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National Call for Direct Action to Stop Executions and End the Death Penalty

January 17, 2017

U.S. Supreme Court
Washington, D.C.
Every five years, the Abolitionist Action Committee organizes non-violent civil disobedience on January 17th to resist the death penalty and peacefully call for an end to executions. This event is expected to be the largest act of civil disobedience in recent U.S. history against executions. There will also be a legal, family-friendly vigil component, so all people are welcome – even if not willing to risk arrest.

Additionally, there will be a speaker’s program on the evening of January 16th to hear from the voices of experience – including death row family members, murder victim family members, and death row exonerees. Location and time forthcoming.

Join us in Washington D.C. this January to say “no more killing in our names!”

Email with questions to [email protected]


Background: This action marks the 40th anniversary of the first execution since the Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty. On January 17, 1977, Gary Gilmore, a “volunteer” for execution, was killed by a firing squad in Utah, in revenge for his murders of Ben Bushnell and Max Jenson.  Forty years later, despite a growing trend away from the death penalty, the U.S. has exterminated over 1,400 more prisoners since Gilmore, and continues to do so, with nearly 3,000 more on death row today.

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.

Details

Date:
January 17, 2017
Event Category:
Website:
http://www.abolition.org/jan17/