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STARVIN' FOR JUSTICE 2001
PRESS & PICTURE GALLERY
US Grads "Starve for Justice" in Nation's Capital
Story from the Gator Times
Photos by Gator Times and Abe Bonowitz
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Two UF grads fasted for four days in protest of the death penalty
Two recent graduates from the University of Florida joined anti-death
penalty supporters at "Starvin' for Justice," a fast and vigil in
Washington, D.C., from June 29 to July 2.
Lisa Duford and Marisa Gwaltney joined about 100 people from across the
nation at the United States Supreme Court, for the 8th annual year of
Starvin' for Justice.·
The Abolitionist Action Committee organized the event to promote
alternatives to the death penalty through peaceful and direct
action. "Starvin' for Justice was for us as abolitionists to strengthen
the movement," Gwaltney said.
The people in attendance shared their views about capital punishment and
compared the death penalty legislation in different states.
"It was a really good chance to get other people·s perspectives," Duford
said. "I thought that it was really important to go."
Although Duford traveled alone to Washington, D.C., to attend the fast and
vigil for the first time, she met fellow UF graduate and Starvin· for
Justice veteran Gwaltney when she arrived.
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Gwaltney went to Washington, D.C., with the group Journey of Hope - From
Violence To Healing, Amnesty International, and Citizens United for
Alternatives to the Death Penalty were also present.
At several rallies, family members of murder victims and of people
sentenced to death spoke out against the death penalty.
"We had a few members from Murders Victims Families for Reconciliation
speak," Duford said. "These people have had their lives ripped
apart. Their stories made a strong statement."
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MVFR member Art Laffin speaking at a Noon Rally
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Lisa Duford (above) on sign duty in front of SCOTUS
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Duford fasted during the four day long event, even though fasting was
optional to the participants.
"It shows that this was an event that we took seriously," Duford said.
The majority of participants lodged at the Community for Creative
Nonviolence, a homeless shelter that reserves room for people who travel to
Washington, D.C., to do advocacy work, according to Gwaltney.
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Marisa Gwaltney (below) working the Fast 'n Vigil table
Many supporters of the anti-death penalty movement, however, were not able
to go to Washington, D.C. People held vigils in churches and prisons
nationwide, and the event became an international affair as people in
Paris and Rome fasted and held a candlelight vigil as well, according to
Duford.
"They were doing it in solidarity with our nation," said Duford.
The rally officially began on June 29 and ended on July 2, both of which
are historical dates with regard to the death penalty.
On June 29, 1972, the U.S. Supreme Court, in a 5/4 plurality decision,
diminished the permissive use of capital punishment in Furman V.
Georgia. The Court held that the arbitrary manner in which juries were
allowed to impose the death penalty violated both the 8th Amendment
protection against ·cruel and unusual punishment· and the 14th Amendment
guarantee of equal protection.
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Four years later, on July 2, 1976, The Court reinvigorated the death
penalty but publishing its decision in Gregg V. Georgia. In that case, The
Supreme Court recognized that specific legislative guidelines established
after Furman overcame the previous constitutional obstacles.
To note the 25 year anniversary of the Gregg V Georgia decision, the
Abolitionist Action Committee decided that the theme of the vigil would be
"25 years of blood on our hands."
Jasmine Bragg
The Gator Times staff
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