More than 100 Florida elected officials have signed onto a letter opposing the recently passed bill banning trans girls and women from school sports. Members of Congress, the state House and Senate, local officials and Commissioner of Agriculture Nikki Fried are urging Gov. Ron DeSantis to reverse course and “let kids play.” LISTEN: Orlando area… Read more »
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Supporters of Palestinian human rights will rally Saturday in Temple Terrace
COVID-19 vaccination information for Pinellas & Hillsborough residents 12 and older
Deported Florida woman, subject of Netflix documentary, reunited with family three years later
A Tampa City Councilmember met with a violent right-wing group Monday night: “We have to stop seeing one another as enemies”
Nikki Fried: Florida is no longer a free state under DeSantis
Read MoreLegislature revives, passes trans girl sports ban prompting fierce backlash
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Read MoreDeSantis wants corporations out of Florida politics, but civic groups say ramp up the pressure on voting, protest bills
Read MoreFair Districts Coalition hopes to avoid repeat of Florida’s contentious, gerrymandered 2012 redistricting
Read MoreState Attorney, Supreme Court Justice, Sheriff say HB1 protest bill is unconstitutional affront on democracy
Read MoreFlorida’s GOP-backed voting bills could disenfranchise millions of elderly and disabled Floridians, especially in minority ...
Read MoreRadioactivity Friday: Florida House takes up controversial bill that would criminalize protest
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Civic and faith leaders gather to denounce ‘anti-protest’ bill, HB1, ahead of judiciary committee hearing
A group of mostly Black civic and faith leaders gathered in Tallahassee’s Captiol Courtyard Wednesday to denounce the controversial HB1 bill. Many fear the Republican-backed bill being fast-tracked through the legislative process would silence minority voices while attacking home rule and the First Amendment. LISTEN: State Representative Kevin Chambliss, a Democrat who represents parts of… Read more »
Radioactivity Friday: Tampa activist Askia Mohammed Aquil
March 5, 2021 Good morning, welcome to Radioactivity. I’m Rob Lorei. In recent weeks there’s been renewed interest about FBI surveillance of leading black activists in the late 60’s and early 70’s. The new film JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH depicts the FBI’s efforts to undermine Black Panther activist Fred Hampton who was eventually assassinated by… Read more »
- African American
- Civil Liberties
- Civil Rights
- Law Enforcement
- Local Government
- News and Public Affairs
Death threats and rule changes cause some to fear for the First Amendment in New Port Richey
Racial strife has brought national attention to the Tampa Bay suburb of New Port Richey and now activists fear their voices are being silenced. Proposed rule changes to city meetings and a rash of death threats have some feeling the First Amendment is under fire in Pasco County. LISTEN: Before the cameras and recording equipment… Read more »
Independent lawyer, limited subpoena power for citizen-led police review board could come as ballot initiative in Tampa
The decision to have an independent lawyer and limited subpoena power for Tampa’s citizen-led police review board could come down to a ballot initiative for city residents. Tampa’s City Council workshopped a massive overhaul to its much-criticized citizen review board Wednesday. It will vote to adopt the ordinance in May. LISTEN: After nearly five and… Read more »
- African American
- Civil Rights
- Local Government
- News and Public Affairs
- State Government
- State Politics
Hillsborough legislators talk protest bill, budget priorities with Tiger Bay
Members of Hillsborough County’s legislative delegation seem to agree on a lot when it comes to what to tackle in Tallahassee this year, but not always on how to execute it. Republican and Democratic senators and house representatives met with Tampa’s Tiger Bay today and few priorities were as divisive as the HB1 protest bill…. Read more »
- African American
- Civil Rights
- Criminal Justice
- Ethnic Tension
- Law Enforcement
- News and Public Affairs
Black Lives Matter Activist attacked by ‘community patriot’ at New Port Richey council meeting
A New Port Richey City Council meeting turned violent Tuesday when a Black Lives Matter activist was attacked outside of City Hall. One arrest was made after tensions between activists and a group called “community patriots” went from the council chambers to the parking lot. LISTEN: The confrontation at Tuesday’s meeting boiled over from an… Read more »
Floridians gather to protest senate bill exempting felons and workers under 21 from $15 minimum wage
Floridians gathered outside the St. Petersburg Office of State Sen. Jeff Brandes Tuesday to protest legislation that would exempt felons and workers under 21 from getting a $15 minimum wage. Opponents of the bill say it thwarts the will of voters who overwhelmingly passed Amendment 2 in November and say everyone deserves to make a… Read more »
Florida Legislative Black Caucus unveils ‘fair and just’ police reforms, cites BLM movement as signal for change
Members of the Florida Legislative Black Caucus cite the Black Lives Matter movement as inspiration for a set of bills aimed at what it calls ‘fair and just policing.’ The bills come as some in the state legislature look to further crackdown on public protests. LISTEN: More than a dozen bills in the Florida House… Read more »
Colin Kaepernick, Ben & Jerry’s team for West Tampa mural supporting social justice
The image of controversial quarterback Colin Kaepernick now appears on a massive mural in West Tampa that supports his fight for social justice. The mural was unveiled Wednesday as Tampa gets ready to host the Super Bowl on Sunday. LISTEN: Chelsey Ramirez stands barely five-feet tall. But now the 13-year-old Stewart Middle Magnet seventh grader’s… Read more »
- Civil Rights
- Corruption
- Criminal Justice
- Justice System
- Law Enforcement
- News and Public Affairs
- State Government
Florida lawmakers call for reform after DOJ report finds ‘systemic’ sexual abuse in women’s prison
Florida lawmakers are calling for sweeping reforms after a Department of Justice investigation alleged a culture of “systemic” sexual abuse and cover-ups at a women’s prison in Ocala. State legislators last week held a Zoom call with former inmates of Lowell Correctional Institution to talk about how to move forward. LISTEN: Laurette Philipsen expected to… Read more »
“Civil Rights, Civil Liberties, and Social Justice” on Morning Energy
For decades the fight for civil liberties, civil rights, and social justice have been a mission for many individuals and groups around the world. This fight has resulted in many deaths as well as many victories. In the United States, some of the most important civil liberties and civil rights are guaranteed by the “United… Read more »
Tampa police review policy pushed to 2021 following citizen pushback
The Tampa City Council Thursday voted unanimously to push considering changes to its police Citizen Review Board until early 2021. Citizens came out in droves in person and virtually to call for citizen-led oversight of police amid a call for resistance from police unions. LISTEN: The call came from Tampa Mayor Jane Castor’s office in… Read more »
In Florida, budget woes won’t get you out of accessibility responsibilities
The 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act provided federal civil rights safeguards for people with physical and mental impairments. But in the years since numerous pieces of federal and state-level legislation have determined exactly how those protections are enacted. Florida’s guidelines for transportation compliance often encourage going beyond minimum standards, including putting budget concerns in the… Read more »
