Dear United Against the Death Penalty Supporters,
As we step into a newyear, it is a moment for reflection, gratitude, and renewed commitment to ourcause. In bidding farewell to 2023, we must acknowledge the weight of the pastyear's losses in Florida due to executions. Each loss is a stark reminder ofthe work that remains ahead of us in our fight against the death penalty.
With heavy hearts, weremember those individuals who faced an unjust and irreversible fate. Theirlives, stories, and the inherent flaws of the system that led to theirexecutions stay etched in our minds. Our resolve to advocate for justice andhuman rights is unwavering, fueled by these reminders of the urgency of ourmission.
There were alsoimportant setbacks: the return to a majority jury instead of a unanimous juryand the extension of the death penalty with a new capital sex crime law(certain crimes against children are eligible for the death penalty) – meaning acrime that did not result in death may now be punishable by death.
Amidst those challenges, we've also seen moments of hope and progress in our collective efforts. Many of the men (and one woman) who went through a Hurst resentencing this year were resentenced to Life Without Parole, giving us the hope that the mentality around the death penalty is changing and that it is more difficult today to sentence someone to death in Florida.
We need your unwavering support, dedication, and activism. Every signature, every call for reform, and every voice raised against injustice brings us closer to a world where the death penalty is a thing of the past. We need to grow to be able to organize more actions towards this goal.
As we step into the newyear, let's believe that the journey ahead may be long but change is possible,and vow to continue our advocacy tirelessly in order to create a more just and compassionatesociety.
Wishing you all a new year filled with hope, resilience, and progress.
In solidarity,
United Against theDeath Penalty
