WATCH: Click the image above to watch my full remarks during debate of this unconstitutional map
Unfortunately, you read that right. And despite our best efforts, Governor DeSantis’ unprecedented, partisan gerrymandered congressional map that he and his office wrote themselves passed the Florida legislature. This map officially whittles down a 50-50 state to 20-8 and cuts Black representation in Congress IN HALF.
It's simple. This map is designed to help DeSantis raise money in California and New York and solidify his eventual primary chances against Donald Trump, and he's willing to put Black voters in Florida under the bus to do it.
And if the ramming through of this bill weren’t bad enough, after my Black Democratic colleagues staged a peaceful protest on the House floor, Republican leadership did the following:
- Had the Wi-Fi cut off in the Chamber
- Stopped The Florida Channel public broadcast
- Cleared the gallery of people watching the floor debate
- And, wait for it… removed reporters.
Once again, you read that right. And no, this isn’t a news story from 1965 or out of an authoritarian country. This happened yesterday, in the year 2022, in the “free state of Florida.”
My statement to the Tampa Bay Times yesterday
Yesterday was a very dark day in Florida, but we can’t stop fighting to protect our democratic ideals that we hold dear. So if you're angry about what went down in Florida this week, come canvass with us tomorrow morning. Knocking doors is the single most effective way to connect with voters, so we have to get out there and hit the pavement if we're going to WIN this November. Click the volunteer button below to sign up to join us in Riverview tomorrow morning.
