A.G. Gancarski
Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown and Sheriff John Rutherford are at odds on more issues than not these days, with Rutherford messaging against the Mayor’s efforts in both Brown’s race against Lenny Curry, as well as the Sheriff’s race itself. Still, as the two most prominent civic leaders in Jacksonville, they come together for joint appearances, such as the Victims’ Rights Week Kickoff Press Conference in the City Hall Atrium on Monday Morning.
Whatever their political differences, the two men, along with leaders throughout city government, understand the singular import of this year’s theme, “Engaging Communities; Empowering Victims.” Their remarks today, along with those of State Attorney Angela Corey, were suffused with a heartfelt, passionate commitment to finding redress for victims of violent crime and the families who love them. From battered wives and abused children, to murdered kids and adults, this Kickoff Press Conference presages a week of focus on those who need the protection of the state perhaps more than anyone.
Rich Komando introduced Brown, saying that “none of this would be possible without the Mayor,” who was in his element addressing a crowd full of members of the faith-based community, as he thanked the survivors of violence for their courage, before announcing the goal of this event, as one of raising awareness and informing the public of the services available to them, including for historically underreported crimes like sexual assault and domestic violence.
“We must let the victims know that there is help out there… that there is hope… that they are not alone,” said the Mayor to a rapt audience.
Pivoting the discussion to being “blessed with a strong faith based community,” the Mayor slid into revival mode.
The crowd was with him.
“I believe that the Church is the foundation of the community,” he said, before urging those in attendance to “give God a round of applause.”
“When you have God on your side,” he said, you know that you are calling on “someone who knows every tear you shed.”
With applause greeting his calls for recognition of the Lord, he pledged that the city would “help victims recover and build their lives,” before closing on a personal note “to all victims. May God bless you, may God keep you, may my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ continue to keep you strong.”
When Alvin Brown is on, he is a hard speaker to follow. Sheriff Rutherford managed to, nonetheless.
“To families of survivors, to those who have lost lives to violent crime,” he said, “we will leave no stone unturned” when it comes to bringing “justice to family members who suffer violent crime.”
Pledging a commitment to ensuring advocacy for the rights of victims, Rutherford quoted Teddy Roosevelt in saying that “when we help one person in need, we all emerge a little stronger.” Such help, he added, “does take us all,” including law enforcement, prosecutors, and citizens.
As the Mayor did, the Sheriff closed with an appeal to the ultimate authority.
“God bless you and God bless Jacksonville.”
State Attorney Angela Corey began her remarks with a moment of silence for the victims of the Columbine massacre, noting the sadness of that day. In describing how the “men and women of the State Attorney’s Office will never, ever stop fighting for justice,” Corey defended what her critics deride as “overcharging” from the SAO in criminal cases.
“We know what we have to do to get justice,” she said. “We will do everything in our legal and professional power.”
We then heard the most powerful testimony of the day: that of Adil McCoy, whose twin sister Kalil was slain and then discarded in the woods by her killer and accomplices.
“My mother always told me that we weren’t just ordinary twins,” he said, describing the long journey from anger and frustration to where he is now. “When you see myself, my momma, my friends wearing purple, it’s in memory of my sister.”
“Purple was her favorite color.”
I caught up with Sheriff Rutherford about the event, who reiterated the theme.
“Today is about survivors. I always let them know that we will never ever forget them or their loved ones,” he said, telling me of a 23 year old cold case the JSO solved.
“We never give up. We will always use our resources,” he said, in the pursuit of justice and closure.
