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
561-371-5204 mobile
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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AMID SUPREME COURT VICTORIES, DEATH PENALTY OPPONENTS TO GATHER
STARVIN' FOR JUSTICE 2005; THE 12TH ANNUAL FAST AND VIGIL TO ABOLISH THE
DEATH PENALTY AT THE U.S. SUPREME COURT
June 22, 2005 - On the heels of three significant U.S. Supreme Court
rulings limiting the use of the death penalty, anti-death penalty activists
will converge on Washington, D.C. next week for the 12th Annual Fast &
Vigil to Abolish the Death Penalty.
"This Supreme Court session has seen the abolition of the death penalty for
juvenile offenders, and strong rebukes to both prosecutors and defense
attorneys that will absolutely reduce the number of people executed in this
country," said Abe Bonowitz, a spokesman for the Abolitionist Action
Committee. "This year we will celebrate these victories and continue to
educate the public about why the death penalty is a bad public policy."
"Starvin' for Justice" runs from 12am Wednesday, June 29 through midnight
Saturday, July 2 - 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. At a noon hour rally
on June 29 and in "teach-ins" each evening, speakers will address various
perspectives on the issue. Prominent among the speakers will be David
Kaczynski, brother of the Unabomber, Dale Recinella, a leading Catholic
theologian, and Diann Rust-Tierney, executive director of the National
Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty.
June 29 marks the 33rd anniversary of the Furman v. Georgia decision
suspending executions, while July 2 marks the 29th anniversary of the Gregg
v. Georgia ruling allowing executions to resume. Since Gregg, 972 people
have been executed in the United States, with another execution scheduled
to take place June 30, during the course of the four day protest. This is
the twelfth 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. Others are fasting and holding solidarity events throughout the
United States and beyond.
Highlights of this highly visual and interactive annual event include live
music and talks by death row survivors, victims family members, and noted
activists. Please see details at http://www.abolition.org/starvin12.html
ATTENTION REPORTERS, EDITORS AND PRODUCERS:
* A "media availability" will be held at 11:45 a.m. Wednesday, June 29 on
the sidewalk in front of the U.S. Supreme Court. Leaders from various
organizations opposing the death penalty will be available. A public
rally, complete with interesting visuals, will begin at noon, and evening
"teach-ins" will take place starting at 6:30pm on June 29, June 30, and
July 1, and at 5:30pm on July 2.
* Consider interviews with activists from your specific state or
region. Participants are expected from Canada, Denmark, Alabama, Alaska,
California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland,
Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma,
Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Washington DC, Washington
State and others.
For more information please visit http://www.abolition.org/starvin12.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.
AAC c/o CUADP
PMB 335
2603 NW 13th Sr.
Gainesville, FL 32609
800-973-6548
<aac@abolition.org>
http://www.abolition.org
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