GENERAL SCHEDULE OF EVENTS in 2011

June 28	Tuesday	1:00 pm - Our housing site, CCNV, is available for check in. 9:00 pm - Last supper as a group at the Capital City Brewing Company, 2 Mass Ave NE (Phone is 202-842-2337). Food orders must be placed no later than 10:00 pm. Everyone is welcome, even at the last minute. However space is limited, but we can expand. Please be sure to let us know if you are planning to attend so we can let the restaurant know what to expect. Thank you for your consideration.   Capital City Brewing Company is immediately west of Union Station in the same place as the postal museum.  They have a nice quiet room that we have reserved. Those who can make it are responsible for paying for their own food and drinks. The menu is standard Americana. Sandwiches are in the $8 to $10 range and entrees in the $14 to $22 range.  Full bar. 11:30 pm - Head over to the court for a midnight opening gathering to start the fast together
June 29	Wednesday	Marks the 39th anniversary of the 1972 Furman v. Georgia decision in which the U.S. Supreme Court found the death penalty to be applied in an arbitrary and capricious manner. 12:01 am - Fasting officially starts, with a 30 minute opening gathering at the court to kick off the fast. 8:30 am to 6:00 pm - Vigil outside the court, gathering petition signatures, holding signs, and handing out pamphlets. Busloads of tourists just waiting for YOU to hand them some information, and possibly have a conversation! The adjacent United Methodist Building will be open the entire time for air conditioning, bathrooms and for drinks. Join the roving vigil at any point throughout the day by checking out a museum or the Smithsonian's Folklife Festival WHILE WEARING ABOLITIONWEAR and leafletting DC crowds. 6:00 to 8:00 pm - Abolition Teach-In featuring Delia Perez-Meyer (death row family member from Texas), Marilyn Shankle-Grant (death row family member from Texas), Mike Stark (local activist with Campaign to End the Death Penalty), Phyllis Prentice (Witness to Innocence board member) and Shujaa Graham (California death row exoneree from Witness to Innocence) .
June 30	Thursday	8:30 am to 6:00 pm - Vigil outside the court, gathering petition signatures, holding signs, and handing out pamphlets. Busloads of tourists just waiting for YOU to hand them some information, and possibly have a conversation! The adjacent United Methodist Building will be open the entire time for air conditioning, bathrooms and for drinks. Join the roving vigil at any point throughout the day by checking out a museum or the Smithsonian's Folklife Festival WHILE WEARING ABOLITIONWEAR and leafletting DC crowds. 6:00 to 8:00 pm - Abolition Teach-In featuring a "Maryland Night" with Abraham J. Bonowitz (emcee from the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty), Jane Henderson (Executive Director of Maryland Citizens Against State Executions), Bonnita Spikes (murder victim family member and member of Governor O’Malley’s Board of Victim’s Services), the Honorable Michael G. Summers (Delegate to the Maryland House of Delegates), and Randy Steidl (Illinois death row exoneree from Witness to Innocence.
July 1	Friday	8:30 am to 6:00 pm - Vigil outside the court, gathering petition signatures, holding signs, and handing out pamphlets. Busloads of tourists just waiting for YOU to hand them some information, and possibly have a conversation! The adjacent United Methodist Building will be open the entire time for air conditioning, bathrooms and for drinks. Join the roving vigil at any point throughout the day by checking out a museum or the Smithsonian's Folklife Festival WHILE WEARING ABOLITIONWEAR and leafletting DC crowds. 6:00 to 8:00 pm - Abolition Teach-In featuring a "Virginia Night" and Celebration of Abolition in Illinois with Diann Rust-Tierney (Executive Director, National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty), Jerry Givens (former Virginia DOC execution team leader), Steve Northup (Executive Director, Virginians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty), Linell Patterson (murder victim family member), Terri Steinberg (death row family member), and Nathson Fields (death row exoneree from Witness to Innocence. 8:00 pm through the next morning - The vigil and presence outside the court becomes continuous with those who choose to do so maintaining the vigil overnight on the sidewalk outside the court. Bring a sleeping bag, mat, or pillow for sidewalk comfort! The United Methodist Building and its security personnel will remain open all night for those who need indoor nap breaks or restroom facilities.
July 2	Saturday	Marks the 35th anniversary of the Supreme Court's 1976 decision in Gregg V. Georgia, in which new death penalty laws were upheld and state-sponsored prisoner killings were allowed to resume. Early AM - Continuing from the all-night sleep-over presence 8:30 am to 6:00 pm - Vigil outside the court, gathering petition signatures, holding signs, and handing out pamphlets. Busloads of tourists just waiting for YOU to hand them some information, and possibly have a conversation! The adjacent United Methodist Building will be open the entire time for air conditioning, bathrooms and for drinks. Noon- Rally to mark the historic 35th anniversary of the Supreme Court's 1976 decision in Gregg V. Georgia. Open to the public and the media. A great line up of speakers from around the United States will speak briefly, including murder victim family members, death row exonerees, and leaders in the national movement. Join the roving vigil at any point throughout the day by checking out a museum or the Smithsonian's Folklife Festival WHILE WEARING ABOLITIONWEAR and leafletting DC crowds. 6:00 to 8:00 pm - Abolition Teach-In featuring a "Journey of Hope Night" with Magdaleno M. Rose-Avila (emcee and long-time organizer/activist), Randy Gardner (brother of an executed prisoner in Utah), Bill Pelke (founder, Journey of Hope …From Violence to Healing), and George White (murder victim family member and prisoner exoneree) and Gary Drinkard. (Alabama death row exoneree from Witness to Innocence. 8:00 pm stick around after the last evening teach in for a FREE concert by Emma's Revolution (acoustic political folk duo) and a final late night vigil before breaking the fast at midnight. 12:00 Midnight - Break the fast together with a free meal, prepared by the Dorothy Day Catholic Worker, outside the court. A closing circle will begin at 11:15 pm so people can share about their experiences with the group. Participants are welcome to head out after the midnight meal (some buses and trains depart at this hour) or stay one more night in the CCNV.
July 3	Sunday	The fast and vigil has ended, and participants may head back home. No housing is available after 12:00 pm Noon.

EXECUTION WATCH! June 30, 1:00 pm EST - Richard Bible is scheduled for execution in ARIZONA for the sexual assault and murder of nine-year-old Jennifer Wilson. (more about the case). If any state executions are scheduled to take place during the Fast & Vigil, they will be noted above. As in the past, The Fast & Vigil will focus attention on each execution and the victim (or victims) in the case around the time scheduled. Please plan to be present at the court at least ten minutes prior to the time specified.