RALEIGH, N.C. – Death penalty opponents plan to stage a demonstration outside North Carolina’s General Assembly.

The rally on Thursday outside the Legislative building calls on lawmakers to drop a bid to restart executions.

Legislation that passed the state Senate last week would allow an accused killer facing execution to challenge his conviction or death sentence if he can show that race played an inappropriate role. An amendment attached to the bill would allow executions to restart after a two-year halt.

North Carolina courts are sorting out legal questions surrounding executions, but a major barrier was removed this month when the state Supreme Court ruled the Medical Board couldn’t punish doctors who participate in executions.