Letter to the editor: Tree of Life death penalty

Leaders of Dor Hadash and New Light congregations who lost members in the Tree of Life massacre in October 2018 wrote to Attorney General William Barr weeks ago asking the U.S. Justice Department to avoid pursuing the death penalty. They asked instead that the Pittsburgh killer be incarcerated for the rest of his life with no possibity of parole. They stated that a “a drawn out and difficult death penalty trial would be a disaster with witnesses and attorneys dredging up horrifying drama and giving this killer the media attention he does not deserve.”

The Department of Justice, completely ignoring the wishes of the mourning survivors, has announced that it is in fact seeking the death penalty.

Following this decision Dor Hadash expressed sadness and disappointment at the department’s decision, stating, “We continue to mourn with our fellow congregants and community members who have lost loved ones and survived unspeakable terror. We continue to reject hatred and all systems of oppression, and follow the tenets of our faith, which teaches us that only through our shared humanity can there be an end to hatred and violence.”

When the Department of Justice decides to pursue a heart-wrenching extended trial with intense media coverage, is it considering concern for the feelings of the victims or in chalking up an easy victory for itself?

Charles Henry

Greensburg