It's been an amazingly full week. It's hard to believe we are less than halfway finished. We have indeed come so far - 143 miles - and we do have so far to go - 157 miles.
Today was very, very hot. We already miss the downpours of Monday and Tuesday!
Sunday we will attend two church services and then begin walking at about noon at roughly the intersection of Hwy 11 South and Hwy 903 about 4 miles south of Greenville. Call 910-385-6787 for help in finding us. We expect to walk about 18 miles through Grifton and on in the direction of Kinston.
We are behind on telling our stories and will do our best to catch up tomorrow.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Wilson to Rocky Mount
Thank your for filing our Phone In blog report, Guest Writer!
Tuesday morning met us with more rain, but it did not dampen our spirits. (Pictured: Scott, Dave, Neil.) We walked all morning in the steady rain, and it became very contemplative. We could not converse much, but we could reflect on the cleansing rain. We hope our Pilgrimage can also wash away years of the injustice (racial injustice, economic injustice, moral injustice) of how victims' families are often treated, how families of those on death row are treated, and of course the injustice of the death penalty.
As we stopped for lunch at Wilson Presbyterian Church just west of Wilson (thank you for your hospitality, Rev. Andy!), a TV crew from WITN came and interviewed Scott Bass and Neil Mohlman. Watch the story. (You can skip the viewer comments...)
In the afternoon, we stopped in front of the court house in downtown Wilson. (Pictured: Neil, Scott, Debbie.) We hoped to meet the District Attorney, Robert Evans, but he was not in Wilson at the time - he was in Rocky Mount. That was OK - we would be in Rocky Mount the next day!
We continued out of Wilson and finished the day a mile south of Elm City with a total of about 23 miles of walking. We ended up staying at a Wilson motel Tuesday night, but the wireless internet connection there was pretty poor and we simply could not submit an entry. Dave spent an hour in front of the motel clothes dryers, holding the doors shut while waiting for our shoes and other wet clothes to dry.
We were back on the road Wednesday morning, walking north towards Rocky Mount. We completed over 13 miles before stopping for a picnic lunch in the playground at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, where we were also offered lodging for the night.
After lunch, we walked to the courthouse where we did get to meet DA Robert Evans. He was very gracious in taking us in and hearing the story of our Pilgrimage and why we are walking. He is a newly appointed DA and is currently reviewing the issue of North Carolina's death penalty. He was also aware of the Racial Justice Act and also aware of the need for improved support services for victims' families. He said his judicial district has good services for child victims but less so for adult homicide and violent crime victims. We thanked him for his time and attention and left very satisfied with the meeting.
That left us with a short afternoon for walking - it was already 3:30. We did get in another 10+ miles, making this 25 mile day our longest yet.
Some of the beautiful Eastern North Carolina scenery we are walking past. The horses and this farm were on the road between Rocky Mount and Tarborro.
Tuesday morning met us with more rain, but it did not dampen our spirits. (Pictured: Scott, Dave, Neil.) We walked all morning in the steady rain, and it became very contemplative. We could not converse much, but we could reflect on the cleansing rain. We hope our Pilgrimage can also wash away years of the injustice (racial injustice, economic injustice, moral injustice) of how victims' families are often treated, how families of those on death row are treated, and of course the injustice of the death penalty.As we stopped for lunch at Wilson Presbyterian Church just west of Wilson (thank you for your hospitality, Rev. Andy!), a TV crew from WITN came and interviewed Scott Bass and Neil Mohlman. Watch the story. (You can skip the viewer comments...)
In the afternoon, we stopped in front of the court house in downtown Wilson. (Pictured: Neil, Scott, Debbie.) We hoped to meet the District Attorney, Robert Evans, but he was not in Wilson at the time - he was in Rocky Mount. That was OK - we would be in Rocky Mount the next day!We continued out of Wilson and finished the day a mile south of Elm City with a total of about 23 miles of walking. We ended up staying at a Wilson motel Tuesday night, but the wireless internet connection there was pretty poor and we simply could not submit an entry. Dave spent an hour in front of the motel clothes dryers, holding the doors shut while waiting for our shoes and other wet clothes to dry.
We were back on the road Wednesday morning, walking north towards Rocky Mount. We completed over 13 miles before stopping for a picnic lunch in the playground at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, where we were also offered lodging for the night.
After lunch, we walked to the courthouse where we did get to meet DA Robert Evans. He was very gracious in taking us in and hearing the story of our Pilgrimage and why we are walking. He is a newly appointed DA and is currently reviewing the issue of North Carolina's death penalty. He was also aware of the Racial Justice Act and also aware of the need for improved support services for victims' families. He said his judicial district has good services for child victims but less so for adult homicide and violent crime victims. We thanked him for his time and attention and left very satisfied with the meeting.
