Requests from us to you In times when peace, respect of others and their religion is necessary and an essential part of a working and functioning community, we find it desirable to know and learn about other religions besides Christianity. Therefore, we kindly ask those of you who are interested in exposing this, to let us know about your religious preference. The reason for our inquiry is not curiosity but simply the desire to be able to respect and honor your religious preference appropriately. Please send your information to the known FDRAG address in Starke. Also on another note, please let us know whether your race is indicated correctly on your ID Cards as there have been problems regarding this issue in the past which need to be solved. And last but not least, those of you who would like to receive the FDRAG Newsletter regularly, please send a short note to the FDRAG address providing your name, DC number and location, so we can make sure that everybody receives a Newsletter. (Andrea) Many Thanks to Andrea for all her hard work on this newletter. Hannah To Index

---

JUAN MELENDEZ HAS NOT FORGOTTEN YOU Since his release from death row on January 3, 2002, Puerto Rican Johnny has been working closely with Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (FADP) to educate the public about why the death penalty should be abolished. In his presentations to community groups, students, and the media, he always talks about how he was very happy to be freed, but also sad, because he "left good people back there." Johnny talks about the humanity of the people on death row, and the kindness he received from other prisoners - especially those who helped him learn to speak better English, and to read and write.

click on photo to enlarge

Johnny talks about the despair, and about hope, and asks people to consider the humanity even of the people convicted of murdering children, and serial killers. Johnny has made it his life's mission to work to abolish the death penalty. He has not forgotten you. That said, he is definitely enjoying his freedom. He is always seeking authentic "soul food." In this picture, he's just starting in on a plate of ox tails at "The People's Barbeque" in Miami at the end of his most recent tour across Florida with FADP director Abe Bonowitz. (Abe Bonowitz)

To Index

Legislature: Senate panel approves bill to ban execution of teens Florida's death penalty would be reserved for adult offenders under legislation approved by a Senate panel Tuesday. The Criminal Justice Committee voted 7-1 for a bill to make offenders who committed a homocide before their 18th birthday ineligible for capital punishment. Teen homocide offenders could be sentenced only to life in prison without parole, which is currently the only sentencing alternative in all first-degree murder cases. The bill (SB 1070) would not apply to the four men now on Florida's death row for murders they committed when they were 17. The full Senate passed legislation the last two years but the House did not. There's no companion House bill this year. The Senate bill stems from a proposal voters approved last November putting capital punishment in the Florida Constitution. The death penalty ballot measure also changed the prohibition in the state constitution against "cruel or unusual" punishments to "cruel and unusual," which is the language in the Eighth Amendment of the federal Constitution. The ballot measure also required the Florida Supreme Court to follow the lead of the U.S. Supreme Court in interpreting the provision. Critics pointed to that change and warned it would open the door to executions of more teens in Florida because of different rulings from the state Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court. In 1999, Florida's high court ruled that the state constitution banned the execution of murderers who were younger than 17 when they committed the crime. That is a higher standard than was set a decade earlier by the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled in a Kentucky case that the Eighth Amendment ban on "cruel and unusual" punishments did not ban the execution of offenders who are 16 or 17. But state lawmakers who put the death penalty amendment on the 2002 ballot said they didn't intend to open the door for teen executions and said they would change state law to prevent that consequence. Sen. Victor Crist, the Tampa Republican who sponsored the bill, said he filed the legislation in an effort to honor that earlier commitment. (Source: Associated Press) To Index

