The Abolitionist Action Committee (AAC) 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. The primary focus of the AAC is engaging people outside U.S. Supreme Court, most notably with two events: The annual "Starvin' for Justice: Fast and Vigil to Abolish the Death Penalty" (every June 29-July 2), and an every-five-year action of non-violent civil disobedience on January 17 to mark the anniversary of first U.S. execution in the modern era of the death penalty.
The informal committee of activists was founded in Dallas, Texas in 1994 by human rights historian Dr. Rick Halperin and two murder victim family members, Bill Pelke and Marietta Jaeger-Lane. Since 2017, Death Penalty Action has managed the events of the AAC as one of its programs.
LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR TWO EVENTS:
LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR TWO EVENTS:
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FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:
JOIN US FOR THE FAST AND VIGIL IN 2025
JOIN US FOR THE FAST AND VIGIL IN 2025
We are excited to announce that we will be continuing for our 32nd consecutive year in 2025! Registration will open Spring 2025 - so when it does please let us know if you are coming so we can keep you updated on the plans.
WHAT IS THE FAST AND VIGIL? For 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 victim 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 California and everywhere in-between - 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 sponsorship 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!
We are excited to announce that we will be continuing for our 32nd consecutive year in 2025! Registration will open Spring 2025 - so when it does please let us know if you are coming so we can keep you updated on the plans.
WHAT IS THE FAST AND VIGIL? For 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 victim 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 California and everywhere in-between - 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 sponsorship 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!
"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
"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
JOIN US JANUARY 17, 2027 FOR DIRECT ACTION
Every five years, on January 17th, we risk arrest in nonviolent civil disobedience on the U.S. Supreme Court steps in Washington, DC to mark the anniversary of the first execution in the U.S.'s modern era, when Gary Gilmore was executed by firing Squad in Utah in 1977.
Abolitionists from around the country gather to protest this grim milestone by bringing the message of "STOP EXECUTIONS" to the steps and plaza of the court, where protests are not permitted.
The action has ranged from groups in size from 8 to 18 people going to jail overnight, and dozens others nearby to witness and support. We often challenge the arrest in a public trial the following summer to put the death penalty on the stand.
Our most recent action took place in January 2022 on the 45th anniversary of Gary Gilmore's execution. We also brought the message to the U.S. Capitol Building and the White House, where the legislative and execution branches of government also have the power to stop executions.
And if the Supreme Court continues to fail us, we will be back for a repeat in 2027. Check back for details here.
JOIN US JANUARY 17, 2027 FOR DIRECT ACTION
Every five years, on January 17th, we risk arrest in nonviolent civil disobedience on the U.S. Supreme Court steps in Washington, DC to mark the anniversary of the first execution in the U.S.'s modern era, when Gary Gilmore was executed by firing Squad in Utah in 1977.
Abolitionists from around the country gather to protest this grim milestone by bringing the message of "STOP EXECUTIONS" to the steps and plaza of the court, where protests are not permitted.
The action has ranged from groups in size from 8 to 18 people going to jail overnight, and dozens others nearby to witness and support. We often challenge the arrest in a public trial the following summer to put the death penalty on the stand.
Our most recent action took place in January 2022 on the 45th anniversary of Gary Gilmore's execution. We also brought the message to the U.S. Capitol Building and the White House, where the legislative and execution branches of government also have the power to stop executions.
And if the Supreme Court continues to fail us, we will be back for a repeat in 2027. Check back for details here.