For Immediate Release: August 30, 2025

President Julie Kent, Florida National Organization for Women (FL NOW) president@flnow.org

Orlando, FL – In the wake of the horrific August 27 mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church and School in Minneapolis—where two children, ages 8 and 10, were killed and at least 17 others injured, most of them children.  FL NOW is calling for immediate, comprehensive gun control legislation at both the state and federal levels.

According to Minneapolis police, the shooter, armed with a rifle, shotgun, and pistol, fired dozens of rounds through the church windows during a morning Mass marking the first week of school. All three firearms were purchased legally and recently. The attack is being investigated as an act of domestic terrorism and a hate crime targeting Catholics.

“When weapons of war can be bought legally and used days later to slaughter children in a place of worship, our laws are broken beyond repair,” said Julie Kent, President of FL NOW. “Thoughts and prayers are not enough. We demand action that will save lives.”

Our Demands:

1. Universal Background Checks – Close loopholes that allow private sales and gun show purchases without screening.
2. Assault Weapons & High-Capacity Magazine Ban – Prohibit civilian purchase and possession of military-style firearms and accessories designed for mass killing.
3. Mandatory Waiting Periods – Implement a minimum waiting period of one week between purchase and possession to prevent impulsive acts of violence.
4. Extreme Risk Protection Orders – Expand and enforce “red flag” laws to temporarily remove firearms from individuals who pose a danger to themselves or others.
5. National Gun Sale Tracking – Create a centralized system to track firearm sales and prevent trafficking.

A National Crisis Demands a National Response

This tragedy is not an isolated incident. It is part of a relentless pattern of mass shootings that devastate schools, houses of worship, workplaces, and public spaces across the country. In the last 24 hours before the Minneapolis attack, the city saw at least three other fatal shootings.

“Every delay in passing real gun reform is a choice to accept more dead children, more grieving families, and more shattered communities,” said Debbie Deland, Vice President of FL NOW. “We refuse to accept that. We refuse to accept that in America we are subject to a callous and cruel gun lobby.  Our mass shooting crisis is unacceptable and an example of a country mired in gun violence due to lack of strong gun reform. Shame on Congress and the State Legislatures for no action.”

Call to Action

We urge Congress, the State Legislature, and the White House to act now. The lives of our children, our neighbors, and our communities depend on it.

FL National Organization for Women will join state partners in coordinated actions, vigils, and lobbying efforts in the coming weeks. We call on all who believe in the right to live free from gun violence to stand with us.

For Immediate Release: August 23, 2025 by President Julie Kent, Florida National Organization for Women (FL NOW) president@flnow.org

FL NOW Denounces Overnight Removal of Rainbow Walkways Across Florida

Orlando, FL — In a sweeping and deeply disturbing move, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), under directives aligned with the Trump administration’s SAFER ROADS initiative, has painted over rainbow crosswalks across the state—including the memorial walkway outside the Pulse nightclub, where 49 lives were taken in one of the deadliest mass shootings in U.S. history.

The removal was carried out in the middle of the night, without public notice, safety data, or consultation with local officials. The Pulse Memorial crosswalk, installed in 2017, was not only a tribute to LGBTQ+ lives lost—it was a federally compliant safety feature designed to enhance pedestrian visibility in a high-traffic areas.

“This is more than vandalism—it’s a calculated act of erasure,” said Julie Kent, President FL NOW. “By removing these walkways, the state is endangering pedestrians, undermining public safety, and desecrating sacred spaces of remembrance.”

Safety and Visibility at Risk

• The Pulse crosswalk was installed in coordination with FDOT and met national safety standards.
• Rainbow walkways increase pedestrian visibility, especially in high-traffic or memorial zones.
• FDOT’s own memo acknowledges that “surface art” can enhance safety—but now labels it “non-compliant” if tied to social or political meaning.

Erasure of LGBTQ+ History

• The Pulse Memorial crosswalk honored victims—predominantly LGBTQ+ people of color—and symbolized resilience.
• Its removal coincides with broader efforts to suppress DEI initiatives, LGBTQ+ visibility, and historical truth.
• Gov. DeSantis omitted LGBTQ+ references in this year’s Pulse Remembrance Day proclamation.

FL NOW Demands:

• Immediate restoration of the Pulse Memorial crosswalk and the others removed statewide.
• Public release of FDOT’s safety data and decision-making process.
• Protection of memorial spaces from political interference.

“Our communities deserve safe streets and honest history,” said Debbie Deland, VP FL NOW.  “We will not allow the state to weaponize transportation policy to compromise safety and erase lives, identities, and truth. We will rally against making the LGBTQ+ and Marginalized communities invisible.”

For Immediate Release: August 20, 2025

President Julie Kent, Florida National Organization for Women (FL NOW)

Orlando, FL — The Florida Chapter of the National Organization for Women (FL NOW) celebrates a major victory for intellectual freedom and youth rights following Judge Carlos Mendoza’s ruling that declared key provisions of Florida’s book ban law (HB 1069) unconstitutional.

“This ruling is a resounding affirmation of our First Amendment rights and a rejection of politically motivated censorship,” said Julie Kent, FL NOW President. “Florida’s attempt to erase diverse voices—especially those of women, LGBTQ+ authors, and communities of color—was not just wrong, it was illegal.”

HB 1069 led to the removal of hundreds of books from school libraries, including Beloved, The Bluest Eye, The Handmaid’s Tale, and I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter. The law allowed books to be pulled based on vague claims of “sexual conduct,” without regard for literary or educational value. Judge Mendoza ruled that this approach violated constitutional standards, including the Miller Test for obscenity.

“FL NOW has long opposed HB 1069 as part of a broader campaign against authoritarian attacks on education, reproductive rights, and gender equity in Florida. It was negiligent and cruel to remove books related to the LGBTQ+ community. This is about more than books,” said Debbie Deland, VP FL NOW. “It’s about the right of young people to see themselves reflected in literature, to learn history honestly, and to think critically.”

We call on the Florida Department of Education and local school districts to immediately restore banned titles and halt further censorship. We also urge lawmakers to stop weaponizing parental fear and start investing in inclusive, evidence-based education. We demand an unwashed American history that includes the American history of people of color.

📚 Freedom to read is freedom to think. FL NOW will continue fighting for both.

Media Contact: Debbie Deland, vp@flnow.org, 407 234-6408