Fifteen death-penalty opponents held signs Sunday afternoon on Mount Rushmore Road at Wilson Park to protest the upcoming execution of Elijah Page.

"The state is murdering him," protester Hazel Bonner said

Page pleaded guilty to killing Chester Poage near Spearfish seven years ago, and he dropped his appeals. Page is set to die by lethal injection this week at the South Dakota State Penitentiary in Sioux Falls.

The exact day and time must be announced at least 48 hours in advance.

Protester Jay Davis of the South Dakota Peace and Justice Center said life in prison was enough to deter murder "if anything would act as a deterrent to such a hideous crime."

South Dakota Attorney General Larry Long last week wouldn't speculate whether the death penalty deterred others, but he added,

"It will deter Mr. Page."