The spirited, youthful crowd chanted, "Governor Death, you can't hide. We've got justice on our side," and "No justice! No peace! Moratorium now!" as well as other slogans against the death penalty. Organized by the Austin chapter of the Campaign to End the Death Penalty, and endorsed by numerous civil rights and religious organizations, the action drew many students from the University of Texas in Austin.

Bethany Linder, an 18-year-old freshman, said people at information tables set up every day on campus told "students how important it is for youth to get involved in the injustices going on." This was her first demonstration, which came in the wake of the February 24 execution of Bettie Lou Beets and the March 1 execution of Odell Barnes.

Gov. George W. Bush refused appeals for stays of execution to Beets, who was a 62-year-old battered woman, as well as Barnes, whose case consisted of conclusive evidence that he was innocent.

Bush, who is running for president in the Republican primaries, has presided over 122 executions during his term as governor of Texas--more than any other governor in the country. He has used the death penalty to increase his chances of winning the election.

At the rally, a South African student said, "In South Africa during apartheid three judges were known as the 'doctors of death,' and in nine years they had 40 people executed. Bush in only six years has had over 100 executed. We are not going to take this anymore."

Bryan Hadley, a 25-year-old counselor at Planned Parenthood, noted, "It is inspiring so many turned out for this protest." He moved to Texas a year ago and thought there would be much more resistance to the executions. "Now I can breathe a sigh of relief," he said, noting that this is his first demonstration against the death penalty.

David Ferguson, a garment worker and Socialist Workers candidate for Congress in Houston, hailed the march and rally as an important action in the fight to abolish the death penalty.

"Republican and Democratic politicians like Gov. George Ryan in Illinois want a moratorium on the death penalty so they can prepare to more aggressively use capital punishment against working people. Workers can never get justice in the courtroom under capitalism. The use of the death penalty exposes the brutality of the capitalist system. Executing a battered woman, Betty Lou Beets and an innocent man, Odell Barnes, shows the moral bankruptcy of the ruling rich."

Lea Sherman is a meat packer and Socialist Workers candidate for U.S. Senate from Texas.  
 
 
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