Racial Justice Groups Denounce Gov. Scott’s Power-Grab - Advancement Project - Advancement Project

Racial Justice Groups Denounce Gov. Scott’s Power-Grab

In Amicus Brief, Racial Justice Organizations Decry Scott’s Move as Effort to Criminalize Communities of Color

Washington – In response to Florida Gov. Rick Scott’s attack against Florida State Attorney Aramis Ayala and the will of the Floridians who elected her, community organizations decried Scott’s overreach and his efforts to criminalize communities of color. Following a media conference call this morning, the organizations also released an amicus brief they filed in the Florida Supreme Court today denouncing Scott’s effort to impede prosecution reform and address Florida’s criminal justice crisis.

Organizations signing on to the amicus brief released the following statements:

Judith Browne Dianis, Executive Director, Advancement Project’s National Office:

“Florida’s criminal justice system is one of the country’s worst – ranked 10th in the country for its state imprisonment rate. The people of Florida are pushing for change and electing Aramis Ayala State Attorney in Orange and Osceola counties was one of those changes. Black and Latino voters were especially seeking a reform agenda. Governor Scott has overstepped his authority, removing her from 23 cases and substituting his political leanings for the will of the voters. The right to vote for representatives of choice is fundamental. Scott’s power grab undermines our democracy and threatens reforms necessary to fix the broken criminal justice system.”

Francesca Menes, Florida Immigrant Coalition, Director of Policy and Advocacy:

“In Central Florida and beyond, we have seen an unacceptable increase in criminalization practices. Whether it’s executive orders that raid our communities or criminalizing practices that destroy futures, Floridians of all backgrounds are standing firm to send a message. Our people elected who we wanted and we will not tolerate the governor imposing his will over the voices of the people.”

Chardonnay Singleton, Dream Defenders:

“Since the murder of Trayvon Martin, the voters in Florida have sought to create an environment in which the criminal system serves them and not special interests. That is reflected in the election of Aramis Ayala. Our communities strive to create a criminal justice system that is more human, more reflective of our communities and more transformative. Governor Scott’s actions are an attempt to block these efforts.”

Miles Murain, Jr., Let Your Voice Be Heard:

“Let Your Voice Be Heard worked to turn out the vote in 2016. Our communities came out enthusiastically to elect Aramis Ayala, a candidate whose views resonated with our desire for criminal justice reform. Governor Scott is not just stripping Aramis Ayala of her power, he’s stripping Florida’s voter of their power as well. We will not accept this attack on our democratic process. We will fight and show again that Orlando, Tallahassee and the whole state stands with Aramis Ayala and the criminal justice reforms she espouses.”

Rashad Robinson, Executive Director, Color Of Change:

“Black voters made history in November electing Aramis Ayala because the community understands we are at a crossroads. Just this last election we partnered to do hundreds of thousands of voter contacts to put bad prosecutors on notice and to start shifting the narrative. Voters translated this urgency into power that made real change. By overreaching against Ayala, Governor Scott joins a long, ugly history where Black people are told that their political participation doesn’t matter and can be voided. We will not be turned away, we will not be stopped. We will continue to stand with Aramis Ayala.”

Monica Russo, SEIU 1199:

“On behalf of 55,000 active and retired workers – 3,000 of whom live in Orange and Osceola Counties – our members love and revere Aramis Ayala. Many of our folks are Black and Brown women – health care workers, bus drivers, airport workers. They fight for voting rights and healthcare and living wages. Many of them sleep with one eye open making sure their loved ones come home in one piece. We depend on DA Aramis Ayala. We have her back and we are proud to stand in support of our sister.”

###

KEEP READING

Racial Justice Organization Advancement Project Responds to President Biden’s State of the Union Address

WASHINGTON, DC – In reaction to the State of the Union, Judith Browne Dianis, Executive Director of Advancement Project, a national racial justice organization, issued this statement: “Tonight’s State of the Union, held just weeks after the killing of Tyre Nichols, did little to address the core problems inherent in policing.  “While President Biden acknowledged the pain and grief of families like the parents of Tyre Nichols, his administration’s efforts to put more money and resources into policing will only result in more murders of Black people by the hands of police.

