Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Scott PowersDecember 19, 2018

Pardons for the Groveland Four are heading for a hearing. Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis said Wednesday that he is sending a letter to the Florida Office of Executive Clemency invoking Rule 17, which allows any member of the Florida Cabinet to place a case “of exceptional merit” on the upcoming agenda of the […]

Scott PowersDecember 19, 2018

Republican U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio called for the Florida Cabinet to provide an action of posthumous justice for the Groveland Four during a speech on the floor of the U.S. Senate Tuesday night, declaring, “It is time to do the right thing for the Groveland Four!” Rubio’s comments brought to the U.S. Capitol the case of […]

Scott PowersDecember 3, 2018

Nineteen months after the Florida Legislature apologized on behalf of the state for injustice toward four black men falsely accused of rape in 1949 and urged Gov. Rick Scott and Florida’s cabinet to expedite pardons for them, there appear to be no such pardons in the works for the Groveland Four. But there still might […]

Scott PowersSeptember 10, 2018

In 2017 the Florida Legislature acknowledged and apologized for one of Florida’s ugliest recorded events of 20th-century racism. Yet barring a late surprise it would be left to the next state government to address the Groveland Four, and all four Democratic Florida Cabinet nominees pledged they would move swiftly, if elected, to issue long-sought pardons. […]

Scott PowersNovember 29, 2017

Hours after Gov. Rick Scott declined to talk specifically about the posthumous pardons requested for the Groveland Four — 1940s victims of racial injustice that led to two being killed and two going to prison — the governor’s office said Wednesday he is aware of the case and reviewing options. “Governor Scott is aware of […]

Scott PowersNovember 29, 2017

If the Groveland Four need an advocate within the Florida Cabinet in order to get posthumously pardoned for false convictions that occurred more than 60 years ago, it doesn’t appear to be Gov. Rick Scott at this time. When asked about the Groveland Four pardon request case Wednesday morning in Jacksonville, Scott offered no indication […]

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. […]

Tag: pardons

Jimmy Patronis seeking Groveland Four pardons

Marco Rubio calls for justice for Groveland Four

No pardons in line for Groveland Four as Rick Scott, clemency board postpone meeting

Democrats for Cabinet calling for Groveland Four pardons, Republicans mum

Rick Scott’s office: Governor is aware of Groveland Four case, reviewing all options

Rick Scott non-committal about Groveland Four pardons request

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