“…Florida’s Gutter of Shame.”

The American Bar Association selected nine states, including Florida, for close examination to determine whether those convicted of capital crimes are receiving fair representation, whether our system really works. The Assessment Team have just completed their assessment of Florida, and the report was released in September. They found serious flaw and made a number of significant recommendations.

TCADP and the Tallahassee branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People will co-sponsor a public forum, “The Death Penalty as Public Policy: Florida’s ‘Gutter of Shame.’” The panel will include, among others, representatives from the NAACP and the American Civil Liberties Union, a member of the Florida Assessment Team of the American Bar Association, and an attorney who represents many clients on Florida’s death row.

The public forum will take place Monday, November 20, 7:00 p.m., at the Community of Faith Church, 1533 South Monroe Street.

With this forum we hope to raise public awareness of the serious flaws in Florida’s administration of the death penalty. The time is right, both because of the recent release of the ABA Assessment, and because this year marks the 30th anniversary of the reinstatement of the death penalty.

I will be sending more information, but this is enough information for the moment. Plan now to come and bring your friends–especially those who need to hear the message.