FLORIDIANS FOR ALTERNATIVES TO THE
DEATH PENALTY
PRESS RELEASE
3 January 2002 For immediate release
CONTACT: Abraham J. Bonowitz
800-973-6548
24th FLORIDA DEATH ROW EXONERATION
DEMANDS AN IMMEDIATE "TIME-OUT" ON EXECUTIONS!
Floridians to walk to Tallahassee to ask Governor to
halt upcoming executions.
Floridians for Alternatives to the Death
Penalty (FADP) welcomes Juan Roberto Melendez Colon to
the free world. After 17 years on Florida's death row,
today Melendez became the ***24th*** prisoner to be
exonerated and released from a death sentence in Florida
since 1972. For details and background, please visit
<http://www.FADP.org>.
With the release of Florida death row
inmate Juan Melendez, Floridians for Alternatives to the
Death Penalty (FADP) demands an immediate halt to all
executions in Florida, including the three scheduled for
later this month and early in February. Amos King is
scheduled to be executed on January 24, 2002 for his
alleged murder of Natalie Brady. Mr. King has always
maintained his innocence. FADP is concerned about King's
assertion that important evidence was never properly
developed or brought to light during his trial, and
since his conviction specific pieces of evidence have
been destroyed, dashing any possibility of DNA testing.
Further, Mr. King has been seeking to have a new
appellate attorney appointed, or in the absence of a new
attorney, a paralegal, to assist him in pursuing his
legal claims. Please find details on this and the other
two cases at <http://www.FADP.org>.
ALSO, FADP re-emphasizes its call on
Florida Governor Jeb Bush to declare an immediate
moratorium on executions.
"Florida leads the nation in the
number of innocent people released from our death
row," said Abe Bonowitz, director of the statewide
group. "Illinois Governor George Ryan, a staunch
Republican who still supports the death penalty,
declared a total halt to executions in Illinois after
that state released it's 13th wrongly convicted prisoner
so that the system can be thoroughly examined, mistakes
found and corrected, and flaws eliminated. We in Florida
have now released 24. The time for a moratorium and an
independent and thorough study is well past due."
ALSO, beginning on Martin Luther King
Day (1/21/02), Floridians from throughout the state will
"Walk for a 'Time-Out on Executions!'" from
death row in Raiford to the Office of the Governor in
Tallahassee to deliver thousands of petitions calling
for a moratorium on executions in Florida. Details on
all this, and more, are available at <http://www.FADP.org>
or by calling 800-973-6548.
SENT BY:
Abraham J. Bonowitz, Director
Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (FADP)
800-973-6548 http://www.fadp.org
<fadp@fadp.org>
PMB 335, 2603 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Hwy, Gainesville, FL 32609
Floridians for Alternatives to the
Death Penalty works for restorative justice in the form
of effective alternatives to the death penalty. It does
so by
# supporting and coordinating the
work of organizations and individuals
# educating and energizing the general public and state
legislators
# supporting the many persons affected by capital crime
and punishment
# advocating specific legislative improvements
