Vigil Pictures and Article

You can read more about the vigil in this article published on May 4th in the Michigan City News Dispatch. Additionally, ND ASK Co-Director Andrea Laidman was interviewed by Fort Wayne's WANE TV. A transcript and video of the coverage can be found here.

Pictures below:

Members of ND ASK pause for a picture with Father Doyle, Chairman of the Duneland Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty

Joe Baker from the University of Illinois drove several hours to the vigil with three other U of I students.

Marty Pizzini, Education Coordinator for the Dunaland Coalition, lead a drum litany about the death penalty.

We thought we would be the youngest people at the vigil but 20-month old Gerald Hayes quickly proved us wrong.

»»Click here for the full post»»

««Click here for summary only««

Execution Vigil

Getting off our bus at the Indiana State Prison in Michigan City, our collection of students from Notre Dame, St. Mary's, and Holy Cross were greeted with the tail end of a beautifully sung "Ave Maria." The smiles and warm greetings from the veterans of execution vigils that we met there briefly veiled the reason why we had all gathered together outside of the prison on a chilly night. We were there because a man was about to be killed.

It was an eclectic mix of ages and backgrounds. Former inmates stood alongside former prison employees and priests. Soon-to-be octogenarian Father Doyle mingled with students 60 years younger than he. It was a truly wonderful cross-section of Indiana. The thing that we all held in common was our belief that the execution that was about to occur was unjust and would not solve anything. As the other death row inmates put it in their letter to the Governor and the parole board, David's execution "diminishes us all."

A variety of testimonials and readings were given, ranging from religious to personal stories about David and other experiences with the prison system. People marched around with a variety of signs in opposition to the death penalty while guards paced with their dogs just inside the gates.


As the midnight hour of execution neared, we all gathered together directly in front of the gates and tried our best to light candles despite the harsh gusts of wind. We said some prayers and began our silent vigil while the final steps of the system of capital punishment were taken inside the prison in front of us. We waited for what seemed like an eternity in silence. Each time a guard passed by the entrance of the prison, I held my breath, anticipating that we were about to be hit with the tragic report of execution. However, no answer came.

At about 30 minutes past midnight, a hearse pulled around the side of the prison. Everyone's eyes followed it as it disappeared from sight. Several minutes later, we heard a door slam shut. An unspoken truth settled over our group. After 50 minutes of silence and no sign of movement from the prison, Michael Griffin from Holy Cross led us in offering prayers and petitions for the Placencia family, David Woods and his family, and the prison employees.

At about 1 am, we could see members of the Placencia family filed into a white van and were whisked away while Wanda Callahan, David’s spiritual advisor of 23 years, slowly made her way out the front and into her car. The lack of information compounded the chill of the wind and the exhaustion of the group. Wanda was the first to reach us, driving through the gate and getting out of her car to deliver her account of the execution and talk about her friend David.

David went peacefully, she said, smiling and nodding as the lethal drugs were delivered into his body. He was at peace with God, she said, and knew that he was going to a better place. She mentioned how sad it was that the first time he felt safe in his entire life was when he was sent to death row. Everyone was gathered around, listening to her shaky voice deliver such powerful words. After she had finished her account of the situation, she hugged several of us, thanking us for our prayers and thoughts. She told us that she could certainly feel our presence during the execution.

Officials from the prison approached next and told us that David Leon Woods had been executed at 12:35 am.

»»Click here for the full post»»

««Click here for summary only««

Seats still left for Vigil!

At approximately midnight tonight, after 23 years on death row, David Woods will be executed at the Michigan City Prison. We fully intend to demonstrate to the Governor that this is not done in our name.

For those of you in the South Bend area, there are still several seats available on our bus to Michigan City tonight. The bus will be leaving at 9:45pm from McKenna Circle on campus which is located on Notre Dame Ave. Please register ahead of time so we know to expect you!

