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Up date on TCADP upcoming actions

admin — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 13:53:04 +0000

Dear Friends,

The killing of Troy Davis in Georgia last night after 7 so-called eye witnesses recanted their testimony is further evidence that the U.S. death penalty “system” is terribly broken. Thank you to everyone who helped to bring attention to his case and signed petitions on his behalf.

We want to correct an error in the email earlier in the week concerning Manuel Valle who is scheduled to be killed in Florida at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, September 28th. Rosh Hashana begins at sundown on September 28 and we were told that Mr. Valle is Jewish. However, it turns out that Manuel Valle is, in fact, Catholic with a devoted Catholic family in Cuba. We apologize for the mistake, but it certainly doesn’t change the fact that his execution will occur on a day that is important and a high holiday for many.

Please join us at 3:45 p.m. on Wednesday, September 28th in front of Rick Scott’s mansion in Tallahassee. Join us again on Thursday at 12 noon at the Rotunda in the Capitol for a Service of Remembrance for Manuel Valle and victim, Louis Pena.

Thank you.

Sheila Meehan
TCADP

Manuel Valle’s petition -Broward Palm Beach New Times Blog

admin — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 15:30:01 +0000

South Florida- Manuel Valle’s petition asking for a stay of execution was denied today by the Florida Supreme Court.

His scheduled date with death remains September 28, 2011, at 4 p.m.

Valle’s lawyers filed the petition late last week, claiming a Florida law prevented Valle’s attorneys from representing him in a civil action related to a denied clemency hearing.

Faced with claims that the Florida law was unconstitutional, the Supreme Court ruled that the petition “points to no persuasive authority” that shows the section of the law violates the state constitution.

As you may remember, Valle, 61, has been given a date to die three times now since Gov. Rick Scott first signed a death warrant for Valle’s lethal injection to take place on August 2.

A federal court in Atlanta already put a stay on the execution — which was scheduled for September 6 — to listen to a claim about a possible clemency hearing, and that was denied, although Valle’s lawyers filed a petition on that ruling with the U.S. Supreme Court.

Before that, Valle was to be executed on August 2, but the Florida Supreme Court stayed his execution and remanded the case to Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Jacqueline Hogan Scola, who oversaw a hearing on the use of the state’s new lethal-injection drug, pentobarbital.

Valle, convicted of killing a Coral Gables cop in 1978, has been locked up at the Florida State Prison in Raiford since May 16, 1978, and on death row for just over 30 years now since being sentenced to death on August 4, 1981.

The last execution in Florida was on February 16, 2010, for Martin Grossman, who was convicted in 1984 at age 19 of killing a state wildlife officer, and each of the three inmates executed by the state before Valle spent more than 23 years on death row, according to South Florida cop killer Manuel Valle’s petition asking for a stay of execution was denied today by the Florida Supreme Court.

His scheduled date with death remains September 28, 2011, at 4 p.m.

Valle’s lawyers filed the petition late last week, claiming a Florida law prevented Valle’s attorneys from representing him in a civil action related to a denied clemency hearing.

As you may remember, Valle, 61, has been given a date to die three times now since Gov. Rick Scott first signed a death warrant for Valle’s lethal injection to take place on August 2.

Valle’s appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court is still pending.

Davis executed

admin — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 11:48:42 +0000

The New York Times sums it up.

Troy Davis Is Executed in Georgia for Murder of Police Officer

Troy Davis was put to death by lethal injection late Wednesday night at the state prison here, two decades after his conviction for the murder of a Savannah police officer.

The execution of Mr. Davis, 42, by lethal injection, came after the United States Supreme Court refused to step in, issuing a one-sentence decision four hours after the execution was scheduled to begin.
Mr. Davis’s lawyers had asked the court to examine what they said were “substantial constitutional errors” in the murder trial.

Please contact clemency board to try to prevent execution Tues.

admin — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 00:52:44 +0000

Subject: Please contact clemency board to try to prevent execution Tues.