That left us with a short afternoon for walking - it was already 3:30. We did get in another 10+ miles, making this 25 mile day our longest yet.
Some of the beautiful Eastern North Carolina scenery we are walking past. The horses and this farm were on the road between Rocky Mount and Tarborro.
Day 3 Update
Guest writer update:Because of extremely long days and intermittent internet connections, Scott has not been able to update this blog over the last two days. For those of you who are keeping track of the walkers, a brief update of their progress:
The Pilgrimage continued from Knightdale to Middlesex on Monday and on to Wilson by Tuesday evening. Scott relayed that the Pilgrimage encountered two firsts: 1) Walking in the rain and 2) Continuing to walk despite torrential downpours! Though the group has now logged quite a few miles in less than ideal conditions, the Pilgrims remain in great spirits.
While walking in Wilson yesterday, the group stopped in front of the Wilson county courthouse for prayer and reflections.
There are currently three individuals on North Carolina’s death row from Wilson County:
- Patricia Jennings: for the 1990 murder of her husband, William Henry Jennings
- Abner Nicholson: for the 1997 murder of his wife, Gloria Nicholson and police chief Wayne Hathaway
- Terry Robinson: for the 1991 murder of his wife, Gina Robinson. Mr. Robinson was initially charged with assault in 1988, but was later charged and convicted of murder when she died from her injuries in 1991
Wilson Presbyterian Church was kind enough to provide lunch for the soaked pilgrims. While Rev. Andy Raynor was only partially supportive of the mission of the walkers, he and the congregation were incredibly hospitable and allowed the group a respite from the terrible conditions outdoors!
“Let justice roll down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream.”(Amos 5:24, American Standard Version)
This powerful quotation from the prophet Amos, featured in Dr. Martin Luther King’s speech at the march on Washington for civil rights in 1963, became the inspiration for the group as they drudged on as rainwater flooded the streets and rushed in streams along their feet.
The group continues through Wilson and into Rocky Mount this evening. Local media has been in constant contact with the Pilgrimage, conducting interviews and taking photos and video. Hopefully we’ll see some wonderful press soon!
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Reconciliation - Not Division
So, yes, we began the Pilgrimage today and photos are posted below. But in spite of the great start, it was with some sadness that this evening I checked out our first news coverage of this year's Pilgrimage. http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/5354177/
Now, given how news coverage can be let me hasten to add that it could have been worse. But it saddens me when a reporter uses a person's pain to take a divisive route - in this case pitting one particular murder victim family member against us - especially when a 'higher road' is readily available. Not to mention the fact that this Pilgrimage is about more than ending the death penalty - although it is certainly about that, too!
This one particular murder victim family member deserves to have his story heard and his viewpoints valued. One of our society's failures is in not listening to murder victim family members. Part of the reason we walk is that we believe their experiences need to be heard and valued and their needs need to be known and addressed - and usually our society gives them only tough talk and lip service. On this Pilgrimage, we walk for them as much as for anyone or anything else. As I walk, I'll be remembering many names and faces and stories of murder victim family members I have encountered, including the person interviewed and including some who support the death penalty and many who do not.
My sadness is that the reporter could have interviewed dozens of murder victim family members in North Carolina who oppose the death penalty and support some form of healing and reconciliation, not even knowing exactly what that might look like. They don't want people who kill to be turned loose to kill again but they don't want to heap killing on top of killing either. Unfortunately, this reporter chose to use one person's pain to work a divisive angle and turn a march about reconciliation into a debate.
I actually told the reporter that I know many murder victim family members who oppose the death penalty and I know some of them would gladly speak out against it. I sat in a room with four such people just yesterday. I've heard from some of them that having experienced what they've experienced they would not want anyone to have to go through what they have gone through. And they certainly don't want to have any responsibility for inflicting that pain on another family!
Obviously, however, some murder victim family members do support the death penalty. Just not all of them - not by a long shot.
To learn more, check out one of our co-sponsors, Murder Victim Families for Reconciliation (MVFR) at http://www.mvfr.org/ . Consider coming to Emerald Isle on June 23rd or Kinston on June 24th and hear the story of Linda White. If I am among those who "just aren't qualified to comment on it" (in spite of my years as a family therapist, minister and grief counselor - I admit, I bristle a bit at that comment), then let's hear what a woman whose daughter was abducted, raped and murdered has to say.
