It is notable and quite possibly record setting that everything in the paragraph below occurred less than 24 hours after Andrew Gillum won the Democratic primary for Governor.
The most current example of Florida’s GOP racism came last week when the Republican candidate for Governor, Ron DeSantis claimed the day after Andrew Gillum emerged as the Democratic candidate for Governor, that Gillum who although “articulate” would “monkey up” Florida’s finances. The comment came on the heels of robocalls from The Road to Power, a white supremacist, anti-Semitic group, which featured jungle noises in the background while a voice using an old-time minstrel dialect and claiming to be Andrew Gillum, asked for the voter’s support ~ source. Then it was capped off with the discovery that DeSantis served as an administrator for a racist, Islamophobic, and conspiratorial Facebook group whose highly offensive posts have targeted, among others, the Parkland shooting survivors, Black Lives Matter activists, and the religion of Islam. DeSantis did resign that post after it was made public. ~ source
Here are just a few more of the most egregious examples of overt racism that the duly elected Republicans in this GOP trifecta state have embraced:
Sanctuary Cities: There are officially NONE in this immigrant rich state, but that didn’t stop the Florida House from quickly passing a ban on them in January. The bill stalled in the Senate committee due to opposition from other Miami based senators ~ source. *Of note: One of the more vocal House Republicans advocating for the ban was Aaron Bean, who is being challenged by Democrat Billee Bussard (info below).
Harsher Penalties for Refugees: Again the Florida House Republicans worked hard on a bill that thankfully failed in the state Senate. Had it passed, a US citizen charged with simple battery or assault in Florida, for example, would be charged with a misdemeanor. For an identical crime as an undocumented immigrant, that crime would then become a felony ~source.
Racist Appointed Chair of State’s Constitutional Revision Commission: Every 20 years Florida convenes a Constitutional Revision Commission which can propose literally ANY amendments to the constitution to be placed on the ballot. The commission’s members are mostly appointed by the Governor and the state legislature, controlled by Republicans. This year Rick Scott appointed Carlos Beruff who, is described by the Miami New Times as follows:
“He's rich, openly racist, and good friends with Florida's governor. The real-estate developer and major political donor ran for U.S. Senate against Marco Rubio last year and lost. In that time, he called Barack Obama an "animal," called for a ban on all immigration from the Middle East, and reveled in being dubbed the "Cuban-American Donald Trump." Voters heavily rejected him.”
These are but a few examples of the torments unleashed by Republicans in this state; there are dozens more relating to Health Care, Environment, Education, Labor, Elections, Guns … heck, everything under the Florida Sun!
But this year we have The Candidates!! In ALL the races and all the way down ballot — Qualified, Intelligent and SANE Candidates! Below you will find information and links to two Florida federal candidates, the Florida governor Democratic candidate, and several Florida Senate and House candidates from Northeast Florida along with webpage and donation links.
Please give if you are able. If your finances will not allow a contribution you can certainly help by recommending this post, sharing on social media, Tweeting, and leaving an encouraging comment. With your help we can defeat Jim Crow in Florida.
ANDREW GILLUM for Governor — Former mayor of Tallahassee, Gillum is endorsed by Bernie Sanders who also actively campaigned here in Florida for him. Andrew is also featured as a 2018 candidate by 90 for 90. If elected Gillum promises to push back on the special interest groups standing in the way of real action on climate change.
BILL NELSON for U.S. Senate — Rick Scott is running against Nelson and with his “ill gotten Medicare money” he’s managed to barely win by 1.2% points in 2010 against Alex Sink and 1% point against Charlie Crist in 2014. As much as we are disgusted by this man, Floridians do not want to see him unleashed on the rest of the country. Nelson is also featured as a 2018 candidate by 90 for 90.
GES SELMONT for U.S. House — Ges is running to unseat John Rutherford. Ges is a lifelong Democrat who grew up in Connecticut in a Union household. Ges has quite a diverse background with a history of success in law, technology, entertainment, sports and higher education. He was a White House intern for President Bill Clinton, has built homes for Habitat for Humanity, produced an off-Broadway play, won two Emmy awards and served as special advisor to the presidents of Edward Waters College and Jacksonville University. He is a 2018 90 for 90 candidate.
BILLEE BUSSARD for Florida Senate 4 — Billee is a longtime friend and fellow Democratic Club member who I wrote about here last month. Billee worked as an investigative reporter for 25 years and her decision to run was rooted in disgust with the pitiful response of the Tallahassee lapdogs for gun interests to the Parkland high school gun massacre. She is running to unseat Aaron Bean mentioned above in the paragraph on Sanctuary Cities. Billee is also featured as a 2018 candidate by 90 for 90.
NATHCELLY ROHRBAUGH for Florida State House 11 — Nathcelly grew up in a multicultural home and can attest to how irresponsible rhetoric from political leaders can and does create a hostile environment for children. Rohrbaugh is running to unseat Cord Byrd who as “the” Florida Gun Lawyer with an A+ rating from the NRA and a proud Conservative could easily be called the poster boy for the NRA. Nathcelly has a tough fight on his hands and appreciates the exposure from being listed as a 2018 candidate by 90 for 90.
TIMOTHY YOST for Florida State House 12 — Timothy is a Navy Veteran and a public school teacher. He is also a 2018 candidate at 90 for 90. Yost’s campaign platform is centered around “Practical Progressive Reform”. Tim also firmly believes that 20 years of one party (Republican) rule in this state is beyond “ENOUGH”.
Thank you for reading, recommending, sharing, tweeting, and donating to these wonderful candidates who are out there in the heat and humidity every day knocking on doors in hopes to overthrow Republicans who enable Jim Crow in this state.
I am adding another candidate to this list at my friend, Vetwife’s request:
DANA COTTRELL for Congress - District 11 Dana is also on the 90 for 90 2018 candidate list. She has been endorsed by the National Organization for Women Political Action Committee. Dana is from Spring Hill, Florida.