Passing along these suggestions from the coalition of people trying to stop the planned execution of Martin Grossman Tues. Feb. 16.

Louise Ritchie
Chair, Tallahassee Citizens Against the Death Penalty.

“What I am doing with mine is to send a one-line e-mail to each of them with copies of that e-mail to all the other three (including clemencyweb) so that each time I send one, four travel together. I just change the sentence each time, very simple changes.

Best, blessed,
Michelle

On Sat, Feb 13, 2010 at 8:29 PM, Michael (Chaskel) Bennett wrote:

This is an Urgent request from the. “Commitee to save Martin”

Below are sample letters to send to Gov. Crist and the members of the Clemency board.
We have strength in numbers. Besides sending your own personal message we must overwhelm the officials with massive pressure. Please forward this call to action to your friends , family and contact list and ask them to do the same. We encourage you to send your messages to the members of the Clemency board as well.

This is an Urgent Action campaign on behalf of Martin Grossman who is scheduled to be executed in Florida on Feb. 16th this TUESDAY! What is important is how many people Gov. Crist and the members of the clemency board hear from that are opposed to Martin Grossman’s execution.

For more info about Martin and why he should not be executed: http://www.facebook.com/l/05cf5;www.wmnf.org/news_stories/activists-urge-crist-to-stay-grossman-execution

Right now, we are asking for a 60 Day Stay, so a Clemency Petition can be prepared.

Please either call or e-mail Gov. Crist plus the 3 other members of the Clemency Board ASAPand tell them that you areopposed to Martin Grossman’s execution and requestGov. Cristand the Clemency Board to grant Martin Grossmana 60 Day Stay.

If you prefer to call, here are the Clemency Board Members telephone numbers:
1) Atty. Gen. McCollum:
850-241-1885;
2) CFO, Alex Sink:
850-413-3100;
3) Agriculture Commissioner Charles Branson:
850-488-3022

(Gen.phone for Office of Exec. Clemency:
850-488-2952)

Also, if you want to spread the campaign by posting a link on web sites,blogs, through social media (Twitter, FB, etc.) the MARTIN GROSSMAN URGENT ACTIONE-MAIL/TELEPHONE CAMPAIGN is here:

http://www.facebook.com/l/05cf5;bit.ly/1aipX

Letters below to cut and paste:

NOTE: If you’re not from Florida, please only type your name & leave out your city and state on all letters. Florida residents – please put your city and state

SUBJECT LINE OF ALL 4 LETTERS: PLEASE GRANT MARTIN GROSSMAN 60 DAY STAY

1) Letter #1:

Dear

Gov. Crist,

My family and I respectfully request that you grant Martin Grossman a 60-Day Stay, in order for a Clemency Petition to be prepared.

You are a humanitarian and have been an excellent leader and have deftly handled difficult issues. We hope you do the right thing in Mr. Grossman’s case.

Respectfully yours,

Name:

City/State:

e-mail to:

charlie.crist@myflorida.comcc to:

ClemencyWeb@fpc.http://www.facebook.com/l/05cf5;state.fl.us

Please cut and paste send the following letters to the other 3 members of the FL Clemency Board.

Clemency Board Members in addition to Gov. Crist are:

Atty. Gen. Bill McColum; Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink and Commissioner of Agriculture, Charles Branson

SUBJECT LINE:
PLEASE GRANT MARTIN GROSSMAN 60 DAY STAY

2) Ltr. # 2, please cut and paste:

Dear Atty. General McCollum,

My family and I respectfully request that you grant Martin Grossman a 60-Day Stay, in order for a Clemency Petition to be prepared.

As Attorney General, we hope you will do the right thing in Mr. Grossman’s case.

