Volume 96 Number 3 | SEPTEMBER 5-11, 2018 | MiamiTimesOnline.com | Ninety-Three Cents Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum Racism rears its head in Florida governor’s race Party throws weight behind Black Democratic nominee CAROLYN GUNISS [email protected] Jordan Edwards A week after Florida voters tapped Tallahassee May- or Andrew Gillum for the gubernatorial Democratic nominee, Gillum is working to unify the party to take the Governor’s Mansion for the first time since 1999. The Florida Democratic Party said the ticket that Jury delivers justice includes Gillum and Attorney General nominee Sean Shaw, two Black men, represents “the most diverse set of major party nominees for statewide office in Flori- da's history.” But there is still plenty of work to do. Already, the for Jordan Edwards Republican nominee has made racist dog whistles, which ignited a white supremacist group to make robocalls mocking Gillum, the Tallahassee Democrat Police Officer Roy Oliver receives a 15-year sentence reported. Gillum, a progressive candidate, must show all Dem- for killing a 15-year-old high school freshman ocrats that his agenda is their agenda. STACY M. BROWN NNPA Newswire Contributor ivil Rights leaders and others reacted with a sense of relief — if only temporary — after a Texas jury sentenced a former police officer to 15 years in prison Wednesday for the shoot- ing death of an unarmed African-American teen in a Dallas suburb. C“The child-murdering cop just got 15 years in prison … he’ll likely serve all 15,” said activist Shaun King. “It doesn’t bring Jordan [Edwards] back, but it’s the closest thing to justice we’ve seen.” A day earlier when the same jury found former Texas police officer Roy Oliver guilty, King said it was an “answer to our prayers.” “A bittersweet moment for his family and for all of us who’ve fought non- stop for justice,” King wrote on Twitter. “We’d rather Jordan be alive, but this was so important.” Journalist Jamil Smith noted a connection from Jordan to Emmett Till. “I look at his face and see Emmett Till, lynched 63 years ago today. This story didn’t end in the typical fashion, though,” Smith said. “Oliver was Attorney General nominee Sean Shaw convicted. I hate that this news is so surprising.” The jury deliberated for 12 hours before deciding the fate of Oliver, the For the primary election nearly 91,000 registered former Balch Springs, Texas officer. In addition to the prison term, it im- Democrats cast ballots for the six other candidates who were seeking the nomination. The closest posed a fine of $10,000. vote-getter to Gillum’s 57,688 votes was former Miami Oliver was convicted of murder for the killing of Jordan Edwards, a Beach Mayor Philip Levine, who received 48,436. And 15-year-old high school freshman. about 3.5 million registered independent voters will be He fired into a car full of teens on April 29 last year, saying he believed it eligible to vote in the general election Nov. 6. was moving aggressively toward his partner. On Saturday, the nominees for the top of the Dem- SEE JURY 8A ocratic slate, U.S. Senator Bill Nelson, Chief Financial Officer nominee Jeremy Ring, Agriculture Commis- sioner nominee Nikki Fried, Shaw and Gillum came together at rally in Orlando. THE FACTS ARE CLEAR: Police are hardly ever punished in the shooting deaths of Also in attendance were former Democratic gu- Black people who are not committing criminal acts, even when video clearly shows bernatorial candidates Gwen Graham, who the polls that the police reacted to seemingly no threat. These are some of the victims in favored to win, Levine and Chris King. high-profile cases, some of whose deaths reaped no justice. Billionaire Jeff Greene said Tuesday that even though he wanted to be the nominee, he is ready to throw fundraisers in Palm Beach as well as in New York, spearheaded by former New York Governor David Paterson, who is Black. TRAYVON MARTIN, 17, killed 2012, by Neighborhood FREDDIE GRAY, 25, died in police custody 2015, “I was in New York this past weekend, and I was tell- Watch Captain George Zimmerman: ACQUITTED charges were dropped against three officers; three other ing David, my good friend, that we need to throw some officers were: ACQUITTED fundraisers for Gillum and introduce him to donors,” MICHAEL BROWN, 18, killed 2014, by Ferguson Police Greene said. Officer Darren Wilson: NOT INDICTED TERENCE CRUTCHER 40, killed 2016, by Tulsa Police Greene, a late arrival in June to the campaign, when Officer Betty Shelby: ACQUITTED he joined said if he is not the Democratic nominee for governor, he would support the pick. ERIC GARNER, 43, died in police custody 2014, by New Tuesday, he was not ready to talk numbers but said York City Police Officer Daniel Pantaleo:NOT INDICTED WALTER SCOTT, 50, killed 2015, by North Charleston support comes in all forms. Greene said, if asked, he Police Officer Michael Slager, Mistrial: SENTENCED, would campaign with Gillum. He’s sorting out his SANDRA BLAND, 28, died in police custody 2015, by 20 years campaign for the next couple of weeks but said he’ll Walter County, Texas jail employees: NOT INDICTED take Gillum’s call. JORDAN EDWARDS, 15, killed 2017, by Texas Police On Tuesday, a Gillum spokesman said the candidate PHILANDO CASTILE, 32, killed 2016, by Minnesota Pfficer Roy Oliver Charged, Convicted: SENTENCED, just wants every Floridian to succeed. “Mayor Gillum is running for Governor to make sure Police Officer Jeronimo Yanez: ACQUITTED 15 years SEE RACE 8A Today BUSINESS ................................................. 