Death Penalty Repeal Vigils Held Around NH

The Faith Initiative of the NH Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty will hold three more death penalty vigils this week around the Granite State with leaders of the effort hoping to focus energy on the upcoming “crossover day," when legislation moves between the House and Senate.

The groups hope to continue focusing on the success of a more than two-to-one vote in support of the repeal earlier this month in the House. The state Senate is expected to take up the bill next month. Gov. Maggie Hassan, D-Exeter, has stated she will sign the bill into law, if approved, although she will not offer a reprieve to Michael “Stix” Addison, the convicted cop killer who is New Hampshire’s only death row inmate. Addison killed Manchester Police Officer Michael Briggs in October 2006.

Vigils will be held in Concord on March 25, Berlin on March 28, and Dover on March 29. Vigils have already been held in Hampton and Manchester.

The Concord vigil begins at 4:30 p.m. at the Statehouse and then marchers will head to Blossom Hill Cemetery on North State Street, overlooking the state prison. Prayers will be made and reflections offered at five stops along the way, according to organizers.

The Berlin vigil will be held at 6 p.m. on the Main Street side of the footbridge across the Androscoggin River. In Dover, the vigil will be held at noon at St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church.

For more information, visit NoDeathPenaltyNH.org.