Due to the time change between South Bend and Michigan City, the bus will be returning back to campus around 2:30am. The bus is free of charge and we encourage anyone who is interested to please join us for this important event.

»»Click here for the full post»»

««Click here for summary only««

Achieving the Inevitable: Ending the Death Penalty in Indiana

We are proud to finally announce our title --Achieving the Inevitable: Ending the Death Penalty in Indiana-- and schedule for the upcoming forum on April 27th-29th.

If you haven't already registered, click here to do so!

Click below to expand this post and see the schedule.

Friday, April 28

7:30 pm, Opening Remarks

8:00 pm, Screening of The Exonerated
(Jordan Auditorium)

Saturday, April 29

9:30 - 10:45, Breakfast and Keynote Address by Paula Sites, Assistant Executive Director of the Indiana Public Defender Council (Center for Social Concerns)

11- 12:15, Panel Session 1:

The American Bar Association & Indiana: Moving toward a Moratorium
(Room 121, Mendoza College of Business)

Prison Ministry: Building Relationships with Death Row Inmates
(Room 122, Mendoza)

Mental Illness and the Death Penalty: Arbitrary, Capricious and Inhumane
(Room L014B, Mendoza)

12:30 - 1, Presentations:

Indiana's Movement Against the Death Penalty
--Chris Hitz-Bradley, President, Indiana Information Center for the Abolition of Capital Punishment
(Room 121, Mendoza College of Business)

From Death to Detention: 18th Century Great Britain's Penal System as the End to Capital Punishment
--Professor Sean O’Brien, Keough-Naughton Institute for Irish Studies
(Room 122, Mendoza)

Sane Punishment for the Mentally Ill
--Kathleen Bayes, Executive Director, National Alliance on Mental Illness – Fort Wayne
(Room L014B, Mendoza)

1-1:50, Working Lunch:

Group Discussions with Guest Speakers and Panelists on Students’ Role in the Movement for a Moratorium in Indiana

2-3:15, Panel Session 2:

The American Bar Association & Indiana: Moving toward a Moratorium
(Room 121, Mendoza College of Business)

The Role of Religion and Churches in Ending Indiana’s Death Penalty
(Room 122, Mendoza)

The Role of Indiana’s Media in the Movement for a Moratorium
(Room L014B, Mendoza)

3:30-4:30, Action and Information Session on the May 4th Execution of David Woods:

--Discussion of ND ASK’s planned response to the pending execution of David Woods, including a petition to Governor Mitch Daniels and a vigil at Michigan City prison. Also, Wanda Callahan, longtime spiritual adviser to David will speak to his rehabilitation and their twenty-year friendship.

7:30-9, Film Screening: The Thin Blue Line
(Jordan Auditorium)

9:15, Grotto Vigil:
--In remembrance of the victim of David Woods’ crime, Juan Placencia, and his family

Sunday, April 29

9:30 – 11, Breakfast and Closing Remarks:
(Oak Room, South Dining Hall)

Click here to register now!

Speakers and location subject to change. Updates will be sent to those registered for the forum and posted regularly on our blog.

»»Click here for the full post»»

««Click here for summary only««

ND ASK to Hold Execution Vigil at Michigan City Prison

Notre Dame's Campus Ministry has been generous enough to sponsor a bus load of protesters for a vigil at Michigan City Prison on the night of David Woods' execution (May 3rd-May 4th, the execution occurs at midnight). ND ASK is now taking seat reservations for the bus. The transportation is free of charge and is open to anyone who is interested, including anyone outside the Notre Dame community.

We hope to fill the bus and show our support for a moratorium against the death penalty while bearing witness to the tragedy of capital punishment. Details and updates on the vigil will follow. Please fill out the form below to reserve a seat. Vigil updates and details to follow via e-mail and on the blog.

Additionally, plans for a vigil in remembrance of the victim, Juan Placencia, and his family are in the works and details will be posted soon.

»»Click here for the full post»»

««Click here for summary only««