P R E S S R E L E A S E
from
F L O R I D I A N S FOR A L T E R N A T I V E S
TO THE DEATH PENALTY (FADP.org)
4 March 2005
CONTACT: Abe Bonowitz: 561-371-5204
"SUICIDE BY GOVERNOR" GETTING MORE POPULAR
Governor Bush Signs Another Death Warrant
Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (FADP) calls on Governor
Jeb Bush to reverse himself and stop the state-assisted suicide of Raven
Raven (AKA Glen J. Ocha), now scheduled for execution at 6pm on Tuesday,
April 5, 2005 in revenge for his murder of Carol Skjerva.
"Suicide by governor is getting very popular in Florida," said FADP
Director Abe Bonowitz, noting that five of the last eight Florida
executions were of prisoners who waived their appeals and asked to be
killed. So far Governor Bush has executed 16 prisoners, seven of whom have
been volunteers.
"Once again Governor Bush is playing into the hands of a convicted murderer
who just wants to die. Why is it that the only way you can get an assisted
suicide in this state is if you murder someone and go to death row? We
hope and pray that one day he will adopt a consistently "pro-life" policy,"
said Bonowitz, in reference to the ongoing saga of Terri Schiavo and Bush's
anti-abortion positions.
If this execution goes forward, it will be the 60th execution in Florida
since 1979 and the 17th under Governor Jeb Bush. More information about
Florida executions is available at
http://www.fadp.org/Florida_executions.html (which will be updated with
this new execution date shortly).
Members of FADP and other organizations opposed to the death penalty will
protest the execution at Florida State Prison and at locations across the
state at the time of the killing. (See
http://www.fadp.org/localprotests.html for protest plans and locations,
which will be updated by March 20.)
********
FADP Director Abe Bonowitz is available for interviews at 800-973-6548
ON THE WEB: www.FADP.org
****
SENT BY:
Abraham J. Bonowitz
Director
Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (FADP)
800-973-6548 http://www.fadp.org <[email protected]>
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
