After Republican Gov. Brian Kemp drew widespread outrage in March for signing Georgia’s controversial voter suppression law behind closed doors—an event that also saw the arrest of a Black lawmaker who knocked on them during the signing—it appears as though Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida is ready to one-up him. According to local reports from Thursday morning, DeSantis prohibited the press from covering a signing ceremony for Florida’s own new voter suppression bill, instead giving Fox News an “exclusive” to the event. The result was every bit as dystopian as you’d imagine.
Tag: Florida
Thank God there’s at least one prominent Democrat in Florida to speak out about this disgusting “donations for vaccines” practice by Trump mini-me Ron DeSantis. The state agriculture official called it “corruption at its worst.”
Ron DeSantis Is Selling Vaccines To Rich Floridians | Crooks and Liars
But after Donald Trump’s divisive term as US President, some of their old neighbours won’t be rolling out the red carpet when they return. In Palm Beach, Florida, a group of locals has gone so far as initiating legal action to stop Mr Trump from moving back to his private club, Mar-a-Lago. The move is bound to incite a furious reaction.
Neighbours launch legal action to stop Donald Trump living at Mar-a-Lago
As the possibility of Donald Trump trying to undemocratically snatch the 2020 presidential election seems increasingly likely, we should look to a previous successful attempt by Republicans to seize the presidency while the Democratic Party all but stood by helplessly: the 2000 election’s Florida recount.
To Stop an Electoral Coup, Study What Went Wrong in the 2000 Florida Recount
DeSantis’ proposed bill came on the same day that the U.S. Department of Justice designated New York City, Seattle, and Portland—where anti-racism demonstrations continued 119 days after the Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd—as “anarchist jurisdictions.”
‘Sledgehammer to Permanently Silence Opposing Voices’: Outrage Over Florida Gov. DeSantis’ Proposed Anti-Protest Bill | Common Dreams News
Jonah is at home on the SS Florida the Whale is waitng in antcipation (ODT)
Florida accounts for 10 percent of the country’s COVID-19 cases, with almost half a million cases and already 7,021 deaths. Fifty-one hospitals have run out of ICU beds as the state still is adding another 9,725 new cases on average a day. The hurricane has only contributed more chaos to the equation. State-run coronavirus testing sites have closed on Florida’s eastern coast in anticipation of the storm (originally, the state considered consider closing all of its testing sites before Isaias changed tracks). And hospitals also must plan for the worst. Florida Governor Ron De Santis said he doesn’t “anticipate hospitals needing to evacuate patients.” But one small hospital in Brevard County, which is in the anticipated path of the storm, already has moved its COVID-19 patients. The state has had to stockpile supplies in preparation, including 20 million masks, 22 million gloves, 10 million gowns, 1.6 million face shields, 270,000 coveralls and 20,000 thermometers, while ensuring there are generators for nursing facilities should the power go out.
via A Hurricane, a Pandemic, and Trump: The Triple Crisis Is Barreling Down on Florida – Mother Jones
America isn’t Taiwan it’s indecisive leadership thinks it is and wants business as usual (ODT
According to news reports New Yorkers are leaving the city transporting with them the virus to other states, principally Florida. President Trump announced that he was considering locking New Yorkers in place but said he hoped not to do that.
Meanwhile, the Florida governor copying Trump’s indecision allows Florida with its large elderly population to fill up with likely virus carriers from New York.
via Escape From New York, by Paul Craig Roberts – The Unz Review
Some of the biggest names in corporate America are coming under mounting pressure to cut ties with the National Rifle Association as gun safety activists on Friday intensified calls for a boycott in the wake of last week’s Florida high school massacre.
via ‘Bad business’: Apple, Google, Amazon pressured to cut ties with NRA
And the image Donald Trump chooses to project to the world in the wake of the horrible massacre this week at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School is one of smiles and a signature thumb’s up.
Accused airport gunman Esteban Santiago could face the death penalty for charges that he killed five people when he opened fire in a crowded Florida baggage claim terminal. Friday’s shooting came as Florida lawmakers were preparing to consider legislation to loosen prohibitions on firearms by eliminating some of the state’s “gun-free zones,” which currently include airport terminals. We go to Florida to speak with Thomas Gabor, author of “Confronting Gun Violence in America.” His new opinion piece for the Sun Sentinel is headlined “Expanding gun rights won’t save us from more mass shootings.” We also speak with New York Times reporter Richard Pérez-Peña, co-author of the article, “In Year Before Florida Shooting, Suspect’s Problems Multiplied.”
Source: Florida Prepares to Expand Gun Rights After Second Mass Shooting in Six Months | Democracy Now!
A group of volunteers sharing food with the homeless in Tampa, Florida were recently arrested for the crime of generosity.
Source: Tampa Police Arrest Volunteers for Feeding Homeless (Details)
Two police officers have been removed from the police force in the state of Florida, United States, over allegations that they belong to a local branch of the White Supremacist group, the Ku Klux Klan (KKK). According to the Fruitland Park police, Deputy Chief David …
Source: Two Police Officers in Florida Forced to Step Down from Their Posts over Links with KKK AnonHQ
