"Suicide by governor is getting very popular in Florida," said FADP Director Abe Bonowitz, noting that five of the last eight Florida executions were of prisoners who waived their appeals and asked to be killed. So far Governor Bush has executed 16 prisoners, seven of whom have been volunteers.

"Once again Governor Bush is playing into the hands of a convicted murderer who just wants to die. Why is it that the only way you can get an assisted suicide in this state is if you murder someone and go to death row? We hope and pray that one day he will adopt a consistently "pro-life" policy," said Bonowitz, in reference to the ongoing saga of Terri Schiavo and Bush's anti-abortion positions.

If this execution goes forward, it will be the 60th execution in Florida since 1979 and the 17th under Governor Jeb Bush. More information about Florida executions is available at http://www.fadp.org/Florida_executions.html (which will be updated with this new execution date shortly).

Members of FADP and other organizations opposed to the death penalty will protest the execution at Florida State Prison and at locations across the state at the time of the killing. (See http://www.fadp.org/localprotests.html for protest plans and locations, which will be updated by March 20.)

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FADP Director Abe Bonowitz is available for interviews at 800-973-6548

ON THE WEB: www.FADP.org

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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