Welcome to the home page of the Fast and Vigil, an annual event in Washington, DC. We will be gathering for our 26th year in 2019, so pre-register and stay tuned for details. For these four days, death penalty abolitionists from around the country will gather at the steps of the Supreme Court to call for an end to capital punishment in the United States. It is an energizing grassroots week of training, advocacy, action, community and education. Tens of thousands of tourists and locals, from all over the U.S. and throughout the world, pass by our vigil and table, so the opportunity for dialogue and discussion at a real grass-roots level is invaluable to the movement.

Additionally, each evening we hear stories from murder victims’ family members, death row exonerees, death row families and leaders in the national abolition movement.

We hope you will consider joining the more than 75 anti-death penalty activists who come regularly from across the U.S. and Canada - from Florida to Alaska and everywhere inbetween - to join together for public education and outreach at the steps of the Supreme Court.

If you are unable to attend but would like to support the annual event that reaches tens-of-thousands of people on the streets of DC, donations are greatly appreciated to make this effort possible. See our sponorship page for details. And as always, help spread the word to your networks, groups, and local media.

The pages of this website will cover the nitty gritty of what you need to know to participate, and how you can make the most of your participation. Please be sure to register, and let us know that you are coming. Please also read the history of this event and the court decisions that precipitated it. We're looking forward to Starvin' with ya!

Check out the latest photos and videos on Facebook and follow us on Twitter at @AbolitionAAC.

Visit our fiscal sponsor, Death Penalty Action, for more action opportunities

"As a student at Xavier University, Ohioans to Stop Executions sponsored me to attend the Fast & Vigil. There, I formed relationships that continue today. My experience at the Fast & Vigil lit a fire in me to devote myself to the abolition of the death penalty."

~ Anne Feczko, Board Member of Journey of Hope and volunteer for the Catholic Mobilizing Network