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Yes Florida, There is an ALTERNATIVE to the Death Penalty

Homicide in Progress

Floridians Protest the Killing of Captive Prisoners

Florida continues the premeditated and unnecessary killing of captive prisoners. Governor Charlie Crist has signed a Death Warrant for Martin Grossman. The homicide of Martin Grossman is planned for Tuesday, Feb. 16th at 6PM. We grieve with the family of slain Florida Wildlife Officer, Margaret "Peggy" Park and mourn her tragic death 26 years ago.

Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty and our allies call for simultaneous execution vigils/protests across the state at the time of executions. Each vigil group in Florida is independent and establishes its activities according to the needs, strategies and resources of its members. Details are often adjusted for each execution. For the most recent prisoner-killings, the following actions were planned. This page will be updated when another state homicide is scheduled. In the event that the next killing has very little lead time, contact the local organizers directly.

ALL are welcome to participate at ANY protest and vigil

If you do not see your area listed and would like to stage a local visibility action, please contact FADP for advice and materials at 727-215-9646 or fadp@fadp.org.

PAX CHRISTI FLORIDA local groups are hosting and participating in execution vigils across the state. For more info, please visit their web site, http://paxchristiflorida.org

BRADENTON

Deathwatch Prayer Vigil Service—Tuesday, February 16th at 6 PM--the day Martin Grossman is scheduled for execution. In our tradition, we are called to “forgive those who trespass against us,” praying for the victimizer, the victim—Margaret “Peggy” Park--and an end to the death penalty. Our service will be held just east of the St. Joseph statue on the south side of the church building, 30th Ave W and 26th St W. We will spend the first half-hour along 26th St. holding signs of protest against the death penalty. For further information, call Carol Ann at 904-721-3486 or email Lee leebreyer@aol.com.

This event, held at every execution, is supported by Pax Christi Manasota, the local chapter of the international Catholic Peace Association.  It welcomes everyone, no exceptions for any reason.

FLAGLER COUNTY

Stand with us in support of life and dignity within a peaceful vigil in front of the Flagler County Courthouse.  
The vigil will take place from 5:00-6:30 P.M on Tuesday, February 16.  
Join us at the Courthouse on 1769 E. Moody Blvd, Bunnell, Florida.  
For information please contact Jackie Morelewicz by email jackiem@cfl.rr.com or phone 386-986-3146. 

FT. LAUDERDALE

Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty and our allies will have simultaneous execution vigils/protests across the state at the time of the execution of Martin Grossman on Tuesday, February 16 at 6:00 pm.

Broward FADP will have a vigil if the execution goes forward as scheduled. We will demonstrate from 5:00pm to 6:00pm in front of the Federal Court House or Federal Building on east Broward Blvd. at NE 3 Ave. in downtown Ft. Lauderdale. Parking is available on SE 1st St., just east of SE 3rd Ave. Bring hand made signs or signs will be provided. 

For local updates and announcements, subscribe to the local announcement list by sending a message to browardfadp-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.
Contact: Broward County Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty
Steve Jens-Rochow
954-463-2085
E-Mail: sjensrochow@comcast.net

GAINESVILLE

TO CARPOOL TO THE PRISON, gather at the UU Fellowship, 4225 NW 34th Street by 4:00 PM. CONTACT: Amy Jo Smith at 352-332-1350 or smithaj@bellsouth.net Subscribe to the Gainesville Citizens for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (GCADP) local announcement list by sending a message to gcadpnews-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. Those unable to come to Starke are invited to make their own signs and be visible on the corner of University Ave. and 13th St. in Gainesville. The execution is scheduled for 6:00 PM.

JACKSONVILLE

We will have a vigil in front of the Duval County Courthouse on Bay Street in downtown Jacksonville on Tuesday, Feb. 16th, from 5:15 - 6:15 p.m. Come and pray for Margaret park and her family and for an end to state-sanctioned killing in Florida. For carpooling, contact Nancy O’Byrne by email obyrnen@bellsouth.net or by phone at 904-461-9216.

