Why might hanging Rebeca nurse and John proctor make citizens react negatively to the court's actions, and make them follow Andover's lead?

Rebecca Nurse and John Proctor are well respected and well loved in the community; their executions will not be taken lightly......

Parris: Judge Hathorne—it were another sort that hanged till now. Rebecca Nurse is no Bridget that lived three year with Bishop before she married him. John Proctor is not Isaac Ward that drank his family to ruin. To danforth : I would to God it were not so, Excellency, but these people have great weight yet in the town. Let Rebecca stand upon the gibbet2 and send up some righteous prayer, and I fear she’ll wake a vengeance on you.