|
|
Article: Hundreds Gather in Front of Supreme Court to Protest Death Penalty; Photo Available
- Article from:
- U.S. Newswire
- Article date:
- June 30, 2003
CopyrightCopyright 2003 U.S. Newswire. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
|
WASHINGTON, June 30 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Hundreds gathered in front
of the U.S. Supreme Court Monday for a noon rally protesting the 859
executions in the country since death penalty statutes were upheld in
1976.
The rally came in the midst of a 96-hour fast and vigil, which has
drawn activists from 16 states, plus Canada, Great Britain and Puerto
Rico. The fast and vigil commemorates the anniversary of both the
1972 Furman v. Georgia ruling, striking down capital punishment, and
the 1976 Gregg v. Georgia ruling reinstating it.
"I am a prime example that the death penalty system is broken,
that it is not fair and that it is not accurate," said Juan Melendez,