Our commitment to justice and human dignity is central to our broader vision of a truly sustainable and equitable society. This extends to our profound concerns regarding the application of the death penalty, particularly as witnessed in Florida. The state has recently accelerated its pace of executions to an unprecedented degree, a trend that demands urgent attention and advocacy for reform.
In a sobering sequence of events, Florida executed Anthony Wainwright less than one week ago. Disturbingly, the state plans to execute Tommy Gudinas on June 24 at 6 pm, with Governor DeSantis also signing a death warrant for Michael Bell, scheduled for July 15 at 6 pm. Should Tommy’s execution proceed, it will mark the seventh in Florida this year, surpassing Governor DeSantis’s previous high of six executions in 2023. If Michael’s execution also occurs, it will be the eighth this year, matching rates seen only twice before in Florida’s history: under Governor Graham in 1984 and Governor Scott in 2014. This alarming frequency highlights a critical moment for intervention and reflection.
The Case of Tommy Gudinas: A Call for Compassion
The circumstances surrounding Tommy Gudinas’s case raise profound questions about justice and the consideration of human vulnerability. Born on an Army base in Washington, Tommy’s life was marked by medical complications from birth, including fluid on his brain and repeated hospitalizations before his first birthday. His childhood was a harrowing ordeal of profound physical, sexual, and emotional abuse at the hands of multiple adults, leading to diagnoses of multiple psychiatric and developmental issues at a young age. Labeled a “sexually disturbed child,” he endured 105 different institutional placements, yet the long-term psychiatric treatment deemed desperately needed by many professionals was never provided.
At just 20 years old, he was arrested for the murder of Michelle McGrath. His trial, however, was marred by critical failures: the jury was never presented with evidence about his profound neurological impairments or developmental trauma, and crucial mitigating evidence was withheld. Today, Tommy suffers from frontal lobe dysfunction, fixed delusions, and severely impaired executive functioning—conditions that strongly support a life sentence and raise serious concerns about his current mental state. This compels us to ask: should a society committed to justice take the life of someone so profoundly ill, especially when they can be safely housed for the remainder of their natural life? We urge you to sign and share his petition now, and to contact Governor DeSantis directly at 850.717.9210, who holds the sole authority to halt this execution, and demand compassion over cruelty.
The Case of Michael Bell: Unchecked Bias and Unreviewed Sentences
Michael Bell, scheduled for execution on Tuesday, July 15 at 6 pm, has been on death row since 1995 for the retaliatory murders of Jimmy West and Tamecka Smith. His story underscores systemic flaws within the justice system. In June 1993, Michael’s brother, Lamar Bell, was killed in what was ruled a justifiable homicide. Overcome by grief and a desperate desire for justice, coupled with a lack of stable upbringing or adequate support, 23-year-old Michael tragically opened fire on Mr. West and Ms. Smith in December 1993, mistakenly believing Mr. West’s car belonged to the person who killed his brother.
During Michael’s trial, the prosecutor repeatedly employed racially charged language, telling the jury that Michael lived by “the law of the jungle” as opposed to “civilized law.” Shockingly, Michael’s own lawyer failed to object, instead agreeing with this blatant mischaracterization and telling the mostly white jury that Michael “lived in a different world than ours…” and describing the crime as a “…senseless jungle-like barbaric killing.” These prejudicial remarks went unchecked. Compounding the injustice, Michael never received a federal review of his conviction and death sentence due to a delay in securing legal representation, leading the court to deem his attempts to file his own pleadings as too late. If his execution proceeds, Michael will be the third person this year in Florida (alongside Jeffrey Hutchinson and Anthony Wainwright) whose sentence was carried out without a full review. We encourage you to sign and share Michael’s petition to advocate for a halt to his execution.
Florida’s Death Penalty: A System Under Scrutiny
It is not an exaggeration to state that Florida’s death penalty system has become one of the most aggressive, insidious, secretive, and politically wielded schemes in the nation. The statistics are stark: Florida holds the highest number of death row exonerees, maintains the second largest death row population, and has sentenced more people to death in recent years than any other state, alongside having the most executions in a single year. Furthermore, Florida has the highest number of death-eligible crimes and one of the lowest standards for imposing death, requiring only 8 out of 12 jurors to agree for the state to take a life.
