[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----USA

[Rick Halperin]

Outside of U.S. Supreme Court to Mark Historic Court Rulings
as Death Penalty Use Declines

CALLING FOR THE SUPREME COURT TO DECLARE THE DEATH PENALTY CRUEL AND UNUSUAL AS 
MORE STATES ABANDON ITS USE

WHEN: June 29 and June 30 from 9:00 am until 8:00 pm July 1 and 2 - around the 
clock, 24-hour presence (ending at midnight on July 2)

Evening teach-ins with noted speakers each day from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm (SEE 
BELOW)

*** A public rally will be held Saturday, July 2 at 12:00 pm ***

WHAT: A four day liquid-only fast and vigil to mark the anniversaries of the 
historic 1972 Furman and
1976 Gregg Supreme Court decisions to involve the death penalty.

WHO: Exonerated death row prisoners, murder victim family members, 100 
anti-death penalty activists from as many as 20 states and several countries, 
and leaders of state and national anti-death penalty organizations.

WHERE: On the sidewalk in front of the United States Supreme Court in 
Washington, DC

The "Fast and Vigil" protest is a four day liquid-only fast and vigil to mark 
the anniversaries of the historical 1972 Furman and 1976 Gregg Supreme Court 
decisions around the death penalty. Participants in the annual event includes 
exonerated death row prisoners, murder victim family members, death row family 
members, and various leaders in the national movement to abolish the death 
penalty.

This year, June 29, 2016 marks the 44th anniversary of the Furman v. Georgia 
decision in which the U.S. Supreme Court invalidated all death penalty laws in 
the United States, finding capital punishment to be applied in an arbitrary and 
capricious manner. July 2nd marks the 40th anniversary of the 1976 Gregg 
decision, which upheld new state death penalty laws and allowing the resumption 
of executions. A special rally and media availability will be held at noon on 
July 2nd to mark these, and other court rulings, as part of the Annual Fast & 
Vigil to Abolish the Death Penalty at the U.S. Supreme Court.

This is the 23rd consecutive year that the Abolitionist Action Committee will 
hold its annual Fast and Vigil between the dates of these two landmark 
decisions. Activists, many of whom are fasting the entire four days, are 
traveling to Washington D.C. from across the United States and beyond.

We can arrange interviews with activists from your specific state or region. 
Contact abe at abolition.org or at 800-973-6548 with your request.
Highlights of this highly visual and interactive annual event include live 
music and evening teach-ins by death row exonerees, murder victim family 
members, death row family members, and noted activists, clergy and scholars. 
Please see details at http://www.abolition.org/fastandvigil/schedule.html

RAIN ALERT: In the event of rain or significant threat thereof, evening events 
requiring amplification will take part inside the United Methodist Church 
Building, immediately adjacent (across Maryland Ave. on 1st St.)
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.
Information online at www.abolition.org, or call 800-973-6548.