The Abolitionist Action Committee

AAC 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.
 

 

Annual Fast & Vigil

STARVIN' FOR JUSTICE 2004

11th Annual Fast & Vigil to Abolish the Death Penalty at the U.S. Supreme Court

Schedule for June 28 to July 3, 2004

"Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape."
-- anon

Fast & Vigil Highlights
Fast & Vigil Full Schedule

EXECUTION WATCH!

This year two exterminations are scheduled to take place during the Fast & Vigil (as of June 1st). The Fast & Vigil will focus attention on each killing around the time scheduled. Please plan to be present at the court at least ten minutes prior to the time specified.

DAILY HIGHLIGHTS
June 29Tuesday Marks the 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. F&V starts at 12:01am. NOON HOUR RALLY to focus on calling for abolition of the death penalty for juvenile offenders. This is the main public media event for this year's Fast & Vigil. Meanwhile, busloads of tourists just waiting for YOU to hand them a flier! Evening talk by Florida Death Row Survivor Juan Melendez, immediately following 7pm vigil at the time of the Texas execution.
June 30Wednesday Busloads of tourists just waiting for YOU to hand them a flier! Join the roving vigil by checking out a museum or the Smithsonian's Folklife Festival WHILE WEARING ABOLITIONWEAR and leafletting DC crowds. (These activities can take place throughout the four days of the F&V.) Evening talk and poetry reading by famous Abolitionist, Magdaleno M. Rose-Avila, leading into 7pm vigil at the time of executions in Texas and Georgia.
July 1Thursday Busloads of tourists just waiting for YOU to hand them a flier! Evening rally featuring musician and abolitionist Steve Earle, and others!
July 2Friday Marks the anniversary of the Supreme Court's decision in Gregg V. Georgia, in which new death penalty laws were upheld and state-sponsored prisoner killings were allowed to resume. Busloads of tourists just waiting for YOU to hand them a flier! Join the roving vigil by checking out a museum or the Smithsonian's Folklife Festival WHILE WEARING ABOLITIONWEAR and leafletting DC crowds. (These activities can take place throughout the four days of the F&V.) Evening talk by famous Abolitionist Rick Halperin. Break the fast at midnight!
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DAY BY DAY SCHEDULE
We are fairly laid back at this event, and as such almost all times are approximate. The times when absolute punctuality will be observed are indicated with an *. Unless otherwise noted, all events are at the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS).
 
June 28Monday *CCNV is available for check in from 1:00pm.
 
* 9:30pm - Last Supper: The Last Supper will take place at "Taverna The Greek Islands," which is located at 305 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, just down the street from the Library of Congress, and only three blocks from SCOTUS. They know who we are, they like us, we have a reservation, we can order off the menu again this year, there will be plenty of choices for vegetarians, and to quote the boss, "We will take care of you." Plan to spend $8 to $15, not including drinks.

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.

June 29Tuesday 32nd Anniversary of Furman decision....

*12:00am - Opening Gathering at SCOTUS (usually lasts about 30 minutes).
*8:30am - Access to United Methodist Building
*8:30am - Set-up/vigil begins
11:15am - Media availability - Leaders of national abolitionist groups asked to be present to meet the press.
*12 Noon - Rally for Abolition *

* 7:00 PM EDT - Prisoner Extermination (Texas & Georgia)

Mauro Barraza is scheduled to be killed by the people of Texas in revenge for his murder of Vilorie Nelson. At the same time in Georgia, Robert Karl Hicks is scheduled to be killed by the people of Georgia in revenge for his murder of Toni Strickland Rivers.

Immediately following the brief (10 minutes or so) execution vigil, Florida Death Row Survivor Juan Melendez will share his experience of wrongful conviction and surviving almost 18 years on Florida's death row.

9:30pm - Begin shutting down for the day

June 30Wednesday *8:30am - Access to United Methodist Building
*8:30am - Set-up/vigil begins
5:30pm - Former director of Amnesty International USA's Program to Abolish the Death Penalty and NCADP's Abolitionist of the Year (1995?), Magdaleno M. Rose-Avila, will share his experiences as a leading Abolitionist and read a bit from his new book, "Looking for my Wings." This event will lead into the execution vigil at 7pm.

* 7:00 PM EDT - Prisoner Extermination (Texas)
David Harris is scheduled to be killed by the people of Texas in revenge for his murder of Mark Mays.

7:30pm - Solidarity Presence at the Fast & Vigil for Virginia Abolitionists.
9:00pm - Begin shutting down for the day.
July 1Thursday *8:30am - Set-up is complete/vigil becomes continuous
*6:30pm - Rally to Abolish the Death Penalty, featuring musician Steve Earle.
This event will take place at a park just two blocks down the street - between Union Station and the Senate Office Buildings - visible from first street!

*Vigilers who wish will stay out all night.
July 2Friday 26th Anniversary of Gregg v. Georgia

7:00pm - Abolitionist Action Committee and Fast & Vigil co-Founder, and Professor of History and Human Rights at Southern Methodist University, Rick Halperin will give a lecture on the ignoble history of the death penalty in the United States, and make some connections to the Supreme Court in front of which we will be standing.

11:15pm - Final gathering at SCOTUS
July 3Saturday *12:01am - Break the Fast, featuring a meal lovingly prepared by the Dorothy Day Catholic Worker House

*11am: Everyone must be out of CCNV
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Abolitionist Action Committee (AAC)
c/o PMB 335, 2603 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Hwy,
Gainesville, FL 32609
800-973-6548   aac@abolition.org		     This web site is sponsored by:
Citizens United for Alternatives to the Death Penalty