15th Annual Fast and Vigil Approaching

Taken from Abolish blog.

Every year, for the past fifteen years, from June 29 – July 2nd, something amazing happens in Washington, DC. Abolitionists from around the country and world come together for a four day Fast and Vigil to Abolish the Death Penalty.

They set-up shop on the sidewalk of the U.S. Supreme Court and put their ideals into action. And they lose some weight.

You might wonder why hold such an event during such a hot time of the year. And if you know DC in the summer, you know that it can be brutal. Do note that the fast is optional for participants and those who fast drink plenty of liquids.

Yup, summers in DC are high tourist season and the U.S. Supreme Court is a heavily trafficked spot for tourists and DC residents. So, it’s a fantastic opportunity to engage thousands of people on the death penalty. And since many of those who participate in The Fast and Vigil year after year have such powerful stories to tell – they are death row exonorees, family members of murder victims, family members of death row inmates and other long-time abolitionists - if a passerby takes the time to stop and have a conversation with someone, that will likely be one profound conversation and experience.

But why not hold court at the court in April or May, at the beginning of DC’s tourist season and when the weather is much more moderate?

The answer is that June 29th and July 2nd are the anniversaries of two historic death penalty cases heard and decided by the very Court where this protest now takes place – the U.S. Supreme Court.

On June 29, 1972, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Furman v. Georgia that the death penalty is arbitrary and capricious. More than 600 condemned inmates had their death sentences reduced to life. On July 2, 1976, in Gregg v. Georgia the U.S. Supreme Court upheld new state death penalty laws allowing the resumption of executions in the United States.

For more information about the Fast and Vigil and to see a schedule for this year’s event, click here.

Mike Kennedy, RIP

I first met Mike Kennedy during the annual Fast and Vigil to Abolish the Death penalty and later several times in Texas, including the 2007 Journey of Hope. Abe Bonowitz's has done a blog post about Mike Kennedy which I am copying here.

More is here.

People who didn’t know Mike but saw him could easily have mistaken him for a homeless drunk, but his hard to understand speech and his imbalance was due to his illness. That he was usually bedraggled was as much a matter of choice as it had to do with all the hassle involved for someone with his degenerative cerebral condition (I forget exactly what it was). But he cleaned up well, as evidenced by the picture of him here in my office taken at my wedding brunch. If you look at the Texans Against State Killing march video from 1992, you can see that Mike was using a cane then but still able at that point to set a very fast pace. Mike always had a book and he didn’t just read it, he devoured it. I offered to replace his copy of Dale Recinella’s “The Biblical Truth About the Death Penalty” because it was so dogeared, but he wouldn’t hear of it. I’ve never been to his apartment but a profile I read about him indicated he had quite the extensive library. Mike always wore his t-shirt and his buttons and I can’t recall him missing a Fast & Vigil or a Journey of Hope since I’ve known him – preferring to take the bus all the way from Dallas rather than to fly. As I know him, Mike identified first with Pax Christi, the Catholic peace movement, and he put his faith into action every day. Mike was a true human rights hero and he is missed.

Mike was an abolitionist’s abolitionist, and in his honor I am today making a contribution to the Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty. I encourage others to do the same here.

--abe

STARVIN' FOR JUSTICE 2007

The 14th Annual Fast & Vigil to Abolish the Death Penalty
at the U.S. Supreme Court
June 29th - July 2nd, 2007

A four day vigil maintaining a presence at SCOTUS, the Supreme Court Of The United States. Some of the participants fast during this time, but fasting is not required. We encounter thousands of visitors to the Court and share our message that no matter how you slice it, the death penalty is BAD PUBLIC POLICY. Much of the time is spent talking to individuals and creating visibilty. Several larger events are held at key times during the event to highlight specific concerns, with a series of speakers each evening to educate, enlighten and entertain…

Click Here to see pictures and more info on what goes on during the Fast & Vigil!

Among the confirmed Evening Program speakers for 2007 are the following. You never know who might show up... Each evening will feature full-length talks plus Q&A with between two and four speakers, including people with direct experience and also movement activists and professionals.

CLICK HERE to see the schedule of who is speaking when!

• Moreese Bickham - whose death sentence was changed due to the Furman decision and who completed his sentence and was released.
• SueZann Bosler, Murder Victim Family Member
• Joan Cheever - Author of "BACK FROM THE DEAD: One Woman's Search For The Men Who Walked Off America's Death Row."
• Renny Cushing - Murder Victim Family Member
• David Elliot - Communications Director, National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty
• Georgi Fisher - Murder Victim Family Member
• Shujaa Graham, California Death Row Survivor
• Marshall Hartman - Advocate for the Condemned/Participant in Furman Legal Effort
• Jennifer Bishop-Jenkins and Bill Jenkins - Murder Victim Family Members
• Art Laffin - Murder Victim Family Member
• Christina Lawson - murder victim family member and widow of an executed prisoner
• Ron McAndrew - former prison warden who has participated in executions
• Bill Pelke - Co-founder of the F&V; Murder Victim Family Member
• Phyllis Prentice - Organizer & Spouse of an Exonerated Death Row Prisoner
• Delia Perez Meyer - Sister of Texas Death Row Prisoner
• Shabak WaQlimi - Exonerated and Freed from Florida's Death Row
• George White, Murder Victim Family Member, Exonerated Prisoner

And other Death Row Family Members and Murder Victim Family Members....