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Yes Florida, There is an ALTERNATIVE to the Death Penalty

Juan Melendez spoke at the University of St. Louis campus in Madrid, Spain on May 17, 2005, one of five European presentations during a brief trip to Europe May 13-May 18. "El Pais," Spain's leading national newspaper wrote an article about Juan Melendez click here to read article Photo (left) captures the highlight of the European trip when Juan and Joaquin Martinez (a Spaniard, also exonerated from Florida's death row) reunited in Spain. click on photos to enlarge

Also pictured (wearing yellow) is Mario Flores, a Mexican national whose sentence was commuted by Governor Ryan to 40 years. Mario continues to maintain his innocence, although he was not officially pardoned and therefore not technically "exonerated." He was released from prison 7 months ago after spending one and 1/2 years in general population. Prior to that he was on death row for almost 20 years during which time he became a lawyer and a distinguished painter. Upon his release, he was deported to Mexico.

Also pictured is Judi Caruso, a New Mexico attorney and anti-death penalty activist who serves on the board of directors of the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty. Judi is working with Juan to coordinate his activities and establish a new entity, "Juan Melendez Voices United for Justice."