Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Guest AuthorMay 12, 2015

#BlackLivesMatter has become part of a symbolic movement with a powerful message. First tweeted on April 11, 2012, following the shooting death of Trayvon Martin, #BlackLivesMatter began trending heavily during protests after the death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo. Three years later, it remains relevant. For me, the hashtag conjures up images of black […]

Mitch PerryMarch 6, 2015

After the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner at the hands of law enforcement agencies last year, there was a nationwide clamor for police officers to begin wearing body cameras as a way to provide transparency and accountability for both the police and the citizenry. President Obama announced $263 million in funding for law enforcement […]

Mitch PerryMarch 5, 2015

The question one has to ask after reading just the summary of the Justice Department report on the goings-on with the Ferguson, Mo., Police Department is: How many other municipal law enforcement agencies act this way in America? If you want the headline from Wednesday to read that Justice concluded that the Ferguson PD violated no federal laws in […]

Mitch PerryMarch 5, 2015

The question one has to ask after reading just the summary of the Justice Department report on the goings-on with the Ferguson, Mo., Police Department is: How many other municipal law enforcement agencies act this way in America? If you want the headline from Wednesday to read that Justice concluded that the Ferguson PD violated no federal laws in […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 7, 2015

On the first day of the new session in Congress yesterday, Alabama GOP Rep. Martha Roby introduced legislation to stop President Obama’s unilateral executive action on immigration. Called the “Prevention of Executive Amnesty Act of 2015,” the measure is intended to apply to the coming appropriation for the Department of Homeland Security, which Congress funded only until […]

Shannon NickinsonDecember 15, 2014

“These situations create in me a mixture of emotions: Anger, Fear, Sadness, Frustration, Helplessness. … We teach (our son) right from wrong. Teach him how to be respectful. But does it even matter when he can do all these things and still be viewed as a threat … Just because he has a better natural […]

Guest AuthorDecember 9, 2014

The recent grand jury cases examining the deaths of African-Americans Michael Brown and Eric Garner exonerated the police officers who killed them and ignited passionate demonstrations and recriminations from civil rights leaders alleging ingrained racism in our criminal justice system. The debate since Brown’s killing in Ferguson, Mo., has centered on the training and behavior […]

Martin DyckmanNovember 30, 2014

Many years ago, a Union County jury spared the life of an inmate who had killed the Florida State Prison’s deputy warden during an escape attempt. Raiford was the governmental version of a company town, so how did the killer get second-degree murder instead of a ticket to the electric chair? The reason, as an […]

Mitch PerryNovember 25, 2014

Ferguson is literally burning as I write this on Tuesday morning. On CBS’ This Morning, the program began at 7 a.m. with an aerial shot of an Auto Zone auto parts store on fire. Yes, the community in Ferguson rioted last night after the late night announcement that the grand jury decided not to indict […]

Guest AuthorOctober 14, 2014

Historically, Florida has been a hellish place to live for black men. But don’t take my word for it: look up the Groveland Boys. The state may be turning a corner. Here’s why some optimism is warranted: Last week, a jury in Jacksonville concluded that it is not OK to kill a black male merely […]

Tag: Michael Brown

Vanessa Lopez-Littleton: If #BlackLivesMatter stops trending, will black lives still matter?

ACLU, other groups withdraw support of police body camera bill

Mitch Perry Report for 3.5.15 — Ferguson’s ugly legacy

Mitch Perry Report for 3.5.15 — Ferguson's ugly legacy

David Jolly firmly behind GOP plan to defund Obama immigration action

Shannon Nickinson: Reducing the world to black and white is hurtful

Steve Kurlander: Brown and Garner cases indict antiquated grand jury system

Martin Dyckman: Ferguson prosecutor should have recused himself because of his police ties

Mitch Perry Report – 11.25.14

Chris Timmons: Jacksonville verdict, Ocala council decision are cause for hope