Rally in Tally On March 10, 2003 approximately 35-40 members of various prison-related organizations all across the state, took part in the "Rally in Tally" to promote National Prison Reform Day, and to get the word out about prison conditions in the state of Florida. The Rally was sponsored in part by Prison Inmate Advocates. Featured at the rally were approximately 10 booths, prominently displayed inside the Capital Building directly in front of Jeb's office. One booth contained a display of three of the worst meals served by Aramark, as well as a hand-made "Loaf", which was available to be sampled. On the table was an average breakfast of 2 slices of French toast, oatmeal, one shriveled orange, coffee, sugar, and 1/2 pint of milk. Lunch featured 1 slice of bologna on bread, 1 peanut butter sandwich, one 4" cookie, one small beverage.     click on photo to enlarge Dinner was chilli, 1/2 cup of rice, mixed vegetables, 2x2 slice of cake, and a small beverage. It was also pointed out to interested parties that unless supplemented with money from home to purchase additional food items, this is all the men were given to eat on a daily basis. FDRAG member Bea Hickey not only spoke to passers by on the poor quality of food served, but also on inmate abuse, and the death penalty. Cheryl Woods also spoke to the crowd on the death penalty, and photos of exonerated former death row inmates Juan Melendez and Rudolf Holton were displayed. Also displayed were photos of our fallen loved ones Amos King and Frank Smith, as well as Paul Hildwin, whose recent negative DNA testing points to another hopeful exoneration to come. State legislators as well as citizens passing by heard the comments being made about conditions inside of the prisons and on death row. Many paused to ask questions and to request additional information, and all viewed the food table and displayed photos. Those brave enough to taste the "Loaf" quickly disposed of their samples. After leaving the Rally, Bea and Janice Smith made their way to the office of James Crosby, who made time in his schedule to listen to their concerns of conditions within the prison system. The ladies visited Crosby wearing the same "Making the Walls Transparent" T-Shirts that they wore at the Rally. They explained what the slogan meant, and explained that they were trying to make people on the outside of the "walls" aware of what is going on behind the "walls."    click on photo to enlarge Some of the concerns discussed with Crosby were: abuse within the prison system-verbal, physical, the use of pepper spray, medical neglect, bogus DR's, drugs brought in by guards, the proposed ban on pen pal ads on the internet, and the horrible food served by Aramark. Chief of Staff Mike Hanna was present and he took notes at Crosby's direction. The "Loaf" was also brought to the meeting with Crosby, and he and his staff were offered samples, which were politely declined. Although assured it would not kill them, it was promised that eating the "Loaf" would guarantee them the worst gas and stomach cramps ever! Those who participated in the day found it to be a wonderful opportunity to educate both legislators and the general public as to conditions endured "behind the walls," sometimes speaking to crowds of upwards 100 listeners at a time. Thanks to all involved who used this day to meet, network with one another, and educate the people of Florida. (Dianne) To Index

