John, I wish I had better news to share with you.

FLORIDA GOP VOTES TO APPROVE GERRYMANDERED REDISTRICTING MAP THAT SLASHES BLACK REPRESENTATION, DEMOCRATS FIGHT BACK

I spent this morning in the House chamber exposing Ron DeSantis and his cronies’ blatant effort to cut Black representation and diminish the power of the Black vote in Florida. I am proud to stand tall with my fellow Black Democrats in the face of this injustice.

I will not allow this moment to pass us by without making our voices heard. I have my mother's blood and my father's blood coursing through my veins. I have my ancestors' blood coursing through my veins. They have fought too much for us to bury our heads in the sand.

- I have a vested interest in these maps because I represent Black Floridians.
- I have a vested interest because I know the struggles of Black and Brown folks over the course of 200+ years in this country, but most certainly in this state.
- I have a vested interest because I understand it wasn't until the Voting Rights Act that my parents were able to vote.
- I have a vested interest because I'm a Black woman in the state of Florida.
- I have a vested interest because I'm a Black resident in the state of Florida.

These maps are a farce and folks know it. Republicans have told us privately that they know it and they are allowing the governor to get away with it.

Republicans have forced Florida to be the microcosm of the erosion of democracy. John, we cannot allow this to stand.

In solidarity,

Michele Rayner