For Immediate Release: August 29, 2023
President Debbie Deland, Florida NOW
THE OUTCRY OF THE LOSS OF INNOCENT LIVES AND THE POLITICAL HYPOCRISY FOCUSED ATTENTION ON GOVERNOR DeSANTIS AND THE SYSTEMIC RACISM RAGING IN FLORIDA AND IN AMERICA
More than 200 people gathered at a prayer vigil for the slain victims August 28th that Governor DeSantis decided to attend, where he was understandably booed due his racist record. DeSantis called the killer a ‘scumbag.’ When Reverend Jeffrey Rumlin spoke, he corrected DeSantis and said, “The [shooter] was not a scumbag. He was a racist.” DeSantis didn’t mention racism – an obvious politically driven omission.
FLORIDA NOW REACTS:
Florida NOW cannot tolerate the disconnect between blatant racism and the Florida laws that perpetuate the means for it. Rev. Rumlin said, “Call a spade a spade” and condemn the attack as a racist hate crime. Confront the truth and go in the direction that ameliorates racism.
Debbie Deland, FL National Organization for Women, said, “We will not tolerate gun laws and the perpetuation of racism hate that drives acts like these. Passing laws that attack diversity, equality, inclusion, and belonging programs at all levels of public education; revising curricula such as the AP Black History studies, banning books, and removing affirmative action are acts of denial and hate; changing voting laws to obstruct the voting rights of people of color; gerrymandering congressional districts to silence the voice of African Americans; and so many more dangerous statutes is not the way to address systemic racism. We don’t buy it, and others need to see the fascistic undercurrent that drives this governor. Governor DeSantis and this legislature’s racist white supremacist actions must be stopped. We must vote them out.”
CALL TO ACTION:
Keep informed. Discern rhetoric from the laws DeSantis signed. His rhetoric doesn’t tell the truth about the laws he has put in place. Recognize the ones that support racism, the ones that divide, the ones that create fear and hate in our state. Know which rights are being removed and which vulnerable populations are being crushed. Contact your representatives and voice your concerns, discuss issues with family, neighbors, friends. VOTE IN EVERY ELECTION and remember you need to re-enroll for the vote-by-mail option if you haven’t done so since January 2023.
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Florida NOW: is an intersectional grassroots organization that promotes feminist ideals, leads societal change, eliminates discrimination, and protects the equal rights of all women, girls, and non-binary people in all aspects of social, political, and economic life.
