INNOCENT ON DEATH ROW IN FLORIDA 17 YEARS

INNOCENT ON DEATH ROW IN FLORIDA 17 YEARS

JUAN MELENDEZ

On the 10^th of October it was the World Day against the death penalty. Amnesty in Norway invited Juan Melendez, Rick Halperin and Rob Warden to Oslo to talk about the death penalty, the failure of justice and what we can do.

It was a huge success!

Not only did a lot of people come to hear them talk, but their appearance on the Norwegian Television also gave their visit to Norway a lot of attention. For those of us who already is working against the death penalty, the evening was a big inspiration. And,without a doubt, even more people now will get involved.

Juan Melendez spent 17 years on death row in Florida.

Still he is not angry nor bitter.

I will not let the anger get to me, he said. All the years on death row were awful. The mental torture is without words.. Time after time he could be the next one to be executed. And during all the years, he had to say goodbye to 42 friends who got executed by the state of Florida.

And he will never forget those who still remain on death row today and now spend most of his life travelling all over to talk against the death penalty.

He was not saved by the system, but in spite of the system.