The Abolitionist Action Committee

CALL TO ACTION - JANUARY 17, 2002

On January 17, 1977, the State of Utah shot to death Gary Gilmore, who "volunteered" to be killed in revenge for his murder of Ben Bushnell and Max Jenson. This state-assisted suicide was the first execution under newly approved death penalty laws.

On January 17, 1997, the 20th anniversary of that first state-sponsored killing, 18 Abolitionists were arrested for unfurling a banner that read "STOP EXECUTIONS!" at the top of the stairs leading to the front doors of the U.S. Supreme Court. Click Here to read about this historic action.

January 17th, 2002 will be the 25th anniversary of the first execution under current laws. At the end of 2001, there have been 749 prisoner-killings so far. How many more will be killed before the United States recognizes the death penalty for the fiscally irresponsible and flawed public policy that it is?

Join the Abolitionist Action Committee (AAC) for a peaceful and nonviolent demonstration at U.S. Supreme Court in Washington DC to decry this shameful anniversary, and to renew the call to:

END ALL EXECUTIONS!

January 17, 2002
12:30pm (Tentative - check back)
U.S. Supreme Court
(Check back here for more information.)
 

(Any persons willing to pledge adherence to strict nonviolent decorum while risking arrest at this event, and who can participate in a pre-action session in DC at 5pm on January 16, 2002 are invited to contact us at aac@abolition.org.)