Tomorrow evening at 6 pm ET, the State of Florida plans to execute Kayle Bates (Maud Dib Al Sharif Qu’un). Kayle is a 67-year-old Black Muslim veteran who has endured more than 42 years on death row.
His execution reveals the broken state of Florida’s capital punishment system:
- Kayle was unconstitutionally setenced to death by a non-unanimous (9-3) jury.
- His attorneys have shown that defendants convicted of killing white victims are 15 times more likely to be executed in Florida.
- Veterans comprise about 10% of death row, despite being just 5% of the population.
- Today, Kayle’s family, former attorney, and civil rights leaders held a press conference demanding DNA testing and a stay. His cousin Gabrielle shared, “I’ve been visiting him since I was a little girl… He’s just been a great person. I’m hoping we can put a stop to this.”
Over the weekend, two significant briefs were filed at the U.S. Supreme Court urging a stay of execution in Kayle’s case. Together, these filings represent a powerful chorus of legal experts, organizations, and advocates urging the highest court in the land to intervene.
- On August 16, a coalition of respected voices submitted an amicus brief highlighting the legal and equitable concerns at stake. The brief was filed by: Harry Lee Anstead, former Justice of the Florida Supreme Court; Chesa Boudin, former San Francisco District Attorney and legal scholar; Conservatives Concerned; Catherine Grosso, Professor of Law at Michigan State University; The Muslim Legal Fund; and Austin Sarat, Professor of Jurisprudence and Political Science at Amherst College.
- On August 17, the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) filed its own amicus brief, further underscoring that Bates’ case raises profound constitutional and human rights concerns.
The Supreme Court is now reviewing Kayle’s requests, but with only 24 hours remaining, time is critically short.
How You Can Act Immediately:
- Sign and share the petition — we will deliver all messages to Governor DeSantis tomorrow morning urging reprieve.
- Join us at 5 pm ET tomorrow across from Florida State Prison for our vigil and protest. Virtual and statewide events will coincide. Visit our website for more information.
- Call and send a message to Governor DeSantis’ office now to demand he stay Kayle’s execution.
As we fight to stop Kayle’s execution, we must also look ahead to the next case of injustice. Curtis Windom is scheduled to be executed on Thursday, August 28 at 6 pm ET.
His daughter Curtisia, who is also the daughter and granddaughter of two of the victims, has spent decades opposing his execution, pleading with the state not to take her father’s life. She is joined by other members of the victims’ families who do not feel like taking a life will bring them healing. Please take action for Curtis now.
And while Curtis’ family continues to plead for mercy, Florida has already moved on to its next scheduled execution. Last Friday, Governor DeSantis signed the twelth death warrant this year and scheduled David J. Pittman to be executed on Wednesday, September 17 at 6 pm ET. After you’ve taken action for Kayle and Curtis, please take action for David.
Onward,
The FADP Team
P.S. Florida’s relentless pace of executions this year underscores a system more focused on speed than justice. With three executions scheduled within just one month, the risk of injustice multiplies, and families on all sides are forced to relive cycles of violence and trauma. Please consider making a contribution today so we can continue to fight against a system that continues to prove itself reckless, biased, and broken.
