Rest in Peace Mike Bell

Florida edges closer to its deadliest year of executions

Last night, Florida executed Mike Bell. He was the eighth person executed in our state this year. Florida has now executed twice as many people as any other state in 2025, and Mike Bell’s execution pushed the U.S. to its highest number of executions in a decade. If Edward ‘Zak’ Zakrzewski is executed on July 31, this will become the deadliest year of executions in Florida’s modern history.

We urge you to take a moment to read and share our full statement on Mike Bell’s execution. His case exemplifies the corruption and cruelty that define Florida’s death penalty system. Not only were there serious doubts about the integrity of his conviction — including suppressed evidence and witness recantations — the State shamefully swept aside its role in the horrific trauma Mike suffered at the Dozier School for Boys.

Hundreds of you stood with us across the state, and across from Florida State Prison where the skies darkly threatened above the death chamber. Mike’s entire legal team worked so hard to save him. One of his attorneys spoke at FSP last night and wanted everyone to know how much it mattered to Mike that so many people believed in him, showed up for him, and fought for him. We were honored to have some of Mike’s legal team and his family in attendance with us, and we continue to hold them all in our hearts today.

Loved ones of Michael Bell across from Florida State Prison on July 15, 2025 — Michael Bell’s family, loved ones, and legal team across from Florida State Prison on July 15, 2025

Tallahassee Citizens Against the Death Penalty (TCADP) outside of the Governor’s Mansion on July 15, 2025

And now, we must continue to stand against the next state killing. We have two weeks to stop Zak’s execution. Please take action today:

Sign the petition urging Governor DeSantis to stop Zak’s execution
Bombard the Governor’s office with calls at (850) 717-9337
Send a letter demanding an end to this killing spree

Stay with us for ongoing updates. As Father Fred Ruse reminded us last night, “An execution in Florida is no longer news. Numbness is the strategy and goal.” I’m so proud to lead an organization where our individual supporters and organizations, from all across the state, country, and world, refuse to become numb.

Onward,
Maria DeLiberato
FADP Executive Director

P.S. Our work to stop executions, expose injustice, and build a more humane system depends on people like you. If you believe in ending the death penalty in Florida, please consider making a donation today.