Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiOctober 18, 2018

Democratic gubernatorial nominee Andrew Gillum will give his first major speech since returning to the campaign trail Thursday evening in Jacksonville. The Tallahassee Mayor, who took time off the trail as Tallahassee completed most of its power restoration after Hurricane Michael, is back. Gillum will address the 53rd Jacksonville NAACP Freedom Fund Dinner, a commitment he […]

Jacob OglesOctober 16, 2018

A new Vice News investigation is spotlighting declines of in-person voting in Manatee County under Supervisor of Elections Mike Bennett. The report notes that since his election in 2012, Bennett reduced the number of polling places in the county by 30 percent in, primarily by consolidating precincts in black and Latino areas. The news outlet […]

Jacob OglesAugust 5, 2018

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Thousands gathered in Clearwater on Sunday as Rev. Al Sharpton called on justice for Markeis McGlockton, a father shot down last month after a dispute over a parking space. To cheers, Sharpton called on law enforcement to arrest shooter Michael Drejka. “Lock him up or give up your badge,” Sharpton said at the event Sunday. […]

Drew WilsonJuly 31, 2018

The Clearwater branch of the NAACP on Tuesday repeated its call for an arrest in the recent fatal shooting of Markeis McGlockton and said that it has also sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Justice asking for an investigation. The statement from Clearwater/Upper Pinellas County NAACP chair Marva McWhite came after the group […]

Scott PowersMay 16, 2018

Vacation rental marketing giant Airbnb and the NAACP are kicking off a new partnership in Miami Gardens to promote home-sharing in African-American communities. The company and civil rights organization intend to roll out their new program Saturday, promising to offer grassroots community outreach and education, and a new business model designed to provide 20 percent […]

Mitch PerryOctober 13, 2017

In one of the highest profile appearances since her election in July as chair the Hillsborough County NAACP, Yvette Lewis took a shot at some of the most prominent establishment names in Tampa. During Friday’s Cafe Con Tampa at the Oxford Exchange, Lewis shared brutally honest thoughts on several topics: A lack of diversity at the University […]

Darryl PaulsonMay 1, 2017

On July 16, 1949, seventeen-year-old Norma Padgett claimed that her husband Willie was assaulted and she was raped by four black males near Groveland, Florida. Groveland is located in Lake County in central Florida. In July 1986, I co-authored the first scholarly article on the Groveland case in the Florida Historical Quarterly, along with historians […]

Scott PowersApril 21, 2017

Friends of the court are beginning to crowd into the Florida Supreme Court case pitting Orlando’s State Attorney Aramis Ayala and Gov. Rick Scott, with families of homicide victims siding with Scott, and the ACLU and House Minority Leader Janet Cruz siding with Ayala on Friday. Several filings Friday are loading the case with friends. Also Friday, a group […]

Scott PowersFebruary 14, 2017

Two South Florida lawmakers are hoping to get Florida to make some amends for one of the darkest moments of the racist Jim Crow days, with bills seeking exoneration for the so called “Groveland Four,” young black men and teenagers killed or imprisoned over false 1949 rape charges. State Rep. Bobby DuBose and state Sen. […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 20, 2017

There were rumblings last week that some civil rights leaders in Jacksonville were unhappy with the yearly Martin Luther King Jr. breakfast. This week, there is written confirmation. A letter in the mailbox of Mayor Lenny Curry from Jacksonville NAACP President Isaiah Rumlin let it be known that while the NAACP, the SCLC, and the Urban League […]

Tag: NAACP

Dueling Jacksonville events for Andrew Gillum, Ron DeSantis Thursday evening

Vice News scrutinizes Manatee County minority voting decline

Al Sharpton on Markeis McGlockton killer: ‘Lock him up or give up your badge’

NAACP calls on DOJ to investigate Clearwater ‘Stand Your Ground’ case

Airbnb, NAACP launch partnership in Miami Gardens

Hillsborough NAACP head Yvette Lewis takes on the establishment at Cafe Con Tampa

Darryl Paulson: Groveland — Florida’s legacy of hate

Families of homicide victims, ACLU, Janet Cruz join filers in Aramis Ayala case

‘Groveland Four’s’ haunting 1949 injustice addressed in resolutions

Jacksonville civil rights groups plan to take control of MLK Breakfast