Press Release

FROM
THE     A B O L I T I O N I S T
                           A C T I O N
                                 C O M M I T T E E    (AAC)

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MEDIA ADVISORY

CONTACT:
Abe Bonowitz, spokesman, Abolitionist Action Committee
800-973-6548
561-371-5204 (mobile - use starting 6/25/03)
abe@abolition.org

David Elliot, spokesman, National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty
202-543-9577, ext. 16
202-607-7036 (mobile)
delliot@ncadp.org
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JUVENILE DEATH PENALTY TO BE HIGHLIGHTED AT ANNUAL EVENT

STARVIN' FOR JUSTICE 2004; THE 11TH ANNUAL FAST AND VIGIL TO ABOLISH THE
DEATH PENALTY AT THE U.S. SUPREME COURT

June 20, 2004 - With the trend of US States abolishing the death penalty 
for juveniles and the upcoming re-argument of the juvenile aspect of the 
issue before the US Supreme Court, anti-death penalty activists will 
converge on Washington, D.C. Tuesday, June 29 through Friday, July 2 for 
four days of activities commemorating the historic 1972 and 1976 Supreme 
Court rulings that suspended the death penalty in the United States and 
later allowed executions to resume.  Several programs during the four-day 
event will specifically address the juvenile death penalty.

June 29 marks the 32nd anniversary of the Furman v. Georgia decision 
suspending executions, while July 2 marks the 28th anniversary of the Gregg 
v. Georgia ruling allowing executions to resume.  Since Gregg, 915 people 
have been executed in the United States, with three more executions 
scheduled to take place June 29 and 30, during the course of the four day 
protest.  This is the eleventh year in a row that the Abolitionist Action 
Committee has held its annual Fast and Vigil between the dates of these two 
landmark decisions.  Activists, many of whom are fasting the entire four 
days, are travelling to Washington D.C. from across the United States and 
beyond.

Highlights of this highly visual and interactive annual event include live 
music by recording artist Steve Earle, and talks by death row survivors, 
victims family members, and noted activists.  Please see details at 
http://www.abolition.org/schedule.html.


ATTENTION REPORTERS, EDITORS AND PRODUCERS:  Consider interviews with 
activists from your specific state or region.  A "media availability" will 
be held at 11:15 a.m. Tuesday, June 29 on the sidewalk in front of the U.S. 
Supreme Court.  Among those known to be available at that time: Florida 
death row survivor Juan Melendez and leaders from various organizations 
opposing the death penalty.  A public rally, complete with interesting 
visuals, will begin at noon, and musician Steve Earle will perform at an 
evening rally on July 1.

For more information please visit
http://www.abolition.org/annual.html


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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.

Contact the AAC at:
800-973-6548

<http://www.abolition.org>
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SENT BY:

Abraham J. Bonowitz
Director, CUADP
<abe@cuadp.org>

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YES FRIENDS! There is an Alternative to the Death Penalty Citizens United for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (CUADP) works to end the death penalty in the United States through aggressive campaigns of public education and the promotion of tactical grassroots activism. Visit <http://www.cuadp.org> or call 800-973-6548 PMB 335, 2603 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Hwy Gainesville, FL 32609

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