Large FADP sign with a demonstrator standing behind it. Photo by Leah Burdick
On Tuesday, 12 demonstrators stood vigil with Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (FADP), before Florida’s execution of death-row inmate Norman’s Grim. It’s the 15th execution in Florida this year.
FADP stands on the corner of Ulmerton Road and 49th Street North for every execution because they believe the death penalty is wrong.
Mark Elliott is the former director of FADP. He said life in prison is a harsher punishment for these criminals.
“We had volunteer people who have killed other inmates, and threaten to keep killing unless they get the death penalty. They want to get out of the general population, where they don’t feel safe and go to death row,” Elliott said.
He was not the only one who felt this way. Every demonstrator agreed that life in prison is the best option and killing inmates like Grim does not justify their actions.
Ann Richter said she feels terrible for Grim.
“This man is a veteran. He had a terrible childhood. He was abused and with parents who were drug addicts and alcoholics,” she said.
Richter said there needs to be better care for veterans to prevent these actions from recurring.
“Norman’s crime was tragic. So was the lifetime of trauma and mental illness that led him there. And the shameful endcap is what Florida did tonight — killing a broken man who had already given up on living,” said an online statement by FADP.