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)



December 8, 2006



FADP CONTACTS:
Mark Elliott: 727-215-9646
mark@fadp.org




NO HOLIDAY FOR DEATH

FLORIDA EXECUTION OF ANGEL NIEVES DIAZ SET FOR
DECEMBER 13 AMID GROWING PLEAS FOR CLEMENCY.


The list of those beseeching Governor Bush to halt the execution of Puerto Rican
native Angel Diaz continues to grow.  Governor Anibal Acevedo Vila of Puerto
Rico is requesting Gov. Bush use his power of Executive Clemency.  (Click here
to read Governor Vila's letter).  There are concerns about: (1) the fairness of the
trial – Diaz, who spoke almost no English and whose competency was in question,
represented himself at trial, (2) the recanted testimony of the key prosecution
witness – a jailhouse snitch who now says he lied at trial (ala John Grisham’s
"The Innocent Man") and (3) the disproportionate sentence – the other robber got
a jail sentence, not death.

"As many Floridians prepare to celebrate the joyous birth of a famous executed
prisoner, our governor is giving us this ghoulishly inappropriate gift of yet
another state killing," said Mark Elliott, Spokesman for Floridians for
Alternatives to the Death Penalty.  "6 of the last 7 years, Governor Bush signed
Death Warrants during the holiday season, sometimes several at a time."

"It’s creepy that during the Christmas Season the governor calls for these
sadistic displays of the almighty power of the state to kill captive prisoners,"
said Elliott, "Is 'Off with their heads!' replacing 'Merry Christmas!'?"

For further comment contact Mark Elliott at 727-215-9646

For more on Puerto Rico’s efforts to halt Angel Diaz’s execution:

Margarita Sanchez De Leon
Directora Ejecutiva
Amnistia Internacional Seccion de Puerto Rico

Tel. (787) 763-8318
Fax (787) 763-5096
www.amnistiapr.org







**********
SENT BY:

      Mark Elliott
      Spokesperson
      Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (FADP)
      800-973-6548
      mark@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