Hundreds of people showed up at the Supreme Court today to protest the death penalty. The National Coalition Against the Death Penalty (NCADP) reports in its press release,

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, who spent 17 years, eight months and one day on death row in Florida before being fully exonerated. "The death penalty must be abolished.

Among the arguments against the death penalty:

Abe Bonowitz, organizer of the annual event, said, "We are gathered today to educate the public that the death penalty continues to be arbitrary and capricious. It is a violation of human rights. It is a political tool for politicians to mislead the public about how best to address crime. It is biased and it is a colossal waste of tax dollars."