Last night, We the People of the State of Florida executed Bryan Frederick Jennings for the 1979 murder of Rebecca Kunash. Bryan Jennings was the state’s 16th individual executed this year, the sixth veteran executed this year, and the second person executed without state postconviction counsel at the time the warrant was signed — in violation of Florida’s own laws. Moreover, as we shared in our statement, Bryan’s execution was nothing more than a convenient political subplot. Gov. DeSantis chose to sign Bryan’s death warrant on the heels of a social media firestorm regarding a completely separate case out of Kentucky, ignoring the fact that he had not undergone a clemency interview since 1988.
As I stood in the field across from Florida State Prison last night, sharing space with others who had gathered to honor the lives of both Rebecca and Bryan, I was struck by the profound nature of not only what the state does when it carries out an execution, but by what we do when we show up and refuse to look away. We prayerfully remembered Rebecca and acknowledged the horrific crime that ended her life. I shared words from Bryan’s partner about the personal journey he undertook during his nearly 50 years on death row. We sang. We sat in silence. We refused to let the legacies of either Rebecca or Bryan to be reduced to an opportunity to score political points. It’s moments like these that I know we are on the right side of history, no matter how bleak this year has felt.
Less Than 1 Week for Richard “Malik” Randolph
Next Thursday (November 20), Florida plans to execute Richard Randolph (Malik Abdul-Sajjad) for the 1988 murder of Minnie Ruth McCollum. Yesterday, the Florida Supreme Court denied his claims. The U.S. Supreme Court is his next legal avenue. Please continue to take action for Malik — sign his petition and send a message to Governor DeSantis — because silence is exactly what this administration is counting on. We refuse to give them that. Power is built through repetition, resistance, and refusing to do what they expect of us: nothing.
As we did last night, we will gather at Florida State Prison at 5 p.m. next Thursday if the execution proceeds.
Mark Geralds’ Waiver Doesn’t End Our Responsibility to Act
Florida is scheduled to execute Mark Geralds on December 9. Earlier this week, Mr. Geralds waived all of his remaining appeals, leaving him with no active legal avenues and no review of the serious constitutional issues that plague his case. While inmates who waive all final appeals are often described as “volunteers” for execution, these are not always simple cases of autonomous choice. James Barnes, executed in 2023, represented himself, pled guilty, refused mitigation, and asked for death. His choice was rooted in the belief that his life held no value. Norman Grim, executed just two weeks ago on October 28, waived his final appeals after years without state-appointed counsel and decades of trauma that eroded any remaining sense of worth.
In each case, the State of Florida did not pause to ask why the person standing before them would willingly walk to their death. Instead, the state embraced the path of least resistance. Mr. Geralds’ waiver must be understood in this same context. The fact that Florida is executing more people than any other state this year underscores that the state is inviting, relying on, and exploiting expediency. For that, we ask you to continue taking action for Mark and demonstrating that state-sanctioned murder is not suddenly appropriate just because the person has run out of will to fight.
Executions are moving forward without meaningful appellate review, without adequate counsel, and without any assurance that constitutional protections still mean what they are supposed to mean. That should terrify every Floridian, and every American.
Onward,
Grace
P.S. – Many of you have asked about purchasing the FADP shirts you’ve seen at vigils. Check out our store here to show your support for ending Florida’s death penalty.