A group of death penalty opponents began a 300-mile pilgrimage Sunday, calling for an end to the death penalty, and promoting compassion for murder victims' families and support for the families of those on death row.

The group, calling itself Sojourners for Abolition and Reconciliation (SOfAR), began walking at Central Prison, 1300 Western Blvd., and will follow a route through eastern NC before returning to Raleigh on Tuesday, June 30 for an afternoon of lobbying at the NC General Assembly. They will pass through dozens of towns and cities along the way, stopping for programs and discussions in local churches and community centers.

Stops will include: Zebulon, Wilson, Rocky Mount, Tarboro, Bethel, Robersonville, Williamston, Greenville, Winterville, Ayden, Kinston, New Bern, Emerald Isle, Jacksonville, Swansboro, Goldsboro, Smithfield, Selma, Clayton, Garner and neighboring towns. In its first Pilgrimage one year ago, the group walked a 300-mile route from Raleigh to Washington, DC.

"We walk to remember murder victims, people on death row, the executed, the exonerated and the families of all these persons and we walk to call for an end to the death penalty," said Pilgrimage organizer Scott Bass. The Pilgrimage remembers those wrongfully convicted of murder as well as people who commit violent acts, "Our faith calls on us to remember that we are all children of God, even those among us who have caused the greatest harm," Bass said. "It's about remembering that there is no right way to do the wrong thing, and executing human beings is wrong, an unnecessary evil that does not make us safer and cannot deliver on its false promise of helping murder victim families heal."

While the Pilgrimage calls for the abolition of capital punishment, it intends to create conversation about the issues rather than imposing that view. In addition, organizers want to call attention to the needs of murder victim families and all people whose lives are impacted by violence. Bass says, "The families of murder victims need more than tough talk and lip service. They need responses that help them heal and adjust to lives without their loved ones who were taken so tragically." He adds, "The families of people accused of murder have actually quite similar needs. And all of us benefit from turning more of our resources to crime prevention and away from broken systems that don't work, like the death penalty."

While decidedly respectful of people with other faith perspectives, the group is deeply rooted in Christianity and has a special message for Christians. Bass adds with emphasis, "We believe support for the death penalty is as inconsistent with Christianity as were earlier widely-accepted institutions, like slavery."

The Pilgrimage is sponsored by Nazareth House and co-sponsored by People of Faith Against the Death Penalty (PFADP), Capital Restorative Justice Project (CRJP), and Murder Victim Families for Reconciliation (MVFR) and is supported by many other individuals and groups.

Schedule
Monday, June 15
8 a.m. Begin walking along US 64 Business at 6617 Knightdale Blvd (near Chick Filet) (For exact meeting location, call Scott Bass at 910-385-6787.) Walk from Knightdale to Zebulon and Middlesex.

Other beginning and ending points for week one:
Tuesday 6/16  Zebulon to Wilson
Wednesday 6/17  Wilson to Rocky Mount
Thursday 6/18  Rocky Mount to Tarboro/Princeville
Friday 6/19  Williamston area
Saturday 6/20 - Williamston to Greenville area north
Sunday 6/21 - Greenville area south
Monday 6/22 - TBA Tuesday 6/23 - Jacksonville to Emerald Isle
Wednesday 6/24 - Kinston area
Thursday 6/25 - TBA
Friday 6/26 - TBA
Saturday 6/27 -TBA
Sunday 6/28 - Goldsboro to Smithfield Selma area
Monday 6/29 - Smithfield-Selma to Clayton to Wake County line (US 70 west of Clayton)
Tuesday 6/30 - Wake County line (US 70 west of Clayton) to Raleigh