MEDIA ADVISORY
16 January 2002
CONTACT:
DAVID ELLIOT: 202-387-3890 x-16
ABE BONOWITZ: 561-371-5204 (mobile)
ACTIVISTS TO DEMONSTRATE AT U.S.
SUPREME COURT
25 Years of Executions is ENOUGH!
PHOTO EDITORS - HIGHLY VISUAL ACTION
- CONTACT US FOR DETAILS!!!
Members of the Abolitionist Action Committee (AAC)
will mark the 25th anniversary of the first execution
under contemporary laws by staging a highly visual
demonstration at the U.S. Supreme Court on January 17,
2002. The activists will call for an immediate cessation
of executions in the United States. Members of the media
are strongly encouraged to participate in an advance
briefing - please call for details.
BACKGROUND
On January 17, 1977, the State of Utah shot to death
Gary Gilmore, who "volunteered" to be killed
in revenge for his murder of Ben Bushnell and Max
Jenson. This state-assisted suicide was the first
execution under newly approved death penalty laws.
On January 17, 1997, the 20th anniversary of that
first state-sponsored killing, 18 Abolitionists were
arrested for unfurling a banner that read "STOP
EXECUTIONS!" at the top of the stairs leading to
the front doors of the U.S. Supreme Court. Visit
<http://www.abolition.org> to see the image and
read about this historic action. January 17th, 2002 will
be the 25th anniversary of the first execution under
current laws. To date there have been 751
prisoner-killings, with another scheduled in Texas this
evening (1/16/01). How many more will be killed before
the United States recognizes the death penalty for the
fiscally irresponsible and flawed public policy that it
is?
Activists and other concerned citizens are invited to
join the Abolitionist Action Committee (AAC) for a
peaceful and nonviolent demonstration at the U.S.
Supreme Court in Washington DC to decry this shameful
anniversary, and to renew the call to:
END ALL EXECUTIONS!
January 17, 2002
12:30pm (Tentative)
U.S. Supreme Court
(Check <http://www.abolition.org>
for more information.)
***
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The Abolitionist Action Committee is an ad-hoc group
of individuals committed to highly visible and effective
public
education for alternatives to the death penalty through
nonviolent direct action.
AAC c/o CUADP
PMB 335
177 U.S. Hwy #1
Gainesville, FL 32609
800-973-6548
<aac@abolition.org>
http://www.abolition.org
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For financial & legal purposes only, the AAC is a
project of CUADP
