Groups to protest death penalty on eve of first Florida execution in 4 years

ORLANDO, Fla. — A group of demonstrators said they plan to protest Wednesday over the death penalty at the courthouses in Orlando and Daytona Beach.

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They are calling for change ahead of the state’s first planned execution in four years.

One of the groups plans to gather at the Orange County Courthouse at 9:30 a.m.

The groups want Gov. Ron DeSantis to put a stop to the execution of death row inmate Donald Dillbeck.

Read: Death warrant signed, execution set for Florida man in woman’s 1990 slaying

DeSantis signed Dillbeck’s death warrant last month.

The Florida Supreme Court rejected appeals by Dillbeck, who has been on death row for his 1990 murder of a woman during a carjacking in a Tallahassee mall parking lot.

Now, the governor proposed a bill that would change the requirement for death sentences in Florida.

Read: Florida could end unanimous jury requirement for executions

It would allow judges to sentence defendants to death with 8 out of 12 jurors recommending it.

Currently, the requirement is a unanimous jury decision.

DeSantis has this message for those who disagree with him.

Watch: Central Florida sheriff pushes for tougher penalties for fentanyl drug dealers

“On this death penalty, I respect people that don’t agree with it, but that’s the law in Florida,” DeSantis said.

There are 299 people on death row in Florida, including 15 men who have been there for more than 40 years.

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