P R E S S R E L E A S E
from
F L O R I D I A N S FOR A L T E R N A T I V E S
TO THE DEATH PENALTY (FADP)
26 April 2004
CONTACT: Abe Bonowitz: 561-371-5204
<abe@fadp.org>
FADP TO HOLD PRESS CONFERENCE WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28
INTERNATIONALLY REKNOWNED VICTIMS FAMILY MEMBER, FLORIDA DEATH ROW SURVIVOR
TO PARTICIPATE
(Final event of National Tour - Wednesday Night!)
April 26, 2004 - As Florida's legislative session enters its final week,
Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty director Abe Bonowitz
returns to Florida with Florida Death Row Survivor Juan Melendez and Murder
Victim Family Member Bill Pelke. Along with their dog Governor, the trio
have traveled more than 16,000 miles (not including a visit to Alaska)
across the United States since January 23, 2004, working with various state
anti-death penalty organizations to educate the public about why the death
penalty is a bad public policy. More information about the Journey of Hope
Abolition Day '04 Tour is available at http://www.CUADP.org
PRESS CONFERENCE -- WEDNESDAY
WHO:
Bill Pelke, Founding Board Member of Murder Victim's Families for
Reconciliation. Pelke's grandmother was murdered by four high school
girls, one of whom became the youngest female on death row in the
U.S. Pelke has been a leading voice for abolishing the death penalty for
juvenile offenders in particular. Pelke testified before the Wyoming
legislature in February, helping that state decide to raise its minimum age
for death penalty eligibility to 18. Pelke is also the vice-chairman of
the board of directors of the National Coalition to Abolish the Death
Penalty (NCADP) and the co-founder and president of the Journey of Hope
...From Violence to Healing.
ALSO, Juan Melendez, 24th person exonerated and released from Florida's
death row (also an NCADP Board Member), AND Abe Bonowitz, director of
Citizens United for Alternatives to the Death Penalty and Floridians for
Alternatives to the Death Penalty
WHAT: Press Conference
WHEN: 9:30am, WEDNESDAY, April 28, 2004
WHERE: Tallahassee Press Center
WHY: To provide national perspective to the pending juvenile death penalty
bills in the Floridia legislature, and to discuss their findings and
experiences as they end 14 weeks of a public education tour in which they
worked with local organizers and state coalitions and spoke in more than 16
states.
**************
AVAILABLE FOR COMMENT: Bonowitz, Melendez and Pelke are in Tallahassee
now and are available for comment and interviews: Reach them at 561-371-5204.
PUBLIC EVENT WEDNESDAY EVENING: Bonowitz, Melendez and Pelke will share
their stories in the final event on the 14 week Journey of Hope Abolition
Day Tour, WEDNESDAY EVENING at 7pm at the Unitarian Universalist Church in
Tallahassee. This event is free and open to the public.
On the Web: www.FADP.org
SENT BY:
Abraham J. Bonowitz
Director
Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (FADP)
800-973-6548 http://www.fadp.org <fadp@fadp.org>
PMB 335, 2603 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Hwy, Gainesville, FL 32609
Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty works for restorative
justice in the form of effective alternatives to the death penalty. It
does so by
# supporting and coordinating the work of organizations and individuals
# educating and energizing the general public and state legislators
# supporting the many persons affected by capital crime and punishment
# advocating specific legislative improvements
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