Last night, the State of Florida killed its sixth citizen this year. Anthony Wainwright, a beloved husband and friend, was executed at Florida State Prison.
At our vigil across from FSP last night, so many people came up to me and said things like, I can’t believe we have done this so many times, it’s so exhausting, how can we keep going, will it ever end? I get it. It’s relentless. But here is the hope that I’m holding on to today: I believe that we are starting to make a tiny bend in the moral arc of the universe towards justice.
Over this weekend, FADP participated in several events, bringing attention to the staggering pace of executions in Florida. I was invited to give the Sunday Sermon at Allendale United Methodist Church. You can watch it here, 43 minutes in. Anthony’s spiritual advisor, Rev. Dr. Jeff Hood, held a town hall in Jacksonville with Deacon Corky, who witnessed the execution of Jeffrey Hutchinson. On Monday, we hand-delivered thousands of petition signatures to the Governor’s office and hosted an event in the heart of Tallahassee.
You all felt the urgency we explained over the last 30 days, culminating in this weekends’ events. And you showed up in impressive numbers. Last night, so many of you stood with us—outside the prison, at vigils around the state, and online, in some cases doubling the attendance of previous executions. You are telling the State that you are refusing to look away. That you are committed to telling the truth. This is how we start to bend the arc.
Let’s keep this momentum going. Please take a moment to read this statement we released yesterday after the execution, as well as Anthony’s last words, shared by Rev. Dr. Jeff Hood who accompanied Anthony through his final moments.
There is no time to rest. In 13 days, the State is prepared to kill Tommy Gudinas. Keep up the pressure. Show up. Speak out. Please donate if you can. Let us use the heartbreak of these executions to fuel our resolve and commit to telling the truth about Florida’s broken death penalty.
Yours in grief, rage, and strength.
Onward,
Maria DeLiberato
