HomeFreePhoto Gallery: Following stay of execution, Melissa Lucio advocates press for her...
Melissa Lucio's family and supporters throw white carnations into the fountain Wednesday at 6 p.m., the original time of her execution, in Washington Park. On Monday the Texas Criminal Court of Appeals granted a request by Lucio’s lawyers for a stay of execution in the 2007 death of her daughter Mariah.(Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald)
For months, Wednesday was set to be the day in Huntsville when Texas executed the state’s first Hispanic woman on death row. Yet, following a stay of execution Monday from the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, Melissa Lucio’s plight returned to Brownsville as her supporters converged instead outside the Cameron County Courthouse.
They gathered to demand that District Attorney Luis V. Saenz drop the charges against her.
Free Melissa Lucio activists and organizers traveled from throughout Texas and beyond to attend a “Rally in the Valley” event at the courthouse in Brownsville where Saenz, the Cameron County district attorney, has his offices.
Melissa Lucio’s sons Robert Alvarez, John Lucio and Lucio’s wife Michelle address the crowd Wednesday at a rally to urge Cameron County District Attorney Luis V. Saenz to release Melissa Lucio outside the Cameron County Judicial Complex’s Administration Building. On Monday the Texas Criminal Court of Appeals granted a request by Lucio’s lawyers for a stay of execution in the 2007 death of her daughter Mariah.(Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald)Melissa Lucio’s son John, smiles while he recounts telling his mother what the stay of execution meant Wednesday at a rally to urge Cameron County District Attorney Luis V. Saenz to release Melissa Lucio outside the Cameron County Judicial Complex’s Administration Building. On Monday the Texas Criminal Court of Appeals granted a request by Lucio’s lawyers for a stay of execution in the 2007 death of her daughter Mariah.(Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald)Ementa and Angela Musanje carry plastic flowers and a sign Wednesday at a rally to urge Cameron County District Attorney Luis V. Saenz to release Melissa Lucio outside the Cameron County Judicial Complex’s Administration Building. On Monday the Texas Criminal Court of Appeals granted a request by Lucio’s lawyers for a stay of execution in the 2007 death of her daughter Mariah.(Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald)Celinda Musanje holds a sign Wednesday at a rally to urge Cameron County District Attorney Luis V. Saenz to release Melissa Lucio outside the Cameron County Judicial Complex’s Administration Building. On Monday the Texas Criminal Court of Appeals granted a request by Lucio’s lawyers for a stay of execution in the 2007 death of her daughter Mariah.(Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald)Death Penalty Action’s prisoner family liaison Charles Keith addresses the crowd Wednesday at a rally to urge Cameron County District Attorney Luis V. Saenz to release Melissa Lucio outside the Cameron County Judicial Complex’s Administration Building. On Monday the Texas Criminal Court of Appeals granted a request by Lucio’s lawyers for a stay of execution in the 2007 death of her daughter Mariah.(Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald)Danielle Metz, a woman formerly serving a life-sentence but granted clemency by former U.S. President Barack Obama, addresses the crowd to show her support for Melissa Lucio Wednesday at a rally to urge Cameron County District Attorney Luis V. Saenz to release Lucio outside the Cameron County Judicial Complex’s Administration Building. On Monday the Texas Criminal Court of Appeals granted a request by Lucio’s lawyers for a stay of execution in the 2007 death of her daughter Mariah.(Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald)Tristeza Ordex, a national organizer for veterans, explains the importance of veterans standing behind the Lucio family Wednesday at a rally to urge Cameron County District Attorney Luis V. Saenz to release Lucio outside the Cameron County Judicial Complex’s Administration Building. On Monday the Texas Criminal Court of Appeals granted a request by Lucio’s lawyers for a stay of execution in the 2007 death of her daughter Mariah.(Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald)Melissa Lucio’s sons Robert Alvarez, John Lucio and Lucio’s wife Michelle address the crowd Wednesday at a rally to urge Cameron County District Attorney Luis V. Saenz to release Melissa Lucio outside the Cameron County Judicial Complex’s Administration Building. On Monday the Texas Criminal Court of Appeals granted a request by Lucio’s lawyers for a stay of execution in the 2007 death of her daughter Mariah.(Denise Cathey/The Brownsville HeraldRobert Alvarez, Michelle Lucio and her husband John address the crowd Wednesday as they gather together for a ‘white flower vigil’ to celebrate the stay of execution for Melissa Lucio at 6.pm., the scheduled time of her execution, in Washington Park . On Monday the Texas Criminal Court of Appeals granted a request by Lucio’s lawyers for a stay of execution in the 2007 death of her daughter Mariah.(Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald)Ricky Caro holds up a white carnation Wednesday at a ‘white flower vigil’ for Melissa Lucio in Washington Park. On Monday the Texas Criminal Court of Appeals granted a request by Lucio’s lawyers for a stay of execution in the 2007 death of her daughter Mariah.(Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald)Maggie Luna, of Statewide Leadership Council, shares her experience losing custody of her children Wednesday at a rally to urge Cameron County District Attorney Luis V. Saenz to release Lucio outside the Cameron County Judicial Complex’s Administration Building. On Monday the Texas Criminal Court of Appeals granted a request by Lucio’s lawyers for a stay of execution in the 2007 death of her daughter Mariah.(Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald)Nathan Hernandez Jr. and his father Nathan Hernandez Sr. hold up signs in support Wednesday at a rally to urge Cameron County District Attorney Luis V. Saenz to release Melissa Lucio outside the Cameron County Judicial Complex’s Administration Building. On Monday the Texas Criminal Court of Appeals granted a request by Lucio’s lawyers for a stay of execution in the 2007 death of her daughter Mariah.(Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald)Supporters hold their signs up as they chant “Free Melissa Lucio” Wednesday at a rally to urge Cameron County District Attorney Luis V. Saenz to release Melissa Lucio outside the Cameron County Judicial Complex’s Administration Building. On Monday the Texas Criminal Court of Appeals granted a request by Lucio’s lawyers for a stay of execution in the 2007 death of her daughter Mariah.(Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald)Melissa Lucio’s family and supporters throw white carnations into the fountain Wednesday at 6 p.m., the original time of her execution, in Washington Park. On Monday the Texas Criminal Court of Appeals granted a request by Lucio’s lawyers for a stay of execution in the 2007 death of her daughter Mariah.(Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald)
