'STARVIN' FOR JUSTICE' PROTEST RETURNS TO US SUPREME COURT: As death penalty use declines, highly visible anti-death penalty activists to fast and vigil for four days to mark historic court rulings

WASHINGTON, June 26, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- For the 25^th year in a row, anti-death penalty protesters from throughout the United States will converge this week at the US Supreme Court for the Abolitionist Action Committee's annual four-day Starvin' for Justice: Fast & Vigil to Abolish the Death Penalty. The public is invited to attend free presentations featuring "Voices of Experience on the Death Penalty" each evening starting at 6pm.

June 29, 2018 marks the 46th 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 2 marks the 42nd anniversary of the 1976 Gregg decision, which upheld new state death penalty laws and allowed the resumption of executions.

Among the many noteworthy speakers this year: Lindy Isonhood, a former juror who sentenced a man to death. Isonhood is featured in a new film by Florent Vassault, "Lindy Lou: Juror Number 2," which will broadcast nationally on PBS's POV series and on pov.org on July 16, 2018. She will speak following a special screening of the film on July 1. Details and the full roster of speakers is at http://www.abolition.org/fastandvigil/schedule.html. 

Arrange interviews with featured speakers and/or activists from your specific state or region. NOTE: Isonhood is available for in-person interviews in Washington July 1 & 2 only, and by phone, ISDN and satellite.

Contact Abe Bonowitz at 561-371-5204 or [email protected]

WHO: Exonerated death row prisoners, murder victim and death row family members, former executioners & death trial jury members, activists from as many as 20 states, clergy, scholars and leaders of state and national anti-death penalty organizations.

WHAT:  The 25th Annual "Starvin' for Justice" Fast and Vigil to Abolish the Death Penalty

WHEN: All day, June 29 – July 2. Speakers each day from 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm – Full schedule is at Abolition.org.  Media Availability Friday, June 29 at 1pm.

WHERE:  Sidewalk, United States Supreme Court

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.

SOURCE Abolitionist Action Committee