Religious leaders decry plan to bring back electric chair, gassing in Louisiana
Louisiana faith leaders hold a press conference and prayer vigil on the steps of the state Capitol on February 28. (Facebook)
A cross section of religious leaders gathered on the steps of the Louisiana Capitol recently to offer prayers and protest over the state’s plan to add the electric chair and poison gas to its lineup of execution methods.
The representatives of Buddhist, Christian, and Jewish groups also objected to bills expanding the permitless carry of firearms, reducing the age of teens who can be tried as adults from 18 to 17, and reducing the amount of time that can be shaved off prison sentences for good behavior.
“The bills passed thus far have been inexcusably cruel,” said Alison McCrary, director of Louisiana Interfaith Against Executions, the group that organized the demonstration on the Capitol steps in Baton Rouge.
