GENERAL SCHEDULE OF EVENTS in 2013

June 28	Friday	12:00 pm - Our housing site, CCNV, is available for check in. 9:30 pm - Last supper - Mr. Henry’s Victorian Pub, 601 Pennsylvania Ave SE, Washington, DC 20003 (nearest to Eastern Market Metro). Join us in the upstairs private party room for a festive start to the Fast and Vigil. The venue serves typical bar food (burgers, fries, sandwiches and salads) in the $10-$12 range, and offer vegetarian options. Beer and wine are also available. All Fast and Vigil participants are responsible for paying for their own food and drink. Everyone is welcome, even if you didn't RSVP in advance, but it will greatly help us if you RSVP through our registration page so we can prepare.   11:40 pm - Head over as a group from the last supper to the Supreme Court for a 12:00 am midnight opening gathering to start the fast together. The Court is a half-mile walk (10 minutes) from the last supper venue. If you cannot walk that distance, there are probably others at the dinner that will share a cab with you.
June 29	Saturday	Marks the 41th 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. 9:00 am to 9:30 am - A simple "First Timers" orientation meeting to hear more about the flow of the event, what to expect and ways you can be involved over the next four days. Highly recommended for all first time participants! 9:30 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 41th anniversary of the Supreme Court's 1976 decision in Furman 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 those directly affected by having loved ones on death row. Tentatively scheduled to speak are: Marilyn S. Grant (son on death row in Texas), Shujaa Graham (exonerated from death row in California), Delia Perez Meyer (brother on death row in Texas) and Terri Steinberg (son Justin Wolf on death row in Virgina). A musical guest will share songs for us as well and Delia will report from World Coalition Conference in Madrid, Spain.
June 30	Sunday	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 "Victory Night." Tentatively scheduled to speak are: Scott Bass (director of Murder Victim Families for Reconciliation), Syieda Penn (Communications Director of Murder Victim Families for Reconciliation), Cherrel Brown (Equal Justice USA), and Abe Bonowitz (National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty). A musical guest will share songs for us as well.
July 1	Monday	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 murder victim family members, death row exonerees, death row family members, and leaders in the national abolition movement. 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	Tuesday	Marks the 37th 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. 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 "Journey of Hope" night. Tentatively scheduled to speak are: Bill Pelke (president of Journey of Hope from Alaska), Sandrine Ageorges (wife of Texas death row prisoner Hank Skinner), Marietta Yaeger (murder victim family member from Montana), and Rick Halperin (historian and Journey of Hope board member from Texas) 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	Wednesday	The fast and vigil has ended, and participants may head back home. No housing is available after 12:00 pm Noon.

EXECUTION WATCH! 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.