Death Penalty Abolition Actions
by Scott Langley, Death Penalty Action
[Note to our readers: Connecticut abolished the death penalty in 2012. The struggle to end this barbaric practice continues on in other states.]
For the 33rd consecutive year, from June 29 to July 2, death penalty abolitionists from around the country will gather at the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. to call for an end to capital punishment for four days through vigiling, tabling, petition signature gathering, teach-ins, flyering, and fasting. (Fasting is always optional and up to the individual about what works for them.) It is an energizing week of training, advocacy, action, community, reflection and education.
The event is organized by the Abolitionist Action Committee, which is an ad-hoc group of over 50 sponsoring individuals and organizations committed to highly visible and effective public education for alternatives to the death penalty.
During the event, 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.
2026 also marks the 50th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling allowing executions to resume in the Gregg v. Georgia decision of 1976. So this year there will be a special rally on July 2 at 6 p.m. to say “50 Years of Executions: Not in Our Names!”
We hope you will consider joining anti-death penalty activists who come regularly from all across the United States from Alaska to Florida and everywhere in-between.
Learn more and register today at abolition.org.
The central organization that puts on this event is Death Penalty Action, a national non-profit working to stop executions and abolish the death penalty through advocacy, education, and action. Check out DeathPenaltyAction.org to learn more about other ways you can get involved in the movement – including signing petitions for every scheduled execution in the United States.