Last month, the Governor signed a compensation bill for the survivors of the Dozier School for Boys, recognizing the longstanding effects of the brutal abuse and torture they suffered there. This month, the Governor decided to execute one of them. Loran Cole is set to be executed on August 29 at 6 pm.
Ironically, I was on the phone with one of my death row clients yesterday when he witnessed the Warden and his assistants – dressed in their formal white pressed uniforms – march past the room where we were talking. When he told me that, my heart sunk. I knew that likely could mean only one thing – the guards were about to tell one of the 100 plus warrant eligible men on Florida’s death row that he is going to die in 30 days. They were going to remove that man from his cell, lead him down the hall, walk him past his neighbors and likely his only friends, and take him to a death watch cell, for him to count down his final days. Alone. When the death warrant hit the news a couple hours later, my worst fears were confirmed.
Interestingly, that same day, just a few hours before, the FADP team had been elated to learn about the release of a podcast where former Governor Jeb Bush, who oversaw 21 executions while he was governor, had an honest conversation where he expressed “regrets” dealing with the death penalty, not only because of its moral implications, but because of the legal problems with the system, including non-unanimous juries. Former Governor Bush called the death penalty “not a deterrent,” “expensive,” and that life in prison without parole “creates certainty for families who have suffered.” “If you have a life imprisonment sentence, you know it’s done.” We urge you to listen and share.
The juxtaposition of these two things is not lost on me.
What do I need from you? We need you to sign and share this petition urging the Governor and Clemency Board to stay Mr. Cole’s execution and grant clemency.
From June 1, 1984 through November 14, 1984, 17-year-old Loran Cole was housed at the notorious Arthur G. Dozier School in Marianna, Florida. His status as a “White House Boy,” and the neglect, abuse, and trauma he experienced there changed the entire trajectory of his life, and led to the commission of this crime. As Mr. Cole’s attorneys aptly wrote, “That horrible place helped create the Loran Cole who sits on death row today.”
Over the next few days and weeks, we will be providing you with information and actions for you to take as soon as possible. We have 30 days to do as much as we can to ensure we stop this execution.
Stay with us. We need you, your voice, and your strength. Mr. Cole needs you. We need each other. We need to stand against all state-sanctioned murders and say “Not in My Name.”
Onward,
Maria DeLiberato
FADP Executive Director
P.S. We have a goal of raising $25,000 before the end of the year. If you are able, we ask that you please consider a generous gift today so that we can continue fighting against the machinery of death.
Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia ThompsonGeneral Minister & President/CEOUnited Church of Christ
Lakewood United Church of Christ 