Clearwater church spreading message of love after vandalism on Black Lives Matter sign

A Clearwater church is turning a negative into a positive after its Black Lives Matter sign was vandalized. They debuted a new sign showering love back into the community.....Read More

“It’s repulsive”: State House advances bill to limited use of pride flags

In a heated State House subcommittee meeting Wednesday, a bill advanced that would put restrictions on LGBTQ, Black Lives Matter, and other flags on some Florida buildings.....Read More

Ron DeSantis thinks Insurrection Act should have been used against Black Lives Matter protests

Gov. Ron DeSantis has quibbled about whether the Jan. 6 2021 Capitol Riots constituted an insurrection, but he has no such qualms about making a similar declaration about Black Lives Matter protests and how he would have handled them.....Read More

Florida Supreme Court hears arguments on protest law amid allegations of targeting Black activists

James Tysse at the Florida Supreme Court, 10/4/23 // Credit: Florida Supreme Court Youtube

On Wednesday, the Florida Supreme Court heard arguments in a challenge to a 2021 law that enhanced penalties and created new crimes during protests that turn violent.

Groups including the Dream Defenders and NAACP argue that the law was enacted seemingly in response to the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests.

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Florida Supreme Court hears arguments on protest law amid allegations of targeting Black activists

On Wednesday, the Florida Supreme Court heard arguments in a challenge to a 2021 law that enhanced penalties and created new crimes during protests that turn violent.

Groups including the Dream Defenders and NAACP argue that the law was enacted seemingly in response to the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests.

More HERE

Under DeSantis, FL has become the bellwether state for voter disenfranchisement

The book “Laboratories of Democracy” appeared in 1988, positing that individual states were poised to experiment with progressive policies that could transform the political landscape if adopted in other states or the national level.

A new edition might be called “Laboratories of Autocracy,” since Republican-run states these days are experimenting with ways to disenfranchise Democratic constituencies, stack the courts against progressive initiatives, and cement their control over this country one state at a time.

The dust cover could feature the smiling mug of Florida’s governor, Ron DeSantis, the Republican presidential candidate who since the Black Lives Matter summer three years ago has pushed an ever-more-reactionary campaign against marginalized communities, not least at the voting booth.

More HERE

Black Lives Matter marks 10th anniversary with new calls for justice

BLM organizations will commemorate the decade with in-person and virtual events, issuing renewed calls to reallocate money from police departments and into Black communities that have suffered from police brutality, unequal treatment in criminal justice systems and mass incarceration.....MORE

Maxwell Frost: GOP Bill Attempting To 'Attack And Vilify The Black Lives Matter Movement'

In DeSantis' Florida, Black Lives Don't Much Matter

State Sen. Bobby Powell, a West Palm Beach Democrat and former chair of the state's Black Legislative Caucus, said the administration of Gov. Ron DeSantis is more interested in scoring political points at Black people's expense than working to improve their lives.

"Right now, we're under a regime that works to attack the idea of diversity and inclusion," Powell said. "People are jumping on that bandwagon. We've got gaps now that I think will grow even larger."

More HERE

Why I am running for Select Board

 My top priority will be to expand improvements in Bennington that will make a positive difference. Given the nature of Dillon’s Rule, there is a lot that I would love to do, which would require Vermont state authority; such as connecting our own North Bennington train station to commuter rail with the rest of our state.

Given the powers of the Select Board, I aim to work with colleagues to expand sidewalks, as well as their upkeep, in Bennington. I want to explore tangible opportunities to responsibly house our fellow Bennington residents who experience homelessness. Furthermore, I will be steadfast in securing equity for marginalized communities.

2. So far as I have seen, Putnam Block has been successful thus far amid a pandemic, and the economic hardships thusly attributed. A flurry of fantastic, new businesses have blossomed on Main Street, and this is the sort of progress we need to build on. I am grateful that the Community Market is championing healthy food for Bennington and its most disadvantaged residents.

I fully appreciate that the Bennhi project seeks to restore a historic part of our town, and offer potentially My name is Asher Edelson, and I am running for Bennington Select Board.

I choose to move to Bennington after growing up in the South, where I never felt at home, and found home here. The small town atmosphere appealed to me, as did seasonal weather and the town’s charm. This is where I found home, community, a place to work, and a place to buy my first house. This is where I want to raise a family.

Prior to the move, I ran for the school board of the sixth largest school district in the nation (at the age of 19), and lost my race while talking about student nutrition and ending state standardized testing.

From there, I got my Bachelor’s Degree, held positions within local political structures, interned for a Congresswoman, and worked for numerous political campaigns.

