Feb 5, 2026 - News

Florida faith groups to toll bells in protest of executions

Kathryn Varn

A group of thirteen people standing inside a chapel with a stone wall and wooden cross behind them, holding signs opposing execution and the death penalty, with a large bell in front. — Faith leaders kicked off the "For Whom The Bell Tolls" campaign at Lakewood United Church of Christ in St. Pete. Photo: Courtesy of Death Penalty Action

Churches and faith communities across Florida will begin simultaneously tolling bells each day the state is set to carry out executions.

Why it matters: The first execution of the year is set for Tuesday, on the heels of a record year for the death penalty in Florida that drove a nationwide spike despite a 30-year downward trend in public support.

Driving the news: The "For Whom The Bells Toll" campaign kicked off Thursday at the Lakewood United Church of Christ in St. Petersburg.

It continues Friday with a stop in Orlando and into next week at churches in Jacksonville, Coral Gables and Winter Park before an execution vigil Tuesday at the Florida State Prison.
Participating groups will toll their bells at 6pm on execution days.

Zoom in: The events will feature the Delaware Bell, which was tolled in protest of that state's executions before state leaders repealed the death penalty in 2024.

What they're saying: "This provides an outlet especially for people of faith to express opposition," Death Penalty Action executive director Abraham Bonowitz told Axios.

"We're not going to go away."

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Florida faith groups to toll bells in protest of executions

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