One week from today, the State of Florida intends to execute Melvin Trotter for the 1986 murder of Virgie Langford.
Today, the Florida Supreme Court denied Melvin’s claims, ignoring evidence that the Florida Department of Corrections had used expired drugs, incorrect dosages, and drugs not in the protocol at all during several executions last year. The Court dismissed these claims, that have notably not been refuted by the State in over 83 days, as “speculative.” The serious claims still have not been meaningfully addressed even though the State is continuing to execute people on average every 8 days (4 executions in 32 days). Melvin’s next and final legal avenue is at the U.S. Supreme Court.
Melvin is a Black man scheduled to be executed for the murder of a white woman in a state where racial disparity in capital punishment is well documented. His execution comes at the end of Black History Month, a time to honor resilience, brilliance, and the generations who fought to dismantle systems built on racial hierarchy. It is also a time to confront the systems that remain. Black Floridians make up roughly 17% of the state’s population, yet they account for approximately 35% of those on Florida’s death row and 25% of the death warrants signed by Governor DeSantis.
Gov. DeSantis has the sole authority to stop this execution. Just as he can sign a death warrant with his pen, he can issue a stay with one. Take action for Melvin now:
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Sign the petition
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Send a letter to Gov. DeSantis
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Join us at one of our vigils in-person or online
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Learn more about Melvin and his case
A Former Justice Speaks
Billy Kearse, another Black man sentenced to death for killing a white victim, is scheduled to be executed on March 3. Nothing can diminish the gravity of the 1991 murder of Fort Pierce Police Sgt. Danny Parrish or the loss suffered by his loved ones and community. Still, we must acknowledge the broader reality that young Black men are disproportionately stopped, searched, arrested, and subjected to force in police encounters across the United States.
Today, former Florida Supreme Court Justice Barbara Pariente publicly reaffirmed what she wrote more than twenty years ago: Billy Kearse should not be executed. In a powerful new op-ed, she and attorney Melanie Kalmanson of Tracking Florida’s Death Penalty explain that Billy’s death sentence was affirmed by a narrow 4-3 vote and that, even then, Justice Pariente believed it was neither appropriate nor proportionate. She calls Florida’s 30-day warrant process a “fire drill” — rushed, chaotic, and incompatible with the heightened reliability the Constitution requires.
Billy’s case is currently at the Florida Supreme Court. We will have updates on his legal claims soon, but in the meantime, please:
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Sign the petition
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Send a letter to Gov. DeSantis
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Take action with Amnesty International
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Learn more about Billy and his case
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Read the op-ed: I stand by my judicial opinion Kearse should not be executed
Michael King’s Warrant Signed
Finally, Gov. DeSantis has signed a warrant for Michael King and scheduled his execution for March 17. Michael was sentenced to death for the 2008 murder of Denise Amber Lee, a tragic crime that brought about change to Florida’s 911 emergency response system. We’ll have more to say about Michael’s case soon. In the meantime, please know this — the death penalty does not make anyone safer.
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Sign the petition
Onward,
The FADP Team
P.S. – Our state and national partners are holding a variety of incredible virtual events in the next few weeks. Check out the image to the right and register today!