FADP, JUAN MELENDEZ TO HOLD PRESS CONFERENCE IN TAMPA DEATH ROW SURVIVOR TO SPEAK IN TAMPA WEDNESDAY EVENING

Florida Death Row Survivor Juan Melendez, who spent almost 18 years on death row for a crime he did not commit, continues his state-wide speaking tour Monday with a presentation to high school students in St. Petersburg followed by a press conference at the Hillsborough County Courthouse in Tampa. Melendez will speak at the First United Church of Tampa (7308 E. Fowler) Wednesday evening at 7pm. The public is invited to this free event.

Melendez, who credits Hillsborough County Judge Barbara Fleischer with saving his life, will share his story of how he was wrongfully accused and convicted, how he survived death row, and how he was ultimately exonerated and released on January 3, 2002. Melendez will be joined by Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty Director Abe Bonowitz and Amnesty International's State Death Penalty Abolition Coordinator Mark Elliott, who will discuss the state of the death penalty in Florida and current legislative matters of concern regarding the death penalty.

PRESS CONFERENCE DETAILS

WHO:	Death Row Survivor Juan Melendez, FADP Director Abe Bonowitz, Amnesty International State Death Penalty Abolition Coordinator Mark Elliott
WHAT:	Press Conference regarding upcoming legislative session, death penalty issues.
WHEN:	11:15am, Monday, February 28, 2005
WHERE:	In front of the Hillsborough County Courthouse, 419 Pierce St.

This speaking tour, timed to mobilize Floridians in advance of the 2005 Florida Legislative Session, is organized by Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (FADP). Melendez and Bonowitz have been touring in Florida since February 11 and have visited the legislature and many of the major areas in the state, including the Tampa Bay area, Orlando, Miami, and Tallahassee. This week they will be in St. Petersberg, Gainesville, Tampa and Jacksonville.

Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (FADP) offers Director its 2005 Legislative Agenda, including the following specific items:

* Ending immunity for law enforcement officials who knowingly send an innocent person
  to prison;

* Establishing a compensation fund for persons wrongly convicted and imprisoned in Florida;

* Requiring a unanimous jury to sentence a convicted murderer to death;

* Raising the minimum age to be eligible for the death penalty to 18 at the time of the crime.

See FADP's Legislative Agenda at: http://www.fadp.org/2005legislativeAgenda.html

Learn more about Juan Melendez and the CURRENT TOUR SCHEDULE AT: http://www.fadp.org/MelendezSpeakingOut.html

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SENT BY:

Abraham J. Bonowitz
Director

Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (FADP)
800-973-6548 www.fadp.org
PMB 335, 2603 NW 13th St (AKA Dr. MLK 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