WASHINGTON -- Thirty years after the first execution under contemporary laws of Gary Gilmore, members of the Abolitionist Action Committee will stage a highly visual demonstration at the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday, January 17. Wednesday also marks the day that the U.S. Supreme Court will hear three Texas death penalty appeals and when the 1,060th prisoner since 1977 is scheduled for execution.

Participants will peacefully and visibly call for an immediate cessation of all executions in the United States through civil disobedience and the risk of arrest. On the 20th and 25th anniversaries of that first state-sponsored killing, a total of 25 arrests were made of death penalty abolitionists for unfurling a banner that read "STOP EXECUTIONS!" at the top of the stairs leading to the front doors of the U.S. Supreme Court.

Activists, media and other concerned citizens are invited to join the Abolitionist Action Committee for a peaceful and nonviolent demonstration of resistance to the death penalty and to decry this shameful anniversary.

A legal vigil outside the Court will coincide with the action and all are invited to attend.

January 17

10:00 am - Briefing at the United Methodist Building, Room #3 Location: 100 Maryland Avenue, NE (next to U.S. Supreme Court)

For directions, call the Methodist building at 202-488-5600 For more info about the action, call Scott Langley at 214-226-0503

See http://www.abolition.org for more information on past actions and for a report on the 2007 action later this week.