Rival camps hold death vigils

Death penalty opponents wept as McVeigh died

By BBC News Online's Kevin Anderson in Terre Haute

Two groups of death penalty campaigners, both passionate in their beliefs, were outside the prison in Terre Haute as Timothy McVeigh died.

The two rival camps - a few hundred anti-death penalty protesters and a handful of pro-execution supporters - were kept well apart from each other in two fenced-in areas.

I'm so glad that he's dead - he can't hurt nobody else

Death penalty supporter

The death penalty opponents began a silent vigil at 0412 local time, 168 minutes ahead of McVeigh's execution - one minute for each of his 168 victims.

Some protesters lit candles in the early morning darkness, as many prayed and some read the Bible.

It was a quiet, sombre protest. Shortly after first light, a brief cloudburst freshened the air. One of the protesters said: "The angels are crying."

Candles were lit in the early morning gloom

The protesters were ringed three deep by the world's media. During the last minutes of silent vigil, the only sound was that of the camera shutters.

Shortly after 0700, the protesters stood up. A man said: "Six minutes ago, the state began the homicide of Timothy McVeigh."

His voice cracked with emotion.

In the other fenced-in area, about 50 death penalty supporters turned out. Many of them thought the media coverage was too focused on McVeigh and that the victims had been forgotten.

Death penalty supporters made their point with posters

Many, including Debby Harris, also expressed anger that McVeigh's death was too easy, his suffering nothing compared to that of the 168 victims of the bombing and the family members they left behind.

"One-hundred-and-sixty-eight people got blown up," she said, calling McVeigh's death "a little needle in the arm".

"I feel so great. I'm so glad that he's dead. He's gone. He can't hurt nobody else," she added.

There is no closure, there is no end, but the only satisfaction we will have is that Timothy McVeigh will not do this again

Pro-death supporter
JJ Jackson

Another pro-death penalty campaigner, JJ Jackson, helped the Oklahoma City medical examiner's office with death notifications.

"We can never have justice, but the closest thing is what the law allows, and this is what it allows," Miss Jackson said.

"There is no closure, there is no end, nothing can bring them back, but the only satisfaction we will have is that Timothy McVeigh will not do this again."

There's no doubt about Tim McVeigh's guilt - there's just nothing to be gained by killing number 169

Bud Welch, father of victim

Angie Tarter also came out to show her support for the victims and for the death penalty.

"I personally don't want to spend my tax dollars keeping people who have killed other people alive," she said.

But among the relatives who have made the journey to Terre Haute are some in the anti-death penalty camp.

"I don't see there's anything to be gained by taking Tim McVeigh out of his cage to kill him," said Bud Welch, who lost his 23-year-old daughter, Julie-Marie.

Opponents hugged each other as the execution approached

Mr Welch said relatives who had watched murderers die in other cases had not found the peace they were looking for.

"There's no doubt about Tim McVeigh's guilt. There's just nothing to be gained by killing number 169," he said.

Another protester, Earle Harvey, said he opposed the death penalty because he did not think the government had any more right to kill its citizens than citizens had the right to kill individual citizens.

It was important for him to support the anti-death penalty protest "to be a witness to my beliefs", he said.