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. 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. GAINESVILLE 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 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 PINELLAS COUNTY EXECUTION PROTEST: The 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 Execution: Join 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) E-mail: ag.mccollum@myfloridalegal.com 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. 904-461-9216 STARKE (Florida State Prison)
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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2840 W. Bay Drive, #118
Belleair Bluffs, FL 33770
(727)215-9646
mark@fadp.org