ORLANDO CATHOLIC DIOCESE

Now is the time to unite in prayer across the state for the family and friends of the victims, that they will continue to receive healing through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ; for all the public officials involved in this scheduled execution; for Governor Crist, that he will discern God’s will and apply the teachings of our Catholic faith on the death penalty; for Martin Grossman and the family of Margaret Park.
Please pray with your family and consider having adoration, prayer services, or vigils in your parishes or join us on a pilgrimage to the Florida State Prison near Stark, Florida, for a prayer vigil. Please join us on the bus by meeting at 2:30pm at Destination Daytona (I-95 & US Hwy 1). The bus will then arrive at the prison by 5:30pm. The bus is free. Donations are appreciated to help with the cost of the motorcoach. Bring umbrellas if you have them.
To join us on the motorcoach, seat reservations must be made by calling Our Lady of Lourdes (386) 255-0433 or Our Lady of Grace (321) 725-3066.
For more information, resources, or workshops for your parish, contact the Office of Advocacy and Justice at Respectlife@orlandodiocese.org or (407) 246-4819.

PALM BEACH GARDENS 

We will be publicly opposing Florida’s execution of Martin Grossman on Tuesday, February 16th.  

We are ever mindful of the unimaginable pain and suffering which the family and friends of the Margaret Park continue to endure. 

As Catholics and as citizens of this state, we voice our unequivocal opposition to the practice of State sponsored killing.  

Florida’s Catholic Bishops have concurred that the death penalty has been discriminatory toward the poor, the indigent and racial minorities. In their position statement released in January 2002, they stated,

“Capital punishment contributes to the escalating atmosphere of violence in our society and undermines belief of the inherent worth and dignity of human life.”  

This is a Pro-Life event.  Please join us.  

Tuesday, February 16th, 2010

5:45 – 6:15pm (the execution is scheduled for 6pm) 

St. Ignatius Loyola Cathedral (9500 N. Military Trail, Palm Beach Gardens) 

For more information, contact Beth Cioffoletti, 561-267-7288 Email: shoofoolatte@gmail.com

(signs will be provided) 

 

PENSACOLA

Time: 4:30 - 5:00 PM Central Time
Place: Martin Luther King Plaza, Palafox Street, between Gregory and Chase Streets in Downtown Pensacola
What to Bring: nothing
Type of Vigil:
Who is invited: everyone
Who is sponsoring (hosting): ACLU Panhandle Chapter
Contact info (name, phone, email address) Susan Watson 850.429.9128 swatson@aclufl.org

PINELLAS COUNTY

EXECUTION PROTESTThe state of Florida is planning to kill Martin Grossman at 6:00 PM on Tuesday, February 16.  Anti-death penalty activists will gather in Pinellas Countyduring the execution.  Details are below, including links to vigils elsewhere in the state.  There are serious concerns about this execution, including Grossman’s severely challenged mental capacity, an affidavit from a key witness saying his testimony was not entirely true, and harshness of the sentence (an accomplice received three years’ imprisonment).  To read an explanation of the problems with this case, click here
 
Last fall, the American Law Institute, which created the intellectual framework for the current death penalty almost 50 years ago, said the death penalty system is irretrievably broken and abandoned its support for executions.   One law professor called the group, which consists of 4,000 judges, lawyers and law professors, “the only intellectually respectable support for the death penalty system in the United States.”  To read a New York Times article on that decision and other actions affecting the death penalty, click here
 
Contact information for Governor Crist is below.  For a report in the Lakeland Ledger about the enormous cost of the death penalty, click here. To read about Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty’s concerns on the issue of cost, click here .

Demonstration During the ExecutionJoin Pax Christi Tampa Bay, Peace First, Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty and other death penalty opponents at an anti-death penalty vigil from 5:00-6:00 PM on Tuesday, February 16 at the intersection of Ulmerton Road and 49th Street N. in mid-Pinellas County.  This is the site of past vigils.  Park in the lot next to Checkers on the northwest corner of the intersection.  Signs will be provided, or you can bring your own.   FMI: sjstew@gte.net or (727) 894-2832. 

For prayer, study, and action suggestions about the death penalty from Pax Christi Florida, click here.

