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Jack Payden-Travers: Reflections: Ending the death penalty


Jack Payden-Travers
Guest columnist
Almost four decades ago, I made a move from New York City to Richmond, Va. I was coming for my wife’s job. Tim Kaine moved to Richmond, his wife’s home, the same year. We met at a church service and became friends.
In 2004, I attended a vigil in front of the death house on the evening of Linwood Briley’s execution. The press reported that 500 people attended pro and con vigils that night in front of the state penitentiary in Richmond. I recall sensing the anger of those favoring death that was directed at our candlelight vigil, the repugnance of signs like “Fry Briley Fry” or “Chicken Fried Briley,” and the intimidation caused by occasional attempts by pro-execution participants to disrupt our vigil and the prayers being led by Bishop Walter Sullivan and the daughter of one of Briley’s victims. It was my first but not my last anti-execution vigil.

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