Thursday, March 23 at 6:00 pm a community forum that includes Former Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice James Perry will discuss “What’s going on with the death penalty, the Governor and the State Attorney?” Please attend this important community event. Rejoice in the Lord Ministries, 8053 Gilliam Road, Apopka, FL 32703. Please come out, bring your friends, meet others, and find out more. Christine Henderson of EJUSA and Mark Elliott of FADP will be there. For more information: Jasmine Burney 407-466-6468.
Timeline of recent Orlando events:
March 16: State Attorney Aramis Ayala announces she will not seek the death penalty in any cases in her jurisdiction. She is then subjected to a firestorm of criticism including inflammatory, irresponsible, and vicious comments from Gov. Scott, AG Pam Bondi, and an angry group of state officials for her decision. Scott then replaced her in an upcoming potential death penalty case. Read more here: “Rick Scott removes Orlando prosecutor over her refusal to seek death”
March 17: Equal Justice USA, assisted by FADP, organizes a press conference in support of the decision by Orlando State Attorney Aramis Ayala to no longer seek death sentences. Florida murder victim’s family members Marietta Jaeger Lane, Darlene Farah, and Stephanie Dixon – mother of Sade Dixon, Herman Lindsey – exonerated Florida Death Row survivor, along with more than 20 faith leaders, representatives of human rights, civil rights, and Latino justice organizations participated. Christine Henderson of EJUSA moderated and Mark Elliott and FADP members joined in the event. Read more here: “Church, civil rights leaders, slaying victims mothers rally for Aramis Ayala”.
March 20: An employee with the Seminole County Clerk of Court office is suspended after he posted on social media that Orange-Osceola State Attorney Aramis Ayala should be “tarred and feathered if not hung from a tree.” Read more here: “Seminole Courts employee suspended after saying Ayala should be ‘hung from a tree'”.
March 20: State Attorney Ayala files a motion in court indicating her intent to challenge Scott’s decision and disputing the governor’s authority to remove her simply because he disagrees with her valid exercise of prosecutorial discretion. “Agree with my politics or I’ll take away your power”
More actions and events in support of State Attorney Ayala’s decision are planned. Please stay tuned for more and visit the fadp.org website and Facebook Page.
Please share this message with others. Only with your help can the work be done and progress made.