If you are in South Florida, we encourage you to attend the South Florida Reentry Task Force meeting on Wednesday, September 18th from 10:30AM to noon at the Everglades Re-Entry Center, 1599 SW 187th Avenue, Miami FL 33194.
The speaker at that meeting will be Desmond Meade. For those who don’t know who Desmond is, read the following post: Desmond Meade: The Hypocrisy Behind Amendment 4
This will be a good opportunity to ask Desmond why he feels people required to register as sex offenders should be excluded from his movement and get our agenda on the re-entry radar.
We need to push the RSO discrimination issue at All Reentry Task Force meetings. Brevard County’s has not been actively meeting recently but we hope that they do soon. There are issues that need to be addressed in ALL 67 counties in Florida. With an educated, organized, thoughtful approach we can make a difference in all 67.
Well said ,Roger. We cannot let the bureaucrats rest as long as the RSO problems exist without any common sense application or solution. Silence to a bureaucrat means approval of their actions…or lack thereof.
I hate repeat, career criminals like Desmond Meade. Why isn’t he in prison? Very immoral person. He’s worried about people who have committed $EX offenses? That’s ridiculous.
I know that all of us totally agree with everything Gail stated in her letter, and a well-written, informative letter it is.
Just a note on this subject: I recently read that when the amendment was being written, polls were showing that if murderers and those on the registry were included, the amendment was barely passing with the 60% requirement. Some authors of the amendment wanted to include everyone but felt it was just too close. Taking out the murders and registrants gave the amendment at better chance of achieving the 60% vote. One of the authors was quoted as saying this was just the first step in returning voting rights to Florida citizens. Eventually the plan is to try to bring the two subgroups left out back into the group of Floridians who are eligible to vote.
I am not saying that I agree with their strategy but hope they carry through on their promise.
Sarah, informative reply. Thanks. I look forward to being able to vote once again…after serving my country in the military for 29 years.
SarahF I was told the same thing by someone who works very closely with Mr Meade I was also told certain political figures refused to support the amendment if it included those two sub groups not because they were considered overly dangerous ( they are aware of the stats proving otherwise)but they didn’t want to draw the ire of victims rights groups thereby committing what they see as political suicide. Let’s hope either the registry is struck down as being unconstitutional or education becomes king and promises are kept
If the newly enfranchised voters voted in favor of a subsequent amendment that included all, I could see that tack having a greater chance of success at achieving the end goal of equality in voting rights restoration. Perhaps some networking within those communities which have seen the most benefit from “step 1” could help encourage more support. They, if anyone, should understand and appreciate the significance of granting voting rights restoration to all.
Very good point!
Another note on amendment 4: A few months ago, the Jacksonville paper stated that by leaving off the two subgroups, that is going to eventually lead to calls of discrimination.