Dozens of Kansas Citians hold vigil in protest of Marcellus Williams’ execution

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – An hour before Missouri was set to execute Marcellus Williams, dozens gathered at every corner of 39th Street and Troost Avenue in Kansas City, Missouri, holding signs to protest the execution.

“I just think this is so wrong and I’ve thought it for so long,” said Jim Hannah. “It’s encouraging to see this many people out here, but it’s also discouraging to think that we’re still doing this.”

Those who organized and showed up were not only against this specific execution but also against the death penalty in the state. Everyone gathered as the U.S. Supreme Court made the decision to deny all three petitions for Williams. Demonstrators said they were disappointed but not surprised.

“No,” said Bob Anderson. “First of all it was last minute, but they also tend to be conservative in their opinions. Since the Missouri Supreme Court had said to go ahead with this, even though there seems to be gobs of evidence that it is an unfair killing, I didn’t think the Supreme Court at the last minute would stop it.”

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Earlier on Tuesday, Missouri Governor Mike Parson, who denied Williams’ clemency request, released a statement outlining why, saying in part, “Nothing from the real facts of this case have led me to believe in Mr. Williams’ innocence, as such, Mr. Williams’ punishment will be carried out as ordered by the Supreme Court.”

About 6 p.m., when Williams was set to be executed, the crowd gathered in the parking lot of St. James Catholic Church to pray for Williams and hold a moment of silence.

“We know it’s not going to stop the execution tonight,” said Anderson. “We think it’s wrong to be executing this man, but we can still stand up and say this is not what we think should be done. This is not who we are, even though the state of Missouri says that’s who they are.”

The Innocence Project posted a statement following the execution on its website. It read, in part:

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