This intensifying pace shows no sign of stopping unless a united front emerges to resist and demand compassion over cruelty. For more in-depth information and ways to take action, we encourage you to visit https://sustainableactionnow.org/death-penalty/.
Join the Discussion: A Crucial Webinar on Alternatives to the Death Penalty
To further engage in this critical dialogue and strengthen our collective efforts, we invite you to join us on Thursday, June 26, 2025, at noon Pacific time (3 p.m. Eastern), for a vital Death Penalty Focus webinar titled “Grief, Rage, and Strength: Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty.” This free, approximately one-hour program will feature Maria DeLiberato, Esq., Executive Director of Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (FADP), and Bridget Maloney, FADP’s Communications Director. They will join Mike Farrell, President of the Board of Death Penalty Focus, in a crucial discussion about the challenges faced by FADP, the only organization in Florida solely dedicated to stopping the state’s frenzied pace of executions.
This year alone, Florida has already executed six people, more than any other state in the country, with two more executions (Tommy Gudinas and Michael Bell) scheduled for later this week and July, respectively. Adding to these concerns, earlier this month, Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill that expands the death penalty to non-homicide cases, despite the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2008 ruling that applying the death penalty in cases where no murder was committed is unconstitutional under the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments.
Mike Farrell, President of the Board of Death Penalty Focus, is also a spokesperson for Concern America, an international refugee aid and development organization; Co-Chair Emeritus of the California Committee of Human Rights Watch; and occasionally, a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Maria DeLiberato, Esq., has served as FADP Executive Director since June 2022, bringing 16 years of experience as a capital litigation attorney, including nearly 13 years representing individuals on Florida’s death row in their post-conviction appeals as a former Assistant State Attorney in Miami-Dade County. Bridget Maloney joined FADP in early 2021, cultivating and retaining FADP’s network of thousands of supporters and creating advocacy tools. In 2023, Bridget enrolled in law school while continuing her full-time work for FADP. We strongly encourage you to register now for this essential webinar to gain deeper insights and lend your support to this urgent cause.
Measurable Impact and the Path Forward
Our multifaceted efforts are yielding tangible results. Through partnerships, advocacy, community engagement, and crucial legal and human rights support, Sustainable Action Now has contributed to:
- Increased Awareness: Our campaigns and educational initiatives have reached millions, fostering greater understanding of climate change, biodiversity loss, environmental justice, and human rights issues such as the death penalty.
- Policy and Legal Influence: We actively engage with policymakers to champion legislation that supports renewable energy transition, protects critical habitats, and promotes sustainable resource management. Simultaneously, our support for groundbreaking legal actions like “Lighthiser v. Trump” and our advocacy against the death penalty aim to secure legal protections for environmental health, youth rights, and fundamental human dignity, challenging harmful policies and practices directly.
- Community Empowerment: We provide resources and support to local communities, enabling them to implement sustainable solutions tailored to their specific needs, from renewable energy projects to local conservation efforts and human rights advocacy.
- Conservation Support: Our collaborations with on-the-ground conservation projects ensure vital habitats and species receive the protection they need, from safeguarding waterholes to preserving critical ecosystems.
Looking ahead, Sustainable Action Now is committed to scaling our impact across all fronts. We plan to expand our educational outreach programs, forge new strategic partnerships, intensify our advocacy for ambitious environmental policies, and continue our steadfast support for vital environmental litigation and human rights initiatives. We will continue to leverage innovative technologies, much like the SafariLive Sunset and our “LIVE at the waterhole” events, to bring the wonders of nature closer to a global audience, transforming passive observers into passionate protectors, and empowering active citizens to demand a sustainable future rooted in both ecological health and human justice.
Join the Movement: Your Role in Sustainable Action Now
The challenges are significant, but so is the power of collective action. Every choice, every voice, and every effort contributes to building a sustainable future. Sustainable Action Now is more than an organization; it is a movement that thrives on the participation of individuals like you. We invite you to join us on this critical journey.
Whether it’s by supporting our initiatives, sharing our message, reducing your own environmental footprint, becoming an advocate for climate and social justice, or simply taking a moment to appreciate the profound beauty and fragility of nature, your participation makes an undeniable difference. The time for sustainable action is not tomorrow; it is now. Together, we can safeguard our planet for generations to come, ensuring a vibrant, thriving world for all.
