Page 4 - Florida Sentinel 5-20-22

Experts Say Democrats Are Stronger Than You Think
Voters quietly turning against Republican can- didates
BY SHEILA JAMES
If you think the Republicans are over the top or as they are nick-named, “Republican Crazy,” you are not alone. Re- spected journalist and talk show host John Heilemann points to findings that show Democrats have pulled ahead of Republicans by 4%, in a generic candidate matchup, re- bounding from an 8% Repub- lican lead just a few months ago. American voters are pay- ing attention to the extreme agendas offered by the GOP. And apparently, they don’t like it.
Nationally, Republicans fa- vorably continue to drop dra- matically as they present candidates who trigger outrage and concern. Their registration has dipped to 25% while the Democrats are 31% and No Party Affiliation 41%. NPA’s are powerful in determining election outcomes and trend toward Democrats.
Governor Ron DeSan- tis is the national leader in base-baiting on these issues that target Black Floridians disproportionately. Black vot- ers make up 30% of the regis- tered Democrats in Florida and have proven powerful and essential to victories nation- ally. DeSantis plans to run for President in 2024. Meanwhile, the Sunshine State is the gov- ernor’s petri dish for disturb- ing legislation and policies considered race bating. He thinks he will win re-election as governor without a fight.
But the bombastic Republi- can will probably face popular former Governor Charlie Crist, who presents a striking contrast. The presumptive Democratic nominee has a 92% name ID and is very pop- ular with all age groups, Blacks, Whites, and Hispanics, among voters in every region of the state.
He’s gut punched DeSan- tis many times. “Ron De- Santis is nothing but a power-hungry bully, trying to bluster his way to the White House without doing a single damn thing for Florida,” Crist adds, “No previous Governor has posed such a direct threat to our prosperity and our democracy.”
The DeSantis base baiting
LAYNE SMITH
...A DeSantis appointee, Talla- hassee Circuit Judge Layne Smith ruled against the governor for violating the state constitu-
tion.
has cost Florida taxpayers over 20 million dollars defending laws that violate the constitu- tion or civil rights. Outraged judges have lashed out in rul- ings saying DeSantis is pur- posely “targeting” Blacks. Federal Judge Mark Walker said DeSantis inten- tionally discriminates against Black voters in the elections law passed in 2021, striking it down and Circuit Court Judge Layne Smith, a DeSantis appointee stopped the redis- tricting plan because it disen- franchised Black voters, and violated the state constitution by eliminating Black districts. Overt Black voter suppression includes the election police force under DeSantis's com-
CHARLIE CRIST
...Crist says DeSantis is “The worst governor in modern Florida history”
GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS Focused on the White House DeSantis abandons Florida.
mand and the open carry gun law he is currently floating. This is an election year known for low voter turnout, but De- Santis’ antics could prompt turnout by a silent majority of Blacks and Whites tired of his extreme politics.
A 1960s Response Needed For Buffalo Shootings
We offer our condolences to the City of Buffalo, New York. However, there is a possibility that stores, and venues frequented by large numbers of Blacks may soon be patrolled heavily by law enforcement, armed security guards or volunteer community groups similar to the Deacons For Defense and Justice and the Guardian An- gels from the 1960s and 1970s.
Incidents like the mass shooting that took place in Buf- falo, New York last weekend will cause Black communi- ties to proactively protect their communities rather than become sitting ducks for racists, White Supremists and other hate groups. There are too many Korean, Viet Nam, Afghanistan, and Desert Storm veterans in the Black Communities to allow hate mongers to attack us on our own turf.
The Deacons for Defense and Justice formed in 1964 to protect civil rights activists from Ku Klux Klan attacks during the marches and protests of the 1960s. Black World War II veterans who pledged armed self-defense to Black activists made sure the attacks did not go unan- swered.
The Guardian Angels, formed in 1979 was “responsible for creating hundreds of safety patrols chapters through- out the United States and worldwide, and formed chap- ters in 130 cities in 13 countries. The group also instituted programs to protect and improve the quality of life in their communities. Thoroughly “trained in protection of self, and others, volunteer members regularly patrolled their communities and taught residents self-defense and “street smarts” skills to senior citizens, women, schools and community groups.”
While the names of George Floyd, Ahmad Arbery and Christina Yuna Lee made national news, because of their deaths, they were only three of the 7,314 victims of hate crimes in 2020. In 2019, a record high for reported hate crime murders (51) in the United States by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) was “more than double the number in 2018, and the largest figures since the FBI began tracking the numbers in the early 1990s.”
The Buffalo mass shooting could have taken place in any major city in the United States. We must make sure this type of hateful act does not take place ever again any- where in America.
Editorial State
PAGE 4-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2022