Respectfully yours,

Name:

City/State

e-mail above letter to: info@BillMcCollum.comSend cc to:

ClemencyWeb@fpc.http://www.facebook.com/l/05cf5;state.fl.us

3) Letter #3: SUBJECT LINE:

PLEASE GRANT MARTIN GROSSMAN 60 DAY STAY

Please cut and paste:

alex.sink@myfloridacfo.com

Dear Officer Sink:

My family and I respectfully request that you grant Martin Grossman a 60-Day Stay, in order for a Clemency Petition to be prepared.

As Chief Financial Officer, we hope you will do the right thing in Mr. Grossman’s case.

Respectfully yours,

Name:

City/State

e-mail above letter to: cfo@dfs.http://www.facebook.com/l/05cf5;state.fl.us;send cc to:

ClemencyWeb@fpc.http://www.facebook.com/l/05cf5;state.fl.us

4) Letter 4: SUBJECT LINE: PLEASE GRANT MARTIN GROSSMAN 60 DAY STAY

Please cut and paste:

Dear Commissioner Branson,

My family and I respectfully request that you grant Martin Grossman a 60-Day Stay, in order for a Clemency Petition to be prepared.

As Agriculture Commissioner, we hope you will do the right thing in Mr. Grossman’s case.

Respectfully yours,

Name:

City/State

e-mail above letter to:
commissioner@doacs.http://www.facebook.com/l/05cf5;state.fl.ussend cc to:
ClemencyWeb@fpc.state.fl.u
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Stays of Execution – John Marek and David Johnston

admin — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 22:03:51 +0000

John Marek was scheduled to be killed on May 13, but before that date he was granted an indefinite stay of execution. Yesterday his attorney, Marty McClain argued at the Florida Supreme Court for a new Evidientiary Hearing (the hearing to present all the evidence in a lower court). Today, Mr. Marek’s request was granted and he will have a new hearing with a new judge.

David Johnston was scheduled to be killed next week on May 27th. Yesterday his attorney, Todd Doss, argued at the Florida Supreme Court that there is evidence in the case that should be DNA tested. Today, Mr. Johston’s request was granted and he will get DNA testing. However, the Court said that this must be completed within 90 days and then they will review his case again.

But for now — both executions have been “stayed.” Great news!

Sheila Meehan
Chair, TCADP
www.tcadp.net

May 21, 2009

The Price of the Death Penalty for Floridians

admin — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 20:44:08 +0000

Tuesday, April 14th, 7:30 p.m.
Westminster Room, First Presbyterian Church
112 Adams Street, Tallahassee

The 44 Florida executions from 1976 to 2000 cost an estimated average of $24 million each.
Florida is in an economic crisis. We must evaluate programs and policies for their costs and benefits.
Come learn information so you can decide whether the death penalty is worth its financial cost.

Hear from these experts

Prof. Sarah Bacon - FSU Dept. of Criminology
She co-authored, “An Empirical Analysis of Maryland’s Death Sentencing System with Respect to the Influence of Race and Legal Jurisdiction,” and wrote “Unfit to Live: The Death Penalty in America.”

Rex Dimmig – Assistant Public Defender
He is an Assistant Public Defender in the 10th Judicial Circuit and a member of the Public Defenders Association, which is asking Florida to reconsider the cost of the death penalty .

Sheila Hopkins – Florida Catholic Conference
She is a lobbyist for the Florida Catholic Conference, and will wrap up the program with information about plans for death penalty-related legislation in Florida.

Federal Death Penalty Abolition Act of 2009 and more …

admin — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 16:37:48 +0000

Russ Feingold Introduces Legislation to Abolish Federal Death Penalty

http://www.alternet.org/rights/132546

The Federal Death Penalty Abolition Act of 2009 comes just after New Mexico governor Bill Richardson banned capital punishment in his state.

The Death Penalty Photography Documentary Project comes to Tallahassee

admin — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 21:29:50 +0000

Dear Friends,

Scott Langley was scheduled to speak about his death penalty photo exhibit on Thursday evening at FSU’s Moore Auditorium at 7 p.m. Unfortunately, the FSU Amnesty International Chapter had some difficulties booking a flight for Mr. Langley and he will not be in Tallahassee. They plan to bring him to speak in the Fall. In the meantime, his exhibit will be shown on Thursday and Friday of this week and Monday through Wednesday of next week at 3 locations around town.