Britta’s Poetry Corner Hello friends, a lot of you are great writers with a wonderful style to express your very own feelings. Most of us are not good at this, but we love poetry so we talked about a column in our Newsletter for this. Feel free to send your thoughts to us. For this first time we are publishing a poem, hoping it will inspire and motivate you to share your work with us in the upcoming Newsletters. Compensation (Abolition) by Erick Fried To be able to breathe out ones unhappiness to breathe out deeply so that one can breathe again And perhaps being able to speak out ones unhappiness in words in real words which are connected together and make sense and which oneself still can understand and which perhaps even somebody else understands or could understand And to be able to cry This again nearly would be happiness To Index Joachim’s Art Corner    Beata Beatrix Painting by Dante Gabriel Rossetti Dante Gabriel Rossetti (1828-1882) was the son of an Italian refugee.He was a co-founder of the so called "Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood", a group of young artists, which influenced the symbolism and the victorian arts for a long time. Most themes of the Pre-Raphaelites are depending on religion, mythology and literature. " Beata Beatrix" too. The scene belongs to Dante Alighieri´s "Vita Nuova". The woman shown on this painting is D.G. Rossetti´s wife Elisabeth Siddal, who committed suicide in 1862, 2 years before Rossetti started painting "Beata Beatrix" which was finished in 1870). With this painting Rossetti creates the myth of his immortal love to Elisabeth Siddal, eventhough in reality he had an ongoing and long-term affair with Jane Morris, the wife of William Morris, another co-founder of the PRB (we will meet Jane Morris in the next newsletter). To Index Death Penalty Exhibition in Germany / Prisoners Art Work and Poetry Are you a poet or an artist? Would you like to get the chance to show your beautiful works ? A member of FDRAG – Britta – is organizing an exhibition in Hamburg, Germany in October in one of the biggest churches. Theme of this exhibition is the Death Penalty. Works from Britta´s friend Peter Misfeldt about the people executed in Texas in 2000 are shown as well as work from different support-groups. It is also planned to show art work and poetry by Death Row Prisoners. If you are interested in showing and introducing your art work or poetry at this exhibition, please contact Britta Slopianka, Heidekoppel 4, 24558 Henstedt-Ulzburg, Germany (Email: halfdome@web.de) Earth Day 2003 Hey all, we received the following invitation from some of our friends. Pease let us know if you would like to contribute. It can be artwork that is already on the outside with your loved ones, in case you don't feel like sending your originals to us. We will not be able to get it back to you, so all we can do is send in on to whoever you would like for us to send it too, If you decide to send us some regardless. If not, then maybe we can get in touch with your family and borrow some for the occasion? Invitaion -World Harmony Project, Inc. invites FDRAG members to have a table at Earth Day 2003 International Festival on Gainesville Downtown Plaza, Saturday April 19 from 11am all day. You can bring inmate art and information on the death penalty and gather intere To Index Hannah & Lynne’s Spiritual Corner We are going to try this for a while. Have some guest writers in this corner to give a message that will hopefully be encouraging to some, and hopefully not offending to others. We have contacted different faith groups and asked for a contribution, but so far we only heard back from Christians and Buddhists. We are hoping to be able to mix or change in between various faiths so that all groups will be represented. If any of you know of Muslims, Jewish, Messianic Jewish, etc, who might want to write some for this page, please let us know. Also, do not hesitate to comment on this month writer, or even respond to their message. They will answer you. LET NOT YOUR HEART BE TROUBLED John 14:1 says, “Let not your heart be troubled.” The first time I read that passage I didn’t think that was possible, but now it has become one of my favorite and most used verses in the Bible. Proverbs 4:23 says, “for out of it (the heart) come the issues of life. If our heart is troubled, our life is troubled. Now that you know why there is so much trouble in your life, what can you do about it? Glad you asked! John 14:27 tells us, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” You need, I need, we all need peace in our hearts instead of trouble and fear. Phil. 4:6-9 tells us how to keep our heart from being troubled. It says, “Be careful (full of care or anxious) for nothing (no thing), BUT (this is your part) in every thing by prayer and supplication (your words to God) with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God AND (God’s part) the peace of God, which passes all understanding (our human mind can’t figure out how this works) shall keep (mount guard, protect) your hearts and minds (this is where it all started, we have to start thinking about what we are thinking about) through Christ (the Anointed One) Jesus. Vs. 8 says, whatever things are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, if there be any virtue and any praise, THINK on THESE THINGS, vs. 9(b) AND the God of peace shall be with you. In a nutshell, your heart, your mind and your mouth were designed by God to work together. What is in your mind goes into your heart and comes out your mouth. Whatever is “troubling” you, anything (whatever has been on your mind), tell it to God and ask Him to take care of the trouble – this is prayer and supplication. Thank Him for taking care of this for you – this is being thankful. Now, (and this is the hard part because we have had plenty of practice grueling over our problems) DO NOT think about it any more and don’t keep talking about it. Of course it will “pop up” in your mind again, but just say, “No, I’ve given this care to God. Now think about good things, honest things, pray for those involved, pray for truth (not the way you see it necessarily but THE TRUTH as God sees it). I promise you that if you practice this, your life will begin to turn around. You are the only one in the world that can “take out” and “put in” thoughts in your mind. Now that you know that all of your trouble begins and ends with thoughts, YOU CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT YOUR TROUBLE. God bless you with His richest blessings! I love you! Hope to hear of some trouble being turned into TRIUMPH! Yours in Christ, Barbara Walter, Pastor Ass. To Index GOOD MORNING!! THIS IS GOD I will be handling all of your problems today! I will not need your help. So RELAX! And have a GREAT DAY! I love you! (No matter by which Name.. you call Me.) My direction is to provide a short commentary in a Zen framework that will incite further thought while offering a new riddle each month.. I will choose two or three answers to share with the group and maybe offer some commentary on their answers. Please send answers to the address below or to FDRAG. Yours in the Dharma KC Gateless Gate Zen Center 20 West University Ave. (Ste 301G) Gainesville, Florida 32601 The Human Route Coming empty-handed, going empty-handed -- that is human. When you are born, where do you come from? When you die, where do you go? Life is like a floating cloud which appears. Death is like a floating cloud which disappears. The floating cloud itself originally does not exist. Life and death, coming and going, are also like that. But there is one thing which always remains clear. It is pure and clear, not depending on life and death. Then what is the one pure and clear thing? Question 1: When you are born, where do you come from? Question 2: When you die, where do you go? Question 3: Then what is the one pure and clear? Commentary: A dog understands a dog's job, and a cat understands a cat's job. Human beings appear-what are they to do? They want fame, money, food, sex, and