Read More
Advancement Project Responds to Reports Of Memphis Police Officers Charged Over Tyre Nichols Killing

Leading Racial Justice Organization Calls for World Where Black People Are Free WASHINGTON, DC —  In response to reports that five former Memphis police officers are charged with the murder and kidnapping of Tyre Nichols, Judith Browne Dianis, executive director of Advancement Project released this statement: “Today, three weeks after Tyre Nichols’ brutal killing, it was announced that five former Memphis police officers were indicted on charges including murder and kidnapping. While it is rare to see cops face any accountability for their actions, this is hardly a victory. Nothing can bring…

Read More
Advancement Project Releases Poll and Focus Group Data on Gen Z Voters of Color Spanning Four States

Advancement Project Releases Poll and Focus Group Data on Gen Z Voters of Color in Michigan, Florida, Georgia, and Virginia Issues that rose to the top include abortion access, the economy, and systemic racism and discrimination WASHINGTON D.C. – Today, Advancement Project released findings from a poll and focus groups of Gen Z voters of color (Black, Latinx, Indigenous, and Asian American and Pacific Islander) in Michigan, Florida, Georgia, and Virginia ahead of the upcoming midterm elections. This survey was conducted by HIT Strategies in September 2022.  “We know that when our…

Read More
We Cannot Keep Doing Business As Usual: Response to Biden’s “Safer America Plan”

Civil Rights Organization on President Biden’s “Safer America Plan” Says Increase of Police Officers in Communities Will Not Only Fail to Improve Public Safety, But Also Lead to More Harm to Communities of Color Washington, DC – In response to the “Safer America Plan” announced by President Joe Biden on Tuesday in Philadelphia, Liyah Brown, program director for the Justice Project at Advancement Project National Office, issued this statement:  “President Biden’s call for an increase of police officers in our communities will not only fail to improve…

Read More
BREAKING: Court Denies Motion from Civil Rights Groups Challenging Georgia’s Voting Line Relief Ban

GEORGIA – The United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia denied a motion for a preliminary injunction to suspend the line relief ban in Senate Bill 202. Line relief is the practice of distributing food, water and other support to voters stuck waiting in line at a polling place. The plaintiffs include local Black faith leaders and Georgia civil rights groups. In response, Jess Unger, Staff Attorney for the Power and Democracy program at Advancement Project National Office, released this statement: “The criminalization of people providing food and water to voters who are waiting to cast their…

Read More
Leading Civil Rights Group on Reports Federal Officials Have Charged Four Current and Former Police Officers in the Killing of Breonna Taylor

Statement from Judith Browne Dianis, executive director of Advancement Project – National Office, a leading civil rights organization, on reports that federal officials have charged four current and former police officers involved in the fatal raid that killed Breonna Taylor, of several crimes, including lying to obtain a warrant that was used to search her home:  “Today, by moving forward with criminal charges against the four police officers involved in the killing of Breonna Taylor as she slept in her bed, federal officials are recognizing what we have all known for years: Breonna Taylor should be alive…

Read More
Invest in People, Not Police

July 22, 2022 Contact: Yasmeen Ramahi, [email protected] “Invest in People, Not Police” Advancement Project National Office Response to Joe Biden’s “Safer America Plan” Washington, DC – In response to the “Safer America Plan” introduced by President Joe Biden on Thursday, Liyah Brown, program director for the Justice Project at Advancement Project National Office, issued this statement:  “President Biden’s call for an increase of 100,000 police officers in our communities will not only fail to improve public safety, but will…

Read More
Hearing in Lawsuit Challenging Georgia Anti-Voting Rights Law Weighs Impact of Line Relief Restrictions

GEORGIA —  The United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia will be hearing motions for a preliminary injunction in the consolidated litigation challenging SB 202 (In Re Georgia Senate Bill 202). This hearing will consider the “line relief” provision that criminalizes those who provide voters waiting in line with food and water, which disproportionately impacts communities of color in Georgia who face some of the longest waiting times at the ballot box in the country.  SB 202 creates significant barriers for Black, Latinx and other voters of color…

Read More
Civil Rights Org Advancement Project National Office Responds to Biden’s Policing Order

NATIONAL – Today, on the two-year anniversary of George Floyd’s murder by Minneapolis police and the subsequent uprisings across the country calling for an overhaul of police and policing, President Biden signed an Executive Order that aims to cut down on police abuse and misconduct. In response, Judith Browne Dianis, Executive Director of the national civil rights group Advancement Project National Office, wrote this statement: “On the anniversary of the day when George Floyd was killed by state-sanctioned police violence, we are glad to see President Biden creating an initiative that aims to curtail police abuse…

Read More
Advancement Project National Office Condemns New Anti-Voting Rights Law in Florida that Creates Office of Election Crimes, Mandates Special Voter-Fraud Police Officers

FLORIDA – Moments ago, Governor DeSantis signed into law a bill passed by the Republican Florida legislature that claims to fight “voter fraud” by creating an Office of Election Crimes and mandating the appointment of “special” members of law enforcement.  This comes on the heels of the conclusion of a trial challenging SB 90, another anti-voting rights measure in Florida. This law was successfully challenged in court by several national and Florida civil rights and voting rights groups, including Advancement Project. Similar anti-voting rights bills…

Read More