STOP the Execution of Kayle Barrington Bates

Florida intends to execute Kayle Bates on August 19 for the 1982 murder of Janet White.

We oppose this execution as we do every execution. Capital punishment is an act of state sanctioned violence that violates the sacred dignity of every human life. In the words of Saint Pope John Paul II, “The dignity of human life must never be taken away, even in the case of someone who has done great evil.” 

Kayle has long challenged his conviction and death sentence, including the denial of DNA testing, arguments about the fairness of his jury, his counsels’ effectiveness, and Florida’s arbitrary death penalty sentencing scheme. Florida must not carry out executions while serious legal questions remain.

If Kayle is executed it would mark the 10th execution in the state of Florida this year alone — more than any other year previously since the death penalty was reinstated in the 1970s. This pursuit of death is an affront to the sacred dignity of human life.

Contact Gov. DeSantis and the Florida Board of Executive Clemency today, urging them to stop the execution of Kayle Bates, and to turn away from capital punishment in their state.