sleep. After that, then what? But one thing is clear. It swallows everything-the sun, the moon, the stars, the mountains, water-everything. If you find that, you attain "you," and freedom from life and death. Then go drink tea. ************************* To Index Fun Stuff PART I of: You're Probably a Redneck if... by Jeff Foxworthy More than one living relative is named after a southern civil war general. Your front porch collapses and more than six dogs are killed. You ever used lard in bed. Your home has more miles on it than your car. You think that potted meat on a saltine is an hors d'oeurve. There is a stuffed possum anywhere in your house. You consider a six-pack and a bug-zapper high-quality entertainment. Fewer than half of your cars run. Your mother doesn't remove the Marlboro from her lips before telling the State Trooper to kiss her ass. The primary color of your car is "bondo." You honestly think that women are turned on by animal noises and seductive tongue gestures. You stand under the mistletoe at christmas and wait for Granny and cousin Sue-Ellen to walk by. Your family tree doesn't fork. Your hairdo has ever been ruined by a ceiling fan. Your mother has been involved in a fistfight at a high school sports event. You've ever barbecued Spam on the grill. The best way to keep things cold is to leave'em in the shade. The neighbors started a petition over your Christmas lights. Your brother-in-law is your uncle. You have refused to watch the Academy Awards since "Smokey and the Bandit" was snubbed for best picture. Your only condiment on the dining room table is the economy size bottle of ketchup. The rear tires on your car are at least twice as wide as the front ones. You consider "Outdoor Life" deep reading. You prominently display a gift you bought at Graceland. You use the term 'over yonder' more than once a month. ....to be continued in the next edition To Index Caroline’s List of FDRAG Services, Information and Resources Legal Magazines/Newsletters As some of you may be aware, the Florida Prisoners’ Legal Aid Organization publishes a small, bi-monthly magazine called Florida Legal Perspective. The cost is approximately $9 for a one year subscription. Copies may be obtained from: Florida Prison Legal Perspectives, P.O. Box 660-387, Chuluota Florida 32766 (A public division of Florida Prisoners' Legal Aid Org,. inc), fax (407)- 568-0200, email: fplp@aol.com Website: http://www.fplao.org Legal In USA Newsletter A small team of British women currently put together a monthly publication called Legal In USA. This is a free newsletter that is now circulated in over 48 States and contains articles on justice, legal rulings and the abolition of the death penalty. At the moment, all their distribution is carried out by a network of volunteers. Copies of the newsletter can be obtained in several ways: If you have a friend or relative with an e-mail address, arrangements can be made to send that family member/friend copies of the Newsletter via e-mail as each edition is published. To set this up you can either write to: Carol Warburton, Legal In USA, 112 Lightbounds Road, Johnson Fold, Bolton, Lancashire, ENGLAND and provide her with your family/friend’s e-mail address or alternatively you can ask your family member/friend to contact Carol Warburton at the following e-mail address requesting they are added to the Newsletter e-mailing list. Carol’s e-mail address is Justice4u4001@aol.com When your family member/friend contacts Carol, please ensure that they give her your name, DOC number and full postal address. This information for the purposes of knowing who is receiving the Newsletter and which prisons the Newsletter is being sent into. As the Legal In USA team are a voluntary group, this assists them in avoiding any unnecessary duplication and costs when working on increasing circulation of the Newsletter. If you wish to receive a copy of the Newsletter, but you do not know anyone with access to the internet/e-mail address, we can add you to our waiting list. If you wish to be added to our waiting list, please write to: Lynn Harrison, Legal In USA, 54 James Street, Bury, BL9 7EG Lancashire, ENGLAND. Please note we are unable to advise you as to how long you will be on the waiting list, before we are able to find a volunteer to send the Newsletter into you. Several FDRAG members already regularly receive the Legal In USA newsletter. We have a team of volunteers within our group who can mail a copy directly to you each month. To arrange this, please write to our FDRAG Box number at the bottom of this page and we will set up delivery for you as soon as possible. When writing in, please include your cell location – this is solely for the purpose of distribution being aware of the even circulation of the newsletter. DOC Rule Proposals Copies of proposed rules by the Florida DOC can also be obtained free of charge, upon request. Simply write to the Office of General Counsel below, and provide your name and address. Department of corrections, Office of General Counsel, 2601 Blair Stone Road., Tallahassee Fl. 32399- 2500 New Information Package Some of our FDRAG members have been quietly working away over the past couple of weeks to put together an information package which we hope will be a great help to those inmates new to death row, family members or in fact for anyone who’d like to inform new pen-pals of things they need to know. Topics covered in the pack include Welcome with contacts, unwritten rules about visiting, copy of visitation form, copy of visitation rules, direction to the facility & lodging info, how to send money to your loved one + more, rules about books and magazines etc., Mail rules, Innocence projects, Appeal process, usefull links and much more. You can get a copy of the pack by writing to our FDRAG box number or providing us with a friend/relative’s address so we can send the pack directly to them. We’d really appreciate it wherever possible, if you would please enclose postage wherever possible. This will enable the group to keep our costs down. For convenience and easy shipping, two of our members have also put the info package onto floppy disk and CD-Rom which can be obtained free of charge (although donations of stamps are always welcome) and sent directly to family members. Simply send your request details to either: Lynne Baldwin (for disk version) or Jolanda Arends (CD Rom version), c/o FDRAG, 137 N Walnut St Box 10, Starke, FL 32091. Other Bits and Pieces In last month’s edition of the newsletter we printed a list of projects across the US that supply books free of charge to inmates. Due to space limitation within the newsletter it won’t be possible to reprint those address details each edition. However, if you are interested in applying to these projects, FDRAG has produced a print-off sheet with the contact details for you to refer to. You can obtain a copy by writing to us at the FDRAG address at the bottom of the page. Please enclose a SAE or postage for reply if possible. To Index The Bottom Line OUR LOVE AND THOUGHTS ARE WITH YOU ALL. Please send letters with thoughts, comment, suggestions or anything else you wish to share with us to Florida Death Row Advocacy Group 2003 (FDRAG-2003), 137 N Walnut Street. Box 10, Starke, Florida 32091. This group is created by families and friends of death row inmates in Florida. It is a given that this group is against Capital punishment. It is however, not the purpose for this group to do anti- death penalty work-, instead this group concentrates on making the living conditions for death row inmates tolerable. We also commit to work on making changes that will improve the quality of living in that particular environment called Death Row, and to help keeping the standard that already exists. Everyone who is willing to work for basic human rights is welcome. If you are looking for a group who does anti death penalty work, we suggest you join one of the excellent groups already up and running. For further information please contact a member near you: To Index

