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Death Penalty
Tookie Williams Seeking Clemency
Tookie
Williams, co-founder of the Crips street gang, and convicted
murderer is seeking clemency in California. In addition to seeking
clemency, Mr. Williams is also seeking a stay of execution. This
high profile case comes on the heels of the United States’ 1,000th
execution since the death penalty was re-instated in 1976.
The use of
the death penalty as a punishment in the United States has always
been controversial. Some states abolished the practice long ago.
Others, like Florida have continued to execute prisoners (including
juveniles) up to the present. Polls show that support for the death
penalty is dropping, with a majority of those polled supporting a
moratorium on executions, at least until issues of fairness are
resolved. And a recent survey by the Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel
indicated that only a minority of Floridians still support the death
penalty as it now stands.
Questions
for the Guest
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How
widespread is the use of the death penalty?
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Why is the
death penalty considered a Human Rights issue?
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What are
some of the problems associated with the death penalty?
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How does
Florida rank regarding the death penalty?
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What are
some of the moral arguments against the death penalty?
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Why are you
personally opposed to the death penalty?
About the
Humanists of Florida Association Founded in 1986, The Humanists of
Florida Association is a statewide association of groups and
individuals that affirm the Humanist worldview. Humanism is a
progressive philosophy of life that, without supernaturalism,
affirms our ability and responsibility to lead ethical lives of
personal fulfillment that aspires to the greater good of humanity.
The Humanists of Florida Association promotes Humanism and the use
of reason and compassion in the solving of Human problems. HFA is a
sub-chapter of the American Humanist Association and is widely
recognized as one of the most dynamic, innovative and
forward-thinking Humanist organizations in the country.
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Michigan
abolished the death penalty over 150 years ago and has never had
an execution in its entire history. Minnesota abolished the
death penalty almost a century ago.
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Racial,
economic and regional disparities exist, and there is a growing
number of individuals who have been released from death row
leading to concerns that an innocent person might be executed, a
practice approved by the US Supreme Court in TX v Herrera in
1996. Florida leads the nation in number of individuals
released from death row.
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