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 »
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Black Lives Matter protests: Hillsborough State Attorney drops some charges, pursues others
The Hillsborough State Attorney’s Office released information Friday afternoon about charges related to Black Lives Matter protests that it is either pursuing or dropping. For example, Andrew Warren’s office said it will not pursue criminal charges against protester Jae Passmore. Police charged her with battery saying she hit a counter-protester in the head. But the… Read more »
Putting more police in Florida schools is hurting students, study finds
A new study from the University of Florida and the ALCU claims that increased policing in schools has not made schools any safer and might be doing more bad than good. The mass shooting and killing of 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in 2018 sparked new debate about the safety of Florida’s… Read more »
Pinellas County Sheriff has a new official policy on how deputies execute search warrants
On Tuesday the Pinellas Sheriff said his office is making official a new policy on how deputies execute search warrants. Ever since police in Louisville, Kentucky killed Breonna Taylor while conducting what’s called a “no-knock” warrant, many people have called for a ban. But Sheriff Bob Gualtieri says even though Florida doesn’t have “no-knock” warrants,… Read more »
City of Tampa and USF release survey results from Community Policing Workshop
Over the weekend, the City of Tampa unveiled findings about community opinions of the city’s police force. Mayor Jane Castor responded to the results of Tampa’s Community Policing Workshop. The survey was conducted and results were announced by a USF professor, who we’ll heard from on WMNF’s MidPoint. Listen to the show here. The results… Read more »
Ben Crump releases new video of truck driving into Tampa activist
Civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump has released a previously unreleased video of a red truck striking and injuring a Black Lives Matter activist during protests during the Juneteenth weekend in Tampa. Tampa Police have so far not arrested the driver of the truck that struck demonstrator Jae Passmore. In the short video below you can… 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 »
Tampa Police injure protest leader during arrest for battery
A prominent anti-racism protester was hospitalized Wednesday night after she was arrested by Tampa Police. In a press release, police say they charged Jae Passmore with battery and with resisting arrest without violence. In a video posted to Instagram (see below), witnesses yell at police to stop kneeling on Passmore, who is on the ground…. Read more »
Tampa Police say they arrested four teens for spray painting on Back the Blue mural
Tampa Police say they arrested four teenagers late Tuesday night for spray painting on a street mural outside police headquarters in downtown Tampa. The mural on Madison Street at Franklin Street was painted by supporters of the police. That “Back the Blue” mural was painted without a permit from the city, but its creators have… Read more »
St. Petersburg takes a step to defund the police; instead of 25 officers, city will hire social workers
On Thursday, St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman announced a step that will partially defund the police. Police Chief Anthony Holloway said the department plans to use grant money that was supposed to be for hiring new officers and instead use the funds for social workers who will respond to nonviolent calls for people needing social… Read more »
Car vs Protester: driver released and protester arrested.
On Saturday a protester was hospitalized and arrested after being struck and carried off by a vehicle that had driven through a demonstration in Hyde Park. About 50 people had gathered to show support for activist and veteran Jae Passmore, who sustained a leg injury and a concussion a week ago during another Black Lives Matter rally where she was… Read more »
Tampa activists pressure City Council on police reform
Dozens of speakers turned out at Tampa City Council’s public comment this morning at the Tampa Convention Center, where meetings have been recently moved to accommodate social distancing. The focus of many of the comments was in support of a recent movement to fire Tampa Police Chief Brian Dugan, called #dumpdugan. Residents poured out their… Read more »
Rights groups and Hillsborough law enforcement agencies agree to reforms
The Hillsborough Branch NAACP, local ACLU and several law enforcement agencies from across Hillsborough County are working together to repair trust between police and the community. In a press conference Wednesday morning, Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister announced five reforms the law enforcement groups agreed to. Listen: Chronister said implicit bias training would be enhanced… Read more »
Truck drives into Tampa activist at Black Lives Matter protest
Over the weekend several Juneteenth marches and celebrations continued across the Tampa Bay area. On Sunday one march landed in front of Meat Market in Hyde Park Village, which was hosting brunch despite an employee recently testing positive for COVID-19. Former Hillsborough County Commission candidate and military veteran Jae Passmore was struck by a car… Read more »
