Civil Rights Leaders Hold Joint Press Conference at the State Capitol to Address Legislative Attacks on Floridians

State Representatives and the Our Voices Florida Coalition Denounce Harmful Legislation Impacting Floridian’s Voices, History, and Future 

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Yesterday, the Our Voices Florida Coalition held a press conference at the 4th Floor Rotunda of the Florida State Capitol to denounce regressive legislation and demand change for the state. The civic and civil rights groups represented included the League of Women Voters of Florida, NAACP Florida State Conference, Common Cause Florida, Florida Watch, Progress Florida, Florida NOW, and Equality Florida. In addition, Senator Shevrin Jones and Representative Angie Nixon also shared their remarks.  

The press event addressed critical issues impacting Florida’s communities, including threats to Black history, voting rights, gerrymandering, LGBTQ+ rights, reproductive health, book bans, and cuts to public education. The coalition also strategically placed a billboard near the Capitol, to serve as a visual representation of their collective commitment to end these attacks on Floridians’ voices, history, and future. 

“For nearly half a decade, the state of Florida has witnessed a concerning trend of government action that directly threatens the rights and freedoms of its citizens. It is our collective responsibility to stand up against the attacks on Black votes, our children’s education, women’s bodies, LGBTQ+ lives, and the civil rights of all Floridians,” said Cecile M. Scoon, Esq., co-president of the League of Women Voters of Florida. “Martin Luther King Jr. envisioned a ‘Beloved Community’ — a society where individuals of all races, religions, and backgrounds could live together in harmony, embracing each other’s differences. Let us stand together and commit to rebuilding a Beloved Community not just in theory, but in action in Florida.” 

“Yesterday, we reminded legislators that Black voters in Florida have a right to have their voices heard and their votes counted,” said Amy Keith, Executive Director, Common Cause Florida. “Because it should be the people choosing their leaders by electing their candidates of choice, not politicians rigging voting rules and rigging voting maps to weaken the voices of the voters they don’t want to hear.” 

“Like people across this nation, Floridians know that freedom is part of what it means to be American,” said Amy Weintraub, Reproductive Rights Program Director, Progress Florida. “That includes reproductive freedom – the freedom to make our own personal healthcare decisions and to decide what is best for our lives and families – without interference from politicians.” 

“There’s nothing extreme about wanting our children to learn honest history, our workers and seniors to be able to afford to pay the bills, for our Black votes to matter, or for every patient to have access to the health care they need,” said Representative Angie Nixon. “I am proud to fight for the people of Florida and will always stand on the side of helping our constituents, not the billionaires and corporations who try to rig the game for their own benefit in Tallahassee. We will not rest until every Floridian has the freedom to be healthy, prosperous, and safe!” 

“No one should have to live in a state where the freedom of Black people is a continued point of debate,” said Adora Nweze, President of NAACP Florida State Conference. “Politicians should be protecting our rights, not hindering them. Regardless of who’s in power, we will continue to fight for our freedom to achieve the future we know we deserve.” 

A recording of yesterday’s press conference will be shared upon request.

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