Gainesville Protests

Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty works for restorative justice in the form of effective alternatives to the death penalty. 

Gainesville Protests of Assisted Suicide of Hauser

In cities across Florida, activists choose an appropriate public location to stage a protest vigil at the time of the killing. Tired of holding candles, Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty want the message heard LOUD AND CLEAR - "The state is killing in our names, and we won't stand by silently!" 

The photos below were taken on 22 August 2000, the day Daniel Patrick Hauser *almost* got his wish.  A stay was issued just hours before the scheduled killing, but the demonstration went ahead anyway.  This was the first time Gainesville Citizens for Alternatives to the Death Penalty held a demonstration simultaneously at BOTH the prison at Starke (30 miles northeast) and also in Gainesville.  The stay was struck down in the following days, and Hauser was killed on August 26th.  As a result of the demonstration pictured below, several people called our 800 number to ask questions and to learn how they could get involved.  You can too!  Call 800-973-6548 for more information!

FLORIDIANS                 F O R  A L T E R N A T I V E S                                 TO THE DEATH PENALTY (FADP)                         PRESS RELEASE Tuesday, 22 August 2000 CONTACT:        Abe Bonowitz                 800-973-6548                 <abe@fadp.org>                 Pager: 888-319-1369                    IS THE TAIL WAGGING THE DOG?         The State-Assisted Suicide of Daniel Patrick Hauser.         Daniel Patrick Hauser is scheduled to have his state-assisted suicide at 6pm, Tuesday, August 22, at Florida State Prison at Starke.  Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (FADP) will hold simultaneous protests across the state. See below for details.         "This is the tail wagging the dog," said Abe Bonowitz, Director of Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (FADP), an activist organization coordinating statewide public opposition to executions.  "We are letting a confessed murderer direct his punishment.  Why is it that the ONLY time Jeb Bush is willing to give anything to a prisoner is when that prisoner wants to be killed?  Why is it that an innocent, terminally ill citizen dying a painful death is denied the right to end their life, but we bend over backwards for a killer? Issues of competency aside, this is further proof that morally, economically and socially, the death penalty is BAD PUBLIC POLICY!"         SIMULTANEOUS DEMONSTRATIONS AT EIGHT LOCATIONS         Activists in seven Florida cities will stage simultaneous, peaceful protests in opposition to the state-assisted suicide of Daniel Patrick Hauser.         SCHEDULED EVENTS The Tallahassee Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty will hold a press conference at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, August 22, in the Florida Press Center Conference Room.  Tallahassee abolitionists will be present outside the Governor's mansion on Tuesday evening, and will hold a vigil at the Capital Rotunda at noon on Wednesday, should Hauser be killed as scheduled.  Contact:  Walter Moore: 850-877-1609 SIMULTANEOUS VIGILS ARE PLANNED for 5:30pm to 6:30pm on Tuesday, 20 June 2000 at the following locations: STARKE Florida State Prison at STARKE Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty Contact: Abe Bonowitz (cell phone) 561-371-5204 GAINESVILLE Corner of West University Avenue and 13th Street. Contact Barbara Howe at 271-6989 or <barb@soliloquies.org> JACKSONVILLE Friendship Fountain in Friendship Park on the Southbank of the River.  This is Near the Museum of Science and History and the River City Brewing Company Restaurant. Contact:  Bernie Welch <Blwmm@AOL.COM> MIAMI The County Courthouse in Miami South Florida Committee Against the Death Penalty Contact: Len Kaminsky: 305-754-9884 ORLANDO The County Courthouse in Orlando Contact:  Ben Markeson: 407-263-7768 PALM BEACH COUNTY - TBA Contact:  Abe Bonowitz: 561-371-5204 TALLAHASSEE The Governor's Mansion (Begins at 5:45) Contact:  Walter Moore: 850-877-1609 TAMPA 5-6pm, Downtown Tampa, Courthouse Annex 801 E Twiggs St. Contact: Elke Leinwand: <Ladybug779@aol.com> or 813-831-4570.

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