|
Notes and Photos from the 15th Annual
June 29 to July 2, 2008, Washington, D.C. 3520 Two Charleston Peace members and one member of the Carolina Peace Resource Center recently spent four days, from June 29th until July 2nd, at the 15th Annual Fast and Vigil to Abolish the Death Penalty. We helped maintain a constant presence in front of the United States Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., fasting, networking with abolitionists from other states and other countries, and talking to media representatives. Using signs, conversations and brochures, we helped educate thousands of tourists about the injustice of the death penalty.
The walkers from Raleigh arrive in front of the Supreme Court.
While some of us, on other occasions, do engage in civil disobedience to call attention to the injustice of the death penalty, during the Fast and Vigil we do our best to stay within the limits of the permit - even when the limits change from one day to the next. The signs taped to the tables are replacing two printed tablecloths announcing the Fast and Vigil. The cloths were acceptable in years past and on Sunday. On Monday, we were told that they were signs and would have to be removed, since they could not be hand held. After we removed the table cloths, we received a visit from this pretty Labrador cop.
The dog had apparently already decided he wasn't going to find whatever he was supposed to be looking for, but he dutifully walked around the entire table and checked.
Plenty of officers are making sure we don't break any rules (such as the one that gets invoked every couple of years, stipulating that the big banners are "hand held signs" and cannot be rested on the ground.)
Art Laffin has to stay across the street; he is banned from the Supreme Court grounds until his trial for the recent Guantanamo protest. Art is one of the wonderful people from the Dorothy Day Catholic Worker Center, who always serve lots of great food right here on the sidewalk when we break our fast at midnight on July 2.
Fast and Vigil co-founder Bill Pelke, Beth Wood, and Isaac join the banned Art across the street.
Ashley came from Indiana to address the Fast and Vigil and join the fasters.
Co-founder Bill Pelke, who is also a murder victim family member
Brian Evans of Amnesty International
Exonoree and murder victim family member George White, and Isaac
Rapper Andre had plenty of energy left after walking from Raleigh to entertain the fasters and pass out brochures to passersby.
Matt Green of the Carolina Peace Resource Center making sure Paul the Peacewalker is wearing plenty of sunscreen
Ron, Lorig, and event organizers Sarah and Anne
The last holdout in the rain
... and the last holdout after the night of July 1, which some of us spent right here on the sidewalk in front of the Supreme Court. |
| Next > |
|---|