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Steve Earle is taking his case straight to the Supreme Court. |
On June 29, the country rocker joined a camp of anti-death penalty protesters staging a fast and vigil in front of the Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C. European tour obligations forced Earle to miss the first day of the vigil, but he joined the group late that night, Abe Bonowitz, director of Citizens United for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, told JAMTV on Tuesday
On the eve of July 1, the group of 80 protestors -- led by the Abolitionist Action Committee (AAC) -- held a concert and rally, during which Earle performed a lengthy set for a group of about 200 people.
During the course of the vigil, the AAC spoke with thousands of tourists, students and other Washington visitors. Although the Supreme Court was not in session, the group held its ground outside the building for four days and at least one night. "Steve woke up on the steps of the Supreme Court one morning in his sleeping bag," said Dan Gillis, Earle's manager.
Earle first became involved with AAC and the Journey of Hope ... from violence to healing after penning "Ellis Unit One," a song for the 1996 Dead Man Walking soundtrack. Ellis Unit One is death row at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice in Hunstville, Texas.
"Last night I dreamed that I woke up with straps across my chest/And something cold and black flowing through my lungs/Even Jesus couldn't save me though I know he did his best/But he don't live on Ellis unit one," Earle sang in that song.
The AAC has journeyed to the nation's capital for the last five years to speak out against the death penalty ... and will continue to do so until it is abolished, Bonowitz said.
On June 29, 1972, the Supreme Court passed Furman v. Georgia, a landmark case abolishing the death penalty in the U.S. Four years and four days later, the Court overturned the ruling in Gregg v. Georgia. The AAC now meets each year in the nation's capital to raise awareness and bring attention to the death penalty.
"We chose those four days to hold the fast and vigil because they're symbolic," Bonowitz said.
Since 1976, nearly 450 executions have taken place in the United
States. (Ari Bendersky)