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First Coast Connect

Wednesday preview: Plea to end death penalty; Activating LaVilla

Stacey Bennett
Bishop Emeritus Felipe Estévez

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is on track to break the state record for the most executions in a single year, having already signed nine execution warrants, with a half-year remaining. The previous record of eight executions in a single year was set in 1984 under Gov. Bob Graham and tied in 2014 under Gov. Rick Scott. Now, the Bishop Emeritus of the Catholic Diocese of St. Augustine is calling for an end to state-sanctioned executions, asking for mercy over retribution and calling the death penalty "a failure of mercy and moral imagination."

Guest: Bishop Emeritus Felipe Estévez of the Catholic Diocese of St. Augustine

Then, a collective of Jacksonville creators are working to activate Downtown’s newest public space, Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing Park in LaVilla. From art installations and live music to community events and children's programming, the Vibrant Places Collective aims to entertain, as it says, “ev’ryone—with a special focus on welcoming those who live, work and play in LaVilla.”

Guests:

  • Lloyd Washington, president of the Durkeeville Historical Society Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing Park visionary
  • Erin Kendrick, artist, Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing Park historic marker designer
  • Carla Mechele Jones, facilitator, Vibrant Places Collective
  • Mariano Mendez, LaVilla legacy business owner
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