Page 3 - Florida Sentinel 10-23-18

Features
Former Police Captain To Host Book Signing
‘Retired Teachers
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
The lives we live is re- flected in the decisions we make. In some instances, making tough decisions are not easy, nor are they popu- lar.
Marion Lewis, a former Tampa Police Captain, re- cently released his first book, entitled, “If You Don’t Stand Up For What You Believe In, You Will Fall For Anything.” The book chronicles his arduous jour- ney with the Tampa Police Department when he decided to run for Mayor eleven years ago.
A Tampa native, Lewis was influenced to enter law enforcement by a tragic event that involved a white officer killing a young unarmed Black teenager. The death of Martin Chambers sparked a riot in Tampa during the mid 1960s and was the begin- ning of the end for the Black business district known as Central Avenue.
As a result of the riot, at the age of 9, Lewis said, “I made a covenant with myself that I would become a Tampa Police officer and work to im- prove the relationship be- tween the Black community and the police.” He joined the Tampa Police Department in
city. He also thanks the stranger who prayed for him and encouraged him to stand his ground.
He feels his journey “trav- elled all the way to the Supreme Court of Florida with an outcome that changed the political land- scape for law enforcement of- ficers in Florida who wanted to seek political office.”
Lewis said, “I want this book to encourage others to stand up for righteous beliefs, even against all odds. So many people look the other way when they experience or see an injustice because they don’t want to deal with the adversity. Just remember, “If You Don’t Stand Up For What You Believe In, You Will Fall For Any- thing.”
At USF Rally
For Gillum’
MARION S. LEWIS First-time author to host book signing
1980. He rose through the ranks and was promoted to the level of Captain.
For 27 years, Lewis served as a law enforcement officer. However, after an- nouncing his plans to chal- lenge then Mayor Pam Iorio, Lewis was told that he would have to resign his position in order to seek the office. When he refused, he was terminated from his posi- tion.
After his dismissal, Lewis filed a wrongful termination lawsuit against the City of Tampa. The lawsuit wound through the courts for several years before it was settled in his favor.
He extended his thanks to the Sentinel for providing “fair and accurate coverage” of his legal battle with the
A group of retired teachers were at the rally at the Univer- sity of South Florida (in the East Gym) on Monday (Oct. 22nd) to support gubernatorial candidate An- drew Gillum. Former Vice President Joe Biden was in Tampa to rally for Gillum and U. S. Senator Bill Nelson in his bid for re- election, and other Democ- rats seeking of- fice. (Photo by Julia Jackson)
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