Florida NAACP calls on Gov. Scott to put State Attorney Ayala back on Loyd case

NAACP Florida State Conference supports Ayala's decision on death penalty

ORLANDO, Fla. – The NAACP Florida State Conference says it supports State Attorney Aramis Ayala's decision not to seek the death penalty, and is calling on Florida Governor Rick Scott to hand over the Markeith Loyd case back to her.

"We want him to know we do not support his decision," NAACP Florida State Conference President Adora Obi Nweze said.

Obi Nweze and the NAACP Florida State Conference held a news conference Saturday to announce their support of Ayala. This comes more than a week after she announced she is not pursuing any death penalty cases, including the case of accused cop killer Markeith Loyd.

It is a decision that was applauded by members on the national board of the civil rights organization.

"The death penalty, killing people, is not the way that we end crime in this state," Leon W. Russell, the chairman of the NAACP national board of directors said.

The organization agrees with Ayala's reasoning, saying the death penalty does not stop crime and is expensive. They would rather see that money spent on community resources. 

"Criminal justice spending is outstripping education spending throughout the nation, so why don't we focus on those things that are actually building our community?" Ngozi Ndulue, the NAACP national senior director of criminal justice said.

Ayala received backlash from lawmakers and law enforcement after her announcement.

Governor Rick Scott pulled her off the Loyd case, saying he didn't believe she would fight for justice to the fullest extent of the law, and he assigned a new prosecutor.

"For State Attorney Ayala to say she's not going to pursue the death penalty is an outrage, and every citizen should be outraged at her actions," Scott said to News 6 last week.

Scott's decision is now prompting the state chapter of the NAACP to rally against him in Tallahassee next week. Obi Nweze says they will use every means possible to fight for justice and to abolish the death penalty.

"We want the governor to withdraw what he's doing. We want him to give that case back to the state attorney, and we want him to know to stay off the state attorney's turf and let them do their job," Obi Nweze said.