Anti-Death Penalty Folks Surprise Governor Perry in Denton Coffee Shop

Texas Governor Rick Perry stopped off at a Denton coffeehouse for what he thought would be a routine campaign stop. Little did he know that Denton anti-death penalty activists would be waiting for him there.

What follows is a report from Laura Lamb:

When Gov. Rick Perry, who has presided more than 200 executions during his time in office, came here for a re-election tour stop, anti-death penalty activists were ready for him.

On February 19, Perry walked into Jupiter House Coffee Shop expecting to see his supporters. Little did he know that the opposite was awaiting his arrival.

Protesters had strategically dispersed themselves throughout the coffee shop before Perry's arrival. As Perry entered and shook the hand of a local activist, he asked, "You hear to stir up some trouble, son?"

"Oh hell, yeah!" was the response. Chanting echoed through the coffee shop, "You say death row, we say hell no!" A banner rose up in the back stating, "Those Without the Capital Get the Punishment."

Though noticeably anxious, Perry kept his smile on and continued shaking hands with patrons. When it became clear that protesters weren't going to leave, they were forced out of the building. One demonstrator yelled, "Take this, you dog!" and tried to toss a shoe at the governor--much like an Iraqi reporter during a speech by George W. Bush a few years ago.

The demonstration continued on the sidewalk by the entrance of the shop. Protesters held posters declaring, "Stop the killing of the innocent" and "Abolish the death penalty." The chanting also continued, "Hey, Perry, you can't hide! We charge you with homicide!"

Patrons came out of the shop and, to our surprise, thanked us for coming. It turns out that Perry supporters were only a small number of the many people in the shop. Workers from a building next door came out to show their solidarity, too. After about an hour and a half of protest, Perry exited through the back door of the coffee shop.

Activists left committed to continuing to expose the several crises within the criminal justice system whenever possible and organizing to end the death penalty once and for all.