9B YOU & YOURS ............................................ 7D Ex-offenders have 90° CLASSIFIED ............................................. 11B FAITH CALENDAR ................................... 8D pathway to skills Job training programs help those IN GOOD TASTE ......................................... 1C HEALTH & WELLNESS ............................. 9D with criminal backgrounds INSIDE LIFESTYLE HAPPENINGS ....................... 5C OBITUARIES ............................................. 12D 9B 8 90158 00100 0 Editorials Cartoons Opinions Letters VIEWPOINT BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN DESTINY | SEPTEMBER 5-11, 2018 | MiamiTimesOnline.com Credo Of The Black Press MEMBER: National Newspaper Periodicals Postage The Black Press believes that America Publisher Association paid at Miami, Florida EDITORIAL (ISSN 0739-0319) can best lead the world from racial and MEMBER: The Newspaper POSTMASTER: Published Weekly at 900 NW 54th Street, Association of America Send address changes to national antagonism when it accords Miami, Florida 33127-1818 Subscription Rates: One Year THE MIAMI TIMES, to every person, regardless of race, Post Office Box 270200 $52.99 – Two Year $99.99 P.O. Box 270200 Despicables and creed or color, his or her human and Buena Vista Station, Miami, Florida 33127 Foreign $75.00 Buena Vista Station, Miami, FL Phone 305-694-6210 legal rights. Hating no person, fearing 7 percent sales tax for Florida residents 33127-0200 • 305-694-6210 no person, the Black Press strives to deplorables, don’t H.E. SIGISMUND REEVES Founder, 1923-1968 help every person in the firm belief that GARTH C. REEVES JR. Editor, 1972-1982 all persons are hurt as long as anyone GARTH C. REEVES SR. Publisher Emeritus is held back. ‘weaponize’ race RACHEL J. REEVES Publisher and Chairman allahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum is the Democratic gu- bernatorial nominee. Deplorables, please get used to it. TWe reject your intimation that Gillum would be bad for Black candidates run an extra mile Florida. Indeed, Florida spoke Aug. 28, primary election night. DWIGHT BULLARD, Former Florida senator/New Florida Vision PAC chairperson Intimidation, mocking and even injecting into the national con- versation an ongoing FBI investigation into people other than the When firefighters escort- voters about Gillum being no strangers to having to mayor will not stop Gillum’s momentum. That doesn't mean they ed me out of our home at 7, I the son of working people be twice as good to get half won’t try to stymie him. Republican gubernatorial nominee Ron had no idea it had to do with and the first-generation col- as much. But when it comes DeSantis immediately launched a character assassination by in- my mother going up against lege graduate, they saw them- to the world of politics, the nuendo that Gillum mismanaged Tallahassee without presenting the almost entirely white selves in him. But the media “Black tax” that candidates any facts or numbers. He also insulted Gillum and the entire Black wealthy political establish- greeted the same background face is outdated and out of race by saying supporting Gillum would “monkey up” the election. ment. and the lack of self-fund- We will not be taken for control. Let’s put race aside. Look at a snapshot of the Republicans’ re- What turned out to be a ing as a liability. In a world granted anymore, and What Gillum’s race and cord after nearly two decades as leaders. The Florida Legislature midnight bomb threat also where it will take Black fami- we recognize we have others around the country Office of Economic and Demographic Research in 2016 presented turned into my introduction lies two centuries to catch up the power to not just win are showing is that we as a report to Florida Senate Committee on Children, Families, and to the assumptions about us to white wealth, coming from races but reshape the Black voters are watching and the extra mile Black can- the monied class is not a part closely. We will not be taken Elder Affairs about the state’s poorest people. “party.” Dubbed Florida’s Families and Children Below the Federal Pov- didates are made to run when of our litmus test. In fact, it for granted anymore, and we erty Level, the report said a little more than 2 million adult Florid- they choose to run for office.