Thursday, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Union Courtyard in front of Moore Auditorium
Friday, 621 Gallery at Railroad Square
Monday through Wednesday – International Center’s Gallery on FSU Campus
We are sorry for the inconvenience and hope you will make plans to attend the exhibit.
The Ku Klux Klan rallying in support of a black man’s execution in Texas. The North Carolina death row warden wheeling a gurney into the execution chamber. Weeping family members at the moment of a loved one’s execution.

These are just a few of the images captured in Scott Langley’s chilling death penalty documentary photography project, which is the most comprehensive collection of original death penalty photographs on the internet.

The photographs include execution vigils, inside an execution chamber, the hours leading up to an execution, portraits of exonerated death row prisoners, celebrities opposed to the death penalty, marches, demonstrations and candid emotional and prayerful moments.

The Death Penalty Photography Documentary Project is an eight-year product of exploring capital punishment through the photographer’s lens. It was birthed from a college art project to creatively address a human rights issue, and started with a few photos from an execution vigil in Huntsville, Texas.

The original project has since grown into an internationally shown exhibit consisting of over 800 images – making it the largest, most varied known collection of photos about the death penalty in the United States’ modern era.

This work-in-progress highlights Scott Langley’s efforts as a photojournalist and a human rights activist – bringing together the unique combination of art, journalism and education into one powerful project. The exhibit has been exhibited by Amnesty International in Boston, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Raleigh, Germany, Denmark, at Harvard and Cornell Universities, and in print and video media across the world.
Artist’s Biography:

Scott Langley is a free-lance photojournalist based in Boston. From 1996-2000, Scott was a Texas press photographer in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. His documentary work has been widespread throughout the world in recent years – appearing in newspapers, magazines, books, encyclopedias, theater productions, calendars, films, on television, t-shirts and even in a European music video. In addition to work as a photographer, Scott has been an active grassroots organizer against the death penalty since 1999. In 2004, he and his wife co-founded the Raleigh Catholic Worker Hospitality House where families of North Carolina death row prisoners may find free shelter, food and support.

Since 2004 Scott has served as an Amnesty International USA State Death Penalty Coordinator, first in North Carolina and now in Massachuetts. He now works on an international level to end executions and to educate people about the death penalty, traveling within and outside the U.S. to speak about capital punishment, his work against executions, his work with death row families, and about his photography documentary project.
——————–)

We will send a notice out soon about the program sponsored by TCADP to be held on Tuesday evening, April 14th, “Can Florida Afford the Death Penalty?”

Thank you.

Sheila Meehan
Chair, TCADP

Public Defenders Association site added

admin — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 22:48:51 +0000

CAN FLORIDA AFFORD THE DEATH PENALTY?

Check out the Public Defenders Assoc. site and look for our Program on Tuesday, April 14th at 7:00 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church on Adams Street downtown. http://sensiblesolutionsforflorida.com/index.html

No apparent stay in Wayne Tompkins killing ….

admin — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 13:12:13 +0000

Dear Friends,

As of this evening there is no clear sign of a stay of execution for Wayne Tompkins who is scheduled to be killed at 6 p.m. tomorrow, Wednesday, February 11th. We will gather for a vigil at 5:45 p.m. on Wednesday in front of the Governor’s Mansion.

We will also meet at the Capitol Rotunda at noon on the following day, Thursday, for a Service of Remembrance for Wayne Tompkins and his alleged victim, Lisa DeCarr.

Please read the press release below which was issued today by the Innocence Project of Florida. Their statement discusses the inconclusive testing done in the Tompkins case and asks Governor Crist to issue a stay until further DNA testing can be done.

Thank you.

Sheila Meehan
Chair, TCADP