We won’t sugarcoat it: the situation in Florida is dire.
Next week on Thursday, the State plans to execute Air Force Veteran Edward ‘Zak’ Zakrzewski. And unfortunately, last Friday Governor DeSantis signed a death warrant for Kayle Bates. He is set to die on August 19.
Part of my job as Communications Director is to monitor our emails and social media posts, and we have been hearing from many of you. You are heartbroken. You are angry. You are asking how this can keep happening. You are asking how we can stop it. You feel helpless.
We want you to know: we feel it too.
Governor DeSantis signed the tenth death warrant this year. Ten people. Ten premeditated murders. Ten people killed by a system that is unjust, outdated, and weaponized for political gain. Our governor is using state violence to score political points. And real people are dying. People with families. People who are more than the worst thing they have done. It is hard to process. It should be. It’s even harder to still fight against it, day after day, with so little mercy or humanity from those in power.
Some of you have written to say that petitions and protests feel futile. That the governor isn’t listening. That he doesn’t care. You are not wrong. But let’s be clear: DeSantis is not our only audience. And he won’t be our governor forever.
This fight was never about just changing his mind. This movement isn’t about just persuading him. It’s about building pressure, saving lives where we can, and showing that we will not be silent. We will not turn away. We must make it impossible for this violence to continue unnoticed, in silence. And the silence from him is deafening. He is not proudly touting his killing spree. He is wielding his power with his warrant-signing pen, not with his words. So we must keep up our words. Our vocal opposition.
It’s not just about signing a petition, ringing a bell, or lighting a candle at a vigil. It’s about making noise in your community, sharing unheard stories, and building pressure that eventually cannot be ignored, whether that’s by Governor DeSantis, or by Florida’s next governor.
Even now, we are not powerless. Every single voice raised matters. Every action taken matters. We have made a difference. We’ve changed the hearts and minds of legislators considering harmful legislation, we’ve drawn national attention to cases that would normally be ignored, and importantly, we have helped the families of those facing execution travel to Florida so they can spend meaningful time with their loved one in their final days.
We are a small team — just two full-time staff and a consultant — but we are backed by the thousands of you who know that killing people does not keep us safe. We need each other now more than ever.
If you are feeling helpless right now, please know this: you are not alone. You are part of something. And one day, we will see the end of Florida’s death penalty. And it will be because of you. If you are angry, channel it. If you are sad, let that be your fuel. But don’t look away.
Here is what you can do right now to help:
- Sign this petition urging Governor DeSantis and the Florida Board of Executive Clemency to stop Zak’s execution. Then, send Governor DeSantis a message telling him to stop his killing spree.
- After taking action for Zak, please sign this petition for Kayle Bates. We will have more information about his case in the coming days.
- Write to your legislators. Let them know this is not justice and it is not keeping Florida any safer.
- Show up at a vigil or organize one in your own community. We will help you.
- Use your platform. Share the stories of those on death row, the ones facing execution, and the ones we’ve already lost. Push back on the false narratives.
- Have an idea? Want to do more? Email us. You are what makes our organization strong.
Governor DeSantis may sleep just fine at night. But we don’t. And we will not let this state-sponsored violence continue unchecked.
With grief and strength,
Bridget Maloney
FADP Communications Director
P.S. The more you all give, the more we are able to accomplish. If you are able, please consider a donation to our organization today so we can continue this incredibly important work.