While some Republicans are doing the right thing, Andrew's opponents are saying plenty with their silence.
Hillsborough County is getting national attention after the chairman of the local Republican Party called protesters 'murderers' among other graphic and unfounded accusations. While some local Republicans have called for him to step down, BOTH of my Republican opponents refused to comment to the Tampa Bay Times on the incident.
"In a short period of time they will come to your house, drag you out and beat, disembowel and cut off your head … in front of your family and then do the same to them."
-Chairman of the Hillsborough County Republican Party
There have been a lot of bad-faith attempts to discredit the protests against police brutality and systemic racism in the past few weeks, but this is one of the worst and it is unfortunately drawing a national spotlight to our community - this is not what we want to be recognized for. As protests have broken out across the country, including here in Tampa, we need our elected leaders to take these matters seriously.
Neither one of Andrew's opponents has spoken publicly about George Floyd, systemic racism, or police brutality; now, they can't even come out to condemn language like this.
We need leaders who are in touch with the issues affecting our communities right now.
