Permission is granted for publication and other dissemination of
this statement as long as it is reproduced in its entirety and
unedited.
Bud Welch lost his 23-year-old daughter, Julie Marie Welch,
in the Oklahoma City bombing. He offers the following to fellow
activists and the media:
To my friends and fellow abolitionists who will be in Terre
Haute for the state sanctioned killing of Timothy McVeigh, or at
other protests around the country, I want you to know that my
prayers are with you. I believe that a statement should be made.
I ask you to be my voice on May 15 and 16, 2001. I urge you
to send a clear message to our Government - and to the people of
this nation - that what we are embarking on on May 16 is just
plain wrong. Our society should not tolerate a government with
the power to kill its own citizens. Send that message in
whatever way you feel is appropriate, with compassion, with
nonviolence, and in peace.
When my daughter, Julie, was killed, I joined a
"club" that I wish had no members: The price of
admission is too high. I know the pain of losing a loved one
because of a senseless act of violence. On May 16, 2001, I will
stand with other families who have lost loved ones to
unnecessary violence, and I will be with Tim McVeigh's family in
spirit as they prepare to be victimized in a political event,
staged by the Government of these United States.
The execution of Timothy McVeigh will not bring back Julie or
her colleagues, nor will it end the grieving for any one of the
victims of the Oklahoma City bombing. Revenge and
hate are the reasons 168 people died that day in 1995. I
oppose the death penalty absolutely, in all cases, because in
all cases it is an act of revenge and hatred. The killing of
Timothy McVeigh, who has halted all his appeals, will be an
assisted suicide. It will also make him a martyr in the
eyes of those who share his beliefs. We should not be
surprised if one or more of his supporters tries to avenge our
killing McVeigh. We should ask ourselves: How much killing and
how much revenge are we prepared to live through?
I fear for our country. We need social change on the death
penalty - just as we needed social change in the 1800's with
slavery. We moved from abolishing slavery, to granting women the
right to vote, to passing civil rights laws. We finally made
these necessary social changes and we must take the next step
with the death penalty.
To the media, I implore you: Respect everyone who is
suffering through this ordeal. Please be fair and accurate in
your reporting. And please respect me, the other victims
families, the survivors, and Tim's family.
Bud Welch
March 12, 2001 |
