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BREAKING: Gov. Rick Scott looking to remove Aramis Ayala from office!
BREAKING: Gov. Rick Scott might try to remove Florida’s first Black head prosecutor from office simply because she did the right thing1—and we have to stop him. Will you sign the petition?
Aramis Ayala is part o
f the less than one percent of Black women who are head prosecutors in the country. Last week, she took a heroic step and pledged not to seek the death penalty, and Rick Scott wrongfully removed her from a key case–even though Ayala was supported by the victim’s family in her decision. Now, he might be trying to get her out of office permanently?!
This is an attack on democracy and Black political leadership. Aramis Ayala’s bold move is in direct response to the needs of the voters who put her in office. Yet, Gov. Scott is overstepping his authority and sending a scary and unfair message: the voters’ choice in who they elect to serve justice does not matter.
I’m not sure if you saw Rashad’s email from this weekend–but we need as many people as possible to stand up with Aramis Ayala in this moment. Over 40,000 Color of Change members have already called on Gov. Rick Scott to let Ayala do her job–will sign the petition too?
Thanks for taking a stand.
–Scott, and the rest of the Color of Change team
P.S. Here’s the email Rashad sent this weekend:
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Aramis Ayala, the first Black woman state attorney in Florida history, just made a heroic move by refusing to seek the death penalty in any case–and Florida Governor Rick Scott removed her from a key case and handed it over to a white prosecutor in another county.2
Even the victim’s family is in support of Ayala’s decision to not pursue the death penalty.3 Gov. Scott is punishing her for doing the right thing and undermining the voters who chose her–and he must be stopped.
In November, Ayala ousted incumbent Jeff Ashton. She ran on a daring and progressive platform in which she championed dramatic changes to the criminal justice system that would shift the power and control from law enforcement to enhancing safety and well-being of community members. As State Attorney, Ayala understands that justice deserves to be in the hands of the people. Now, she’s facing a careless and disrespectful move from a governor who continues to trample on any real progress towards criminal justice reform–we must have her back to make sure other prosecutors follow in her footsteps.
This is about more than just the death penalty. Black communities and our allies have built a movement over the last year to replace the worst prosecutors with leaders who want to change the system from the inside out–like Aramis Ayala and Kim Foxx in Chicago. Just like every other movement that has built power for Black people, this movement