MEDIA ADVISORY FROM
FLORIDIANS FOR ALTERNATIVES TO THE DEATH PENALTY (FADP.org)
3 January 2002 For immediate release
Contact: Abe Bonowitz - 800-973-6548
24th FLORIDA DEATH ROW EXONERATION DEMANDS
AN
IMMEDIATE "TIME-OUT" ON EXECUTIONS!
Floridians to walk to Tallahassee to ask Governor to halt upcoming
executions.
Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (FADP)
welcomes Juan Roberto Melendez Colon to the free world. After 17 years
on Florida's death row, today Melendez became the ***24th*** prisoner to
be exonerated and released from a death sentence in Florida since 1972.
For details and background, please visit <http://www.FADP.org>.
With the release of Florida death row inmate Juan
Melendez, Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (FADP)
demands an immediate halt to all executions in Florida, including the
three scheduled for later this month and early in February. Amos King is
scheduled to be executed on January 24, 2002 for his alleged murder of
Natalie Brady. Mr. King has always maintained his innocence. FADP is
concerned about King's assertion that important evidence was never
properly developed or brought to light during his trial, and since his
conviction specific pieces of evidence have been destroyed, dashing any
possibility of DNA testing. Further, Mr. King has been seeking to have a
new appellate attorney appointed, or in the absence of a new attorney, a
paralegal, to assist him in pursuing his legal claims. Please find
details on this and the other two cases at <http://www.FADP.org>.
ALSO, FADP re-emphasizes its call on Florida Governor
Jeb Bush to declare an immediate moratorium on executions.
"Florida leads the nation in the number of innocent
people released from our death row," said Abe Bonowitz, director of
the statewide group. "Illinois Governor George Ryan, a staunch
Republican who still supports the death penalty, declared a total halt
to executions in Illinois after that state released it's 13th wrongly
convicted prisoner so that the system can be thoroughly examined,
mistakes found and corrected, and flaws eliminated. We in Florida have
now released 24. The time for a moratorium and an independent and
thorough study is well past due."
ALSO, beginning on Martin Luther King Day (1/21/02),
Floridians from throughout the state will "Walk for a 'Time-Out on
Executions!'" from death row in Raiford to the Office of the
Governor in Tallahassee to deliver thousands of petitions calling for a
moratorium on executions in Florida. Details on all this, and more, are
available at <http://www.FADP.org>
or by calling 800-973-6548.
SENT BY:
Abraham J. Bonowitz
Director
Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (FADP)
800-973-6548
fadp@fadp.org
www.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
