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Execution Gurney in Florida
Execution Scheduled for
February
4. 2004
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Thanks to Johnny's friend, Britta Slopianka for
providing this!
"The
State of Florida took a lot from me but they couldnīt take away who I am.
I refuse to become the monster they wish to portray me as and thatīs a victory
in itself."
~~ November 17, 2001 ~~
In July 2002 there was the execution of
Jeffrey Williams in Texas. I had known the friend of Jeff, her name is Sandra
and I was very sad about all the pain which she felt. I wrote that to Johnny and
that she would never write again to someone on death row. Johnny sent a personal
note for Sandra back:
"I donīt
know your name but Britta told me about the pain you suffered at the State of
Texas murdering Jefferey Williams. Believe me, I understand your initial anger
and hurt and I fully understand the inmediate urge to totally withdraw and not
allow yourself to open up to the possibility of being hurt again.
The question is, can you live your life that way ? What kind of life would it be
if you shut yourself away from prcess of living for fear of the unpleasant ?
You lost a friend and it hurt, but youīre a better and stronger person for
having made a friend in the first place.
For as long as we are alive we risk losing people we care for and one day, each
of us will be the reason for someone elses pain because we too will be gone. Itīs
all a part of this beautiful yet mysterious process we call life.
So please donīt deprive yourself of the joy of living or others of the joy of
knowing and caring for you.
And then he closed with a note to me:
Britta, this applies to you as well. Donīt ever fear losing a friend because
the truth is, you canīt lose them. If a person really means something to you
they will live forever in your heart and memory. They are never really gone".
Johnnyīs
thought about the Death Row, written Oct 16, 2002
after the execution of Rigoberto Sanchez:
"This place tends to depress people to
the point where they would rather be dead than continue attempting to exist
under these conditions. Couple that with the constant threat of death and the
absolute certainty one has no other future to look forward to getting it
over with begins to look for better.
Itīs bad when youīre taken away a manīs liberty and his dignity but this
place can even take away oneīs humanity and all senblance of hope. Itīs at
that point one questions the sense in continuing the struggle".
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