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Thursday at the state capitol, anti-death penalty advocates gathered to remember John Richard Marek and his victim.

Marek was executed Wednesday for the 1983 rape and murder of a 45 year-old mother of two. The peaceful protesters prayed and sang hymns. Sheila Hopkins, a spokeswoman for the Florida Catholic Coalition, said the anti-death penalty movement is gaining support because of the high cost of the capitol punishment process.

“As we move forward I think that there is going to continue to people who speak out about the use of the death penalty, not just because of moral reasons, which is where we are, but also for the financial reasons. I think people are finding it is an expensive proposition,” said Hopkins.

The state spends 50 million dollars a year on average to execute two inmates.