Take Action Now: Contact Gov. Crist and Florida’s Attorney General to express your strong opposition to Florida’s executions:

Office of Governor Charlie Crist
State of Florida
The Capitol
400 S. Monroe St.
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001

Press Control and click here to Email the Governor (Charlie.Crist@MyFlorida.com)
Executive Office of the Governor Switchboard: (850) 488-7146; FAX: (850) 487-0801

Office of Attorney General Bill McCollum
State of Florida
The Capitol PL-01
Tallahassee, FL 32399-105

E-mail: ag.mccollum@myfloridalegal.com
Switchboard: (850) 414-3300

FMI: Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (FADP)

For a downloadable death penalty fact sheet with talking points: http://www.fadp.org/FL_factsheet.pdf; click this link for FADP suggestions to take action.

ST. AUGUSTINE

There will be a Vigil on February 16th, on the corners of A1A and 16th Streets in St. Augustine near the St. Augustine Beach City Hall, from 5:15 to 6:15 p.m., during the execution of Martin Grossman.  Members of several different faiths and organizations will be gathering to oppose the Death Penalty; among them will be Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, Pax Christi of Northeast Florida, JustFaith, and Amnesty International.  All are welcome to join us.  We will be vigilling for the victim, the victim's family, as well as the executed and his family.  We hope to raise awareness that individuals are being killed in our name by our state government; and that the death penalty system in Florida is very prejudiced, very expensive, and very wrong.

 
Contact:  Nancy O'Byrne              

904-461-9216             

 obyrnen@bellsouth.net 


STARKE (Florida State Prison)

Gather ACROSS from Florida State Prison starting by 5:00pm. Please bring signs if you have them.
Directions to the Protest at Florida State Prison (directions from the Dept. of Corrections official website.)
From East: SR-16, 11 miles west of Starke on left. Vigil on East side of SR-16.
From North: (Macclenny) SR-121 south approximately 17 miles to SR-16 (before town of Raiford). Turn left onto SR-16. Go approximately 3 miles, cross New River Bridge. The Institution is on the right.
From South: US-301 north approximately 35 miles north of Gainesville to Starke. Turn left onto SR-16 (Raiford Road) (West), go approximately 11 miles. The Institution is on the left. Vigil is on right.
From West (Lake City): SR-100 approximately 23 miles to SR-121 (Lake Butler), turn left, go approximately 6 miles, just outside town of Raiford turn right (east) onto SR-16. Go approximately 3 miles, cross New River Bridge. The Institution is on the right (West). Vigil is across SR-16 on East side.

NOTES from FADP: The institution is on the West side of the road. The designated protest area is on the East side of the road, with the entry road being opposite of the main entry to FSP.

REGARDING BATHROOMS: Bathroom at SE corner of red brick bldg. may be open. Sometimes there is a port-a-potty in the designated media area (about 150 yards west of the protest area), but it is not always there and they may decide not to allow protesters access to the media area. Just to the west of the prison (toward Starke) is a Circle K store with a bathroom available to customers. Stop there, if not in Raiford or Starke as you pass through one of those towns.

REGARDING SIGNS: We are unaware of any restrictions on the nature of signs. FADP recommends clear and concise messages, printed boldly, with high contrast between the text and the background. FADP will have some signs available.

ADDITIONAL PRECAUTIONS: Wear closed shoes and socks to protect yourself from the occasional presence of fire ants.

ALSO: Especially with high profile state killings, airport rules apply - be aware of what you bring and carry, and of your demeanor, and stay within the designated protest area or between that area and the adjacent parking area. You may wish to bring umbrellas (for sun or rain) and bottled water. FADP will help.


TALLAHASSEE

Pax Christi Tallahassee, Tallahassee Citizens Against the Death Penalty and the Florida Catholic Conference and others will gather to vigil at 5:45 PM (February 16th) in front of the Governor’s mansion. The day after each execution, a ceremony of remembrance takes place at the State of Florida’s Capitol Great Seal. For more information, contact Shirley Poore (bpoore@earthlink.net) or 850-893-6838.

The Tallahassee Citizens Against the Death Penalty (TCADP) website can be found at http://tcadp.net.




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Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (FADP)
2840 W. Bay Drive, #118
Belleair Bluffs, FL 33770
(727)215-9646
mark@fadp.org