Last week, I asked you to join us at the mountaintop and end Florida’s death penalty. Thanks to your generous contributions, we are 15% of the way to our $19,341 goal! If you haven’t yet donated, please consider a gift now.
On August 3, James Barnes will be executed at Florida State Prison, the fifth execution this year. Last week, he moved to discharge his lawyers, waive all appeals and future motions, and proceed with his execution. Without appointing any experts, the judge found Mr. Barnes competent to commit state-assisted suicide, and cleared the path for him to die. IN OUR NAME.
Prior to his incarceration, James was Baker Acted multiple times, including once after he begged his father to kill him with a shotgun. During his years in DOC custody, James was repeatedly put in isolation. He refused to see any doctors or receive treatment for serious medical issues. He has refused visits from attorneys, friends, and family.
Bryan Stevenson famously said that “the death penalty is not about whether people deserve to die for the crimes they commit, the real question of capital punishment in this country is, Do we deserve to kill?”
Do we deserve to kill James Barnes? The State of Florida has executed four people this year. We won’t give up on James. Sign and share the petition to stop his state-assisted suicide.
As you know, we have been releasing stories to expose Florida’s shameful history of executing people with serious mental illness. There is also a strong correlation between “volunteers” under active death warrants and mental illness.
Please read and share the story of Aileen Wuornos, a woman who suffered from persistent and chronic mental health issues triggered from childhood abuse, incest, abandonment, rape, violence, drug and alcohol abuse, and homelessness. She moved to discharge her lawyers, waive all appeals and future motions, and proceed with her execution. Once a Governor-appointed commission of three psychiatrists evaluated her for 30 minutes and determined her to be competent, her fate was inevitable.
Help us expose and end Florida’s barbaric practice of executing those with serious mental illness, and when we call on you, be ready to tell our Legislature that Florida needs an SMI Bill in 2024.
Each leg of this arduous climb brings us closer to ending Florida’s death penalty once and for all.
Onward,
Maria DeLiberato
FADP Executive Director
P.S. Donate now to get us closer to our goal – every dollar counts.
