even if they don’t agree with us they invite us in, and encourage us,” Biesack said.

The last execution in North Carolina was 2006 of Samuel Flippin for the killing of his step-daughter.

For more information about SOfAR, visit www.Abolition-Reconciliation.blogspot.com.