Michael “Mike” B. Bell is scheduled to be executed on July 15 at 6 pm for the 1993 murders of Jimmy West and Tamecka Smith. He has been on death row since 1995.
Mike is scheduled to be executed despite never receiving a full federal review of his conviction and death sentence. His case raises serious concerns about racial bias, inadequate legal representation, and due process.
Mike was just 23 years old and grieving the death of his brother when the crime occurred. At trial, the prosecution repeatedly used racially charged language, describing Michael as someone who lived by “the law of the jungle.” Shockingly, his own lawyer agreed—telling the mostly white jury that Michael “lived in a different world than ours.” These dehumanizing remarks were never challenged.
Mike sought federal review, but because of delays in getting him a lawyer, the court said he was too late. Now, the State of Florida is poised to execute its third person this year whose case has never been fully reviewed in federal court.
We cannot allow this execution to proceed without accountability. The Governor of Florida has the sole authority to stop this. Urge him to grant clemency for Michael Bell and prevent a grave injustice.