Even then, I knew I was not at home. The best decision I ever made was making the move to Bennington. After the move in 2019, I got right to work. Amid full time employment, I became Chair of the Vermont State Rehabilitation Council, Town Chair of the Bennington Democratic Party, a School Board Member at Southwest Tech, and a history teacher at the Vermont School for Girls.

Each of these positions offers me an opportunity to do real good for the community. Whether that is helping to successfully lobby for mandated hearing aid insurance in Vermont, bringing a variety of statewide candidates to Bennington, successfully adding gender identity & national origin to SW Tech’s anti-discrimination policy, or helping disadvantaged students learn about the world, I am proud of what I have accomplished. And it is only the beginning.

I am running for Select Board to make an impact. I will do what I can on a variety of issues that I care about, including transit, housing, and disability accessibility. I am prepared to be a proactive listener and find a way to make positive change a reality.

I live in Bennington, with my two cats. I enjoy spending time with friends, gaming, catching up with programs or books that I enjoy, and learning about Vermont.more affordable housing to older people. The idea that this space could be used to host community events, affordable and accessible housing, small businesses, and nonprofits is attractive. Provided I am elected to the Bennington Select Board, I will be diligent in utilizing whatever resources I can to ascertain the feasibility of the Bennhi project. If it is financially appropriate, and accessible to those with disabilities, it will be a project that I support.

3. I love Bennington and I am grateful to call her my home. Bennington needs to be equitable, accessible, and productive. Let’s get down to brass tacks, our town has experienced serious problems with regard to racism. We need to work as a community to ensure our town is welcoming and safe for people of color. Painting “Black Lives Matter” in front of our Town Office is wonderful, however it is not a tangible change for ensuring our black and brown neighbors are safe, as well as truly listened to — we need to do work on that front. When a duly elected Vermont l State Representative feels the need to resign and move out of town due to racism, that’s a problem.

Furthermore, Bennington would thrive more so with a variety of public transit options. When people with disabilities have difficulty accessing damaged sidewalks, that’s a problem. When our local bus drivers need to unionize in order to make ends meet, that’s a problem. When trade jobs leave Bennington while our water gets polluted, that’s a problem. The good thing is that we can fix these problems in order to revitalize our beautiful, resilient, blossoming Bennington.

From the heart,

Asher Edelson

HELP HIM HERE

Publishing company will offer free Black history e-books, especially in Florida

Haymarket Books will offer the following e-books for free to download: From Black Lives Matter to Black Liberation by Keeanga Yamahtta, which explores why the Black Lives Matter movement is necessary; Black Lives Matter at School: An Uprising for Educational Justice, edited by Jesse Hagopian and Denisha Jones, which details how the Black Lives Matter movement has challenged institutional racism; and 1919 by Eve L. Ewing, a collection of poems depicting the Chicago race riots of 1919.....MORE

Sarasota Rightwing school board member Bridget Ziegler

Has taken aim at the Black Lives Matter movement. On September 14, she posted a video about Black Lives Matter and the Civil Rights Movement from BrainPop, a widely used learning resource that creates instructional videos for schools. 

“Our job is to educate, not indoctrinate,” 

said Ziegler, referring to the movement to end violence against Black people in America. Now Ziegler is trying to find out which teachers used the BrainPop video, and looking into the company’s contract with the school district. HERE

Asher Edelson For School Board

Ed Letourneau, A member of the Mount Anthony Union School Board is under fire on social media over recent Facebook comments relating to Blacks, the Black Lives Matter movement and liberals. HERE

 

I may run for his seat, or another seat on the Bennington Supervisory Union (MAU School Board). I always aim to be civil and collected when disagreeing with people who share different views; I followed such a practice in my online interaction with this person, and I received nothing save hate & vitriol. People who served in elected office should strive to practice decency, even with constituents they do not agree with. I believe that the Bennington community deserves that, in our School Boards of all places, and that is one reason why I plan to run — maybe this upcoming March of 2021.

Stay tuned, and groovy

Miami Beach code enforcement forces hotel owner to remove banner supporting Black Lives Matter

Gun pulled on Black Lives Matter protesters in Tallahassee

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UPDATE: He won’t face charges HERE

Tampa City Councilman Charlie Miranda clips coupons during Black Lives Matter presentation

Black is Beautiful in Florida

Central Florida breweries supporting
Black Lives Matter with beer

Black Lives Matter on Bayshore

Candy Lowe

Faithe Ann Estes

Adnan Aida Mackic

Katie Mercury

Greg Cruz

Jason Eames

Rick Fernandez

John Godwin with family

Pastor Russell Meyer and Jake Rodriguez

Tampa, Florida

#tampa #blm #blacklivesmatter