Press Release

FROM CITIZENS UNITED FOR ALTERNATIVES TO THE DEATH PENALTY (CUADP)

MEDIA ADVISORY

For Immediate Release: 25 June 2003

CONTACT: Abe Bonowitz, spokesman, Abolitionist Action Committee
800-973-6548
561-371-5204 (mobile - use starting 6/26/03)
abe@cuadp.org
 
David Elliot, spokesman, National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty
202-543-9577, ext. 16
202-607-7036 (mobile)
delliot@ncadp.org

NBA STAR, DEATH ROW SURVIVOR TO SPEAK
STARVIN' FOR JUSTICE 2003; THE TENTH ANNUAL FAST AND VIGIL TO ABOLISH THE DEATH PENALTY AT THE U.S. SUPREME COURT

June 25, 2003 - Washington Wizards center Etan Thomas and Florida death row survivor Juan Melendez will be among anti-death penalty activists from at least 17 states and two foreign countries to converge on Washington, D.C. Sunday, June 29 through Wednesday, July 2 for four days of activities commemorating the historic 1972 and 1976 Supreme Court rulings that suspended the death penalty in the United States and later allowed executions to resume.

June 29 marks the 31st anniversary of the Furman v. Georgia decision suspending executions, while July 2 marks the 27th anniversary of the Gregg v. Georgia ruling allowing executions to resume. Since Gregg, 859 people have been executed in the United States. This is the tenth year in a row that the Abolitionist Action Committee has held its annual Fast and Vigil between the dates of these two landmark decisions. Activists, many of whom are fasting the entire four days, are travelling to Washington D.C. from across the United States and beyond, including from:
 
Alaska
California
Florida
Indiana
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Montana
New Jersey
New York
North Carolina
South Carolina
Ohio
Pennsylvania
Tennessee
Texas
Virginia
 
and also Canada, Great Britain and Puerto Rico.

ATTENTION REPORTERS, EDITORS AND PRODUCERS:
Consider interviews with activists from your specific state or region. A "media availability" will be held at 11:15 a.m. Monday, June 30 on the sidewalk in front of the U.S. Supreme Court. Among those available at that time: Florida death row survivor Juan Melendez, the NBA's Washington Wizards center Etan Thomas, Musician Steve Earle, and leaders from various organizations opposing the death penalty. A public rally, complete with interesting visuals, will begin at noon, and musician Steve Earle will perform at an evening rally.

For more information please visit www.abolition.org/annual.html

POSTED BY:
 
Abraham J. Bonowitz
Director, CUADP

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