USA - In North Carolina a death penalty protester has been convicted of trespassing during the execution of an inmate 2 years ago

A death penalty protester has been convicted of trespassing during the execution of an inmate 2 years ago. A Wake Superior Court jury convicted 48-year-old Mary S. Rider of trespassing at Central Prison when she and others protested the execution of Samuel Flippen on Aug 18, 2006. Rider said she was exercising her First Amendment rights to freedom of expression and religion by protesting. She was accused of leaving a designated protest area near the prison on the night of the execution. The Roman Catholic woman was given probation and fined $354 but said she would not pay. Judge Michael Morgan then activated a 15-day sentence and she was taken to jail.