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
EXECUTION OF JUVENILE OFFENDER - TONIGHT!
FLORIDA BISHOP, VIRGINIA LEGISLATOR TO SPEAK....
List of home states of participants is below...
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 converged
on Washington, D.C. starting at 12:01am on Tuesday, June 29 to begin 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. The annual event
concludes at midnight on Friday, July 2.
Featured speakers at a Noon hour rally in front of the Court on Tuesday
include Virginia Assemblyman Al Eisenberg and Florida activist clergyman
Bishop Thomas Masters, founder of www.underourwings.org
Also on Tuesday, the state legislature in Delaware is expected to consider
a bill to raise the minimum age for death penalty eligibility to 18. At an
evening rally starting at 7pm, Sapna Mirchandani of the National Coalition
to Abolish the Death Penalty will give a first hand report, followed by a
presented by Florida death row survivor Juan Melendez. The evening event
will start with a brief vigil in witness and protest at the time of the
scheduled execution in Texas of juvenile offender Mauro Barraza.
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.
The 2004 Fast & Vigil includes participants from the following states:
Alaska
District of Columbia
Florida
Kansas
Maryland
Massachusettes
Michigan
New Jersey
North Carolina
Ohio
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Puerto Rico (not a state...)
South Carolina
Texas
Virginia
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
<aac@abolition.org>
<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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