Death penalty opponents read from Bible that belonged to executed inmate
Outside the gates of South Carolina's Broad River Correction Institution on Friday, March 7, 2025, anti-death penalty activist Hillary Taylor read a yellow highlighted passage from a well-worn Bible given to her by Brad Sigmon ahead of his execution by firing squad. 'Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me,' she recited to the roughly 40 protesters gathered around her. (Photo by Jessica Holdman/SC Daily Gazette)
COLUMBIA — Outside the gates of South Carolina's Broad River Correction Institution, anti-death penalty activist Hillary Taylor read a yellow highlighted passage from a well-worn Bible.
'Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me,' she recited from Psalm 23 to the roughly 40 protesters gathered around her.
Inside the facility, 67-year-old Brad Sigmon had been executed by firing squad. The Bible she read from had been his. He gave it to her days earlier on her final visit to the prison.
Also in the crowd was Randy Gardner, of Taylorsville, Utah.
Before Sigmon's death, Gardner's brother, Ronnie Lee Gardner, had been the last person executed by a firing squad on June 18, 2010.
'This is going to change that,' Gardner said.
Gardner said his brother had not allowed his family to be present for his execution.
'He knew how bad it was going to be,' Gardner said.
In South Carolina, the family of the condemned can't attend an execution.
Gardner said it took weeks for him to be able to look at his brother's autopsy photos. But when he finally did, it drove him to activism. He has traveled the country ever since speaking out against the death penalty.
After his brother's death, Gardner said he had nightmares about other family members being killed and a doctor later diagnosed him with post-traumatic stress disorder.
'That's what I don't want other people to feel,' he said.
Like the rest of the protesters, Erin Tyler, of Columbia, came out to show support for Sigmon and his family.
She did not know Sigmon personally but a friend of hers did, prompting her to attend.
'He made a horrible mistake, but he's still human,' Tyler said.
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