Florida lawmakers introduced more than 3,000 bills in the 2021 legislative sessions, with about 8 percent of them being signed into law. Among them were bills with robust support from both Republican and Democrats. These include everything from making improvements to early education to protecting the environment and putting restrictions on telephone solicitations. State Rep…. Read more »
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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 »
Man who pulled gun on St. Pete Black Lives Matter protesters identified, but charges haven’t been filed
The man who pulled a gun on Black Lives Matter protesters in St. Pete last month has been identified as Lawrence Arnold Davis. An investigation is ongoing, but lawyers representing a woman who Davis allegedly pushed to the ground before pulling the gun are calling for the lead prosecutor to recuse himself. LISTEN: When Kimberly… Read more »
Florida State’s Attorneys to combat racial disparity with data, transparency
Hillsborough County State Attorney Andrew Warren and Jacksonville’s Melissa Nelson Thursday joined prosecutors from around the country to announce new initiatives aimed at accountability and reducing racial disparity in the justice system. The two participated in the Prosecutorial Performance Indicator project aimed at using detailed data sets to track the success of prosecutor offices and… Read more »
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Pasco Black Lives Matter leader to plead not guilty on police battery charge, activists say he’s being targeted
A Black Lives Matter activist in Pasco was arraigned Friday on charges he battered a New Port Richey police officer in July and obstructed the officer without violence. Marlowe Jones will plead not guilty to the charges and maintains he, and other activists, are being targeted by New Port Richey police. Listen: Despite facing a… Read more »
Tampa protestors show support for Jacob Blake, call for police reform
Protesters gathered in Tampa Friday to show support for Jacob Blake, an unarmed Black man killed by police in Kenosha Wisconsin last week. Demonstrators gathered to protest ongoing police killings of Black people and violence against protestors. Listen: Dolores Bartels said before this year she’d never been scared to be alive. But as police killings… Read more »
Seffner man arraigned for illegally detaining Black teen
A Seffner man was arraigned on charges of false imprisonment Wednesday. The Hillsborough State Attorney’s Office said he detained a Black teenager against his will and falsely reported crimes. Listen: The young man was riding his bicycle to basketball practice before sunrise in early June when Luis Santos decided he’d committed a crime. He had… Read more »
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Black Lives Matter, other activists, respond to beating of Jae Passmore with Rally in Tampa park
Dozens of activists gathered in Tampa’s Lykes Gaslight Park Friday morning in response to the arrest and beating of prominent Black Lives Matter activist Jae Passmore. The smell of burning sage mixed with palpable frustration as Passmore led chants calling for the ousting of Tampa Police Chief Brian Dugan and Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, who… Read more »
Sunday Black Lives Matter march draws 1,000
Last Sunday marked the end of several days of protests in the Tampa Bay area as Black Lives Matter protests extend internationally in response to the killing of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police. One of the largest demonstrations was at Cyrus Greene Park on Sunday afternoon. More than 1,000 protesters attended the… Read more »
Mayor Castor makes appearance at George Floyd solidarity protest
Last Saturday afternoon about 1,000 protesters joined with the nationwide Black Lives Matter marches seeking justice for George Floyd. Large sections of Fowler avenue in Temple Terrace were blocked off. Students for a Democratic Society and the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression organized the action. Tampa Mayor Jane Castor participated in the march,… Read more »