FDRAG & MEMBERSHIP This group is created by families and friends of death row inmates in Florida. It is a given that this group is against Capital punishment. It is however, not the purpose for this group to do anti-death penalty work, instead this group concentrates on making the living conditions for death row inmates tolerable. We also commit to work on making changes that will improve the quality of living in that particular environment called Death Row, and to help keeping the standard that already exists. Everyone who is willing to work for basic human rights is welcome. If you are looking for a group who does anti-death penalty work, we suggest you join one of the excellent groups already up and running. For further information please contact a member near you: USA Hannah Floyd, (Can be contacted for info on newsletter, membership, visiting, places to stay, transport etc.) 137 N Walnut St, #14 Starke, FL 32091 E-mail: Hannahfloyd@yahoo.com Tel: 904-964-4303 or 904 964 7303 Janice Figueroa 1120 Wild Oak Terrace Deland, FL. 32720 E-mail: Tfigu@aol.com Tel: 386-738-3968 Karin Elsea, (Contact person for the DC/Maryland area) 1400 East West Highway, #710 Silver Spring, MD 20910 E-mail: Karinelsea@hotmail.com Tel: 301-565-3246 Dianne Abshire 9673 State Rt 65 Ottawa, OH 45875 E-mail: afua@woh.rr.com Tel: 419-523-5816 (Can also be contacted re: legal matters for the attention of Florida Support Group) The Netherlands Jolanda Arends, Treilerstraat 168 NL - 1503 JM Zaandam E-mail: jolanda-arends@zonnet.nl Tel: +31-75-616-4862 (FDRAG membership and info pack)   To Index

Florida Death Row Advocacy Group 114856 SE 25th Avenue Starke Florida 32091 Ph. (904) 964-7303 Copyright ©2005 FDRAG - All rights reserved. Please help us by supporting FDRAG.