Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Staff ReportsMarch 14, 2018

Survivors, advocates, elected officials and law enforcement turned out in St. Petersburg Wednesday to rally for an end to sexual abuse, taking added significance in light of the growing #MeToo movement. Hosted by the nonprofit Lauren’s Kids, the rally was part of the 8th Annual Walk in My Shoes, a 13-day Tallahassee-to-Key-West advocacy event led […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 19, 2018

A proposed constitutional amendment to give equal rights to crime victims on Friday cleared its only review panel and heads to the full Constitution Revision Commission. The amendment, if OK’d for the 2018 statewide ballot and passed by 60 percent of voters, includes the right “to refuse an interview, deposition, or other … request by the defense,” […]

Staff ReportsApril 19, 2017

An emotional and eye-opening display featuring about 1,000 shoes worn, decorated and submitted by sexual assault survivors of all ages from across the state of Florida – with accompanying stories – are decorating the Capitol rotunda through Friday of this week. They commemorate National Sexual Assault Awareness Month and National Child Abuse Prevention Month. The […]

Phil AmmannApril 19, 2017

Child advocate and state Sen. Lauren Book‘s inspirational story will be featured in Sheryl Sandberg‘s newly launched initiative on themes of resilience through tragedy. On April 19, Book — a survivor of childhood sexual abuse who became an internationally renowned activist — will exhibit an installation decorating the Capitol rotunda, made up of more than 750 […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJune 24, 2016

Just call her an instant winner. Lauren Book won her Senate District 32 race Friday after no other candidate qualified for the race. A second Democrat, Emmanuel Blimie, had indicated he planned to run, but state records show Blimie did not qualify. “Having met thousands of people in the Senate district, listening to and learning […]

Phil AmmannApril 26, 2016

Gwen Graham’s recent semi-surprise, twofer announcement has the Florida chattering classes (temporarily) taking their attention away from 2016 and toward a post-Rick Scott state Capitol. The year 2018 will mark 20 straight years in which Republicans have monopolized the Governor’s Mansion. Democrats are understandably terrified about that continued dominance, particularly when they consider the judicial […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMarch 15, 2016

Lauren Book has made this trip before. For the past seven years, Book has laced up her sneakers and walked across the state to raise awareness about child sex abuse. It’s a deeply personal issue for the Broward County resident, who endured sexual abuse for six years at the hands of a trusted caretaker. The […]

Peter SchorschFebruary 25, 2016

In case you don’t know what TED is, it stands for “Technology, Entertainment, Design) and is a thing – a big thing in the world of big thinkers. TED talks are given by some of the most innovative and influential leaders in their respective fields across the globe. These talks range from how to reform our schools to […]

Phil AmmannJanuary 5, 2016

Recent, alarming news coverage of the rape kit testing backlog problem here in Florida shines a much-needed light on the overall issue of identifying and prosecuting sexual predators — and we need to remember that this is an issue of child safety as well as adult safety. In a country where nearly 70 percent of […]

Peter SchorschSeptember 17, 2015

If you live in the world of Florida politics, chances are you already had an opinion of Lauren Book even before the fresh-faced advocate announced her run for state Senate this month. And if you read this blog, you also already know I’m a big fan. There’s no doubt that she’s done an impressive job […]

Tag: Lauren’s Kids

Lauren Book’s ‘Walk in My Shoes’ takes to the streets of St. Pete

Crime victims’ bill of rights clears lone constitutional review panel

Shoes are stark reminders of sexual abuse

Lauren Book unveils display on resilience, triumph over sexual abuse in Capitol rotunda

Lauren Book headed to Florida Senate, wins SD 32 race unopposed

Ben Pollara: Baby got bench: Florida Democrats’ 2018 field

Lauren Book keeps walking, fighting for child abuse victims

Lauren Book to discuss “finding your why” in historic Oxford TED Talk

Lauren Book: Rape crime testing and child assaults

Tough questions for Lauren Book: Asked and answered