(There's a hint at http://www.journeyofhope.org/pages/linda_white.htm .)
Isn't it time to offer murder victim family members something that really helps them begin to heal and survive the trauma they experience. They don't need our tough talk and lip service.
Now, given how news coverage can be let me hasten to add that it could have been worse. But it saddens me when a reporter uses a person's pain to take a divisive route - in this case pitting one particular murder victim family member against us - especially when a 'higher road' is readily available. Not to mention the fact that this Pilgrimage is about more than ending the death penalty - although it is certainly about that, too!
This one particular murder victim family member deserves to have his story heard and his viewpoints valued. One of our society's failures is in not listening to murder victim family members. Part of the reason we walk is that we believe their experiences need to be heard and valued and their needs need to be known and addressed - and usually our society gives them only tough talk and lip service. On this Pilgrimage, we walk for them as much as for anyone or anything else. As I walk, I'll be remembering many names and faces and stories of murder victim family members I have encountered, including the person interviewed and including some who support the death penalty and many who do not.
My sadness is that the reporter could have interviewed dozens of murder victim family members in North Carolina who oppose the death penalty and support some form of healing and reconciliation, not even knowing exactly what that might look like. They don't want people who kill to be turned loose to kill again but they don't want to heap killing on top of killing either. Unfortunately, this reporter chose to use one person's pain to work a divisive angle and turn a march about reconciliation into a debate.
I actually told the reporter that I know many murder victim family members who oppose the death penalty and I know some of them would gladly speak out against it. I sat in a room with four such people just yesterday. I've heard from some of them that having experienced what they've experienced they would not want anyone to have to go through what they have gone through. And they certainly don't want to have any responsibility for inflicting that pain on another family!
Obviously, however, some murder victim family members do support the death penalty. Just not all of them - not by a long shot.
To learn more, check out one of our co-sponsors, Murder Victim Families for Reconciliation (MVFR) at http://www.mvfr.org/ . Consider coming to Emerald Isle on June 23rd or Kinston on June 24th and hear the story of Linda White. If I am among those who "just aren't qualified to comment on it" (in spite of my years as a family therapist, minister and grief counselor - I admit, I bristle a bit at that comment), then let's hear what a woman whose daughter was abducted, raped and murdered has to say.
(There's a hint at http://www.journeyofhope.org/pages/linda_white.htm .)
Isn't it time to offer murder victim family members something that really helps them begin to heal and survive the trauma they experience. They don't need our tough talk and lip service.
We have come SOfAR!
Day one of the 2009 Pilgrimage of Remembrance is over and it was a great start!!!We began with a mass at the Doggett Center in Raleigh, with a special blessing by Fr. Alex and a wonderful procession after mass - the parishioners processed for the feast of Corpus Christi and also in solidarity with us. We had a wonderful nourishing brunch after the spiritually nourishing celebration with so many friends. We presented Fr. Alex with a T-shirt.
We gathered outside for a group picture. We're ready to walk!!We were soon on our way to Central Prison, a mere 6/10 of a mile from the Doggett Center.
At Central Prison, Tarrah, from the North Carolina Coalition for a Moratorium and her husband, and Will with the Fair Trial Initiative and his partner joined us. Fr. David from St. Francis of Assisi lead an opening prayer.
We waved to the prisoners in Central Prison and were soon on our way.
Ellen and Moira show the 2009 T-Shirts in front of Central Prison.
We stopped briefly at the NC State Capitol building, where Governor Bev Perdue may be called to make a life or death decision in future clemency appeals. We prayed that the death penalty will be abolished before that is needed.
We continued walking and stopped in a Southeast Raleigh neighborhood, the site of three murders so far in 2009. Rev. Hardy Watkins, pastor of a neighborhood church, spoke to us about the community efforts to stop violent crime in the neighborhood and what the violence does to the families who live there. The local churches are uniting in trying to give positive choices to the youth in the area - to let them know that someone cares for them. He also spoke of the effects of gentrification on the neighborhood - the small houses which get refurbished and priced beyond the reach of the current residents, forcing them to move.From here, we walked to the Women's prison off (ironically) Martin Luther King Blvd. About 1200 women are imprisoned here; four are on death row. We prayed for restorative justice rather than retribution.
We were soon walking again and picked up the pace - we had a long distance to go today. We put in another 8 miles, for a total of 13 miles today. Five of us ran the last two while our sag wagon driver's shuttled people to St. Mark's Episcopal Church where friends had assembled a pot luck dinner for us. It was a refreshing end to a wonderful start. We are anxious to go back out tomorrow and start walking again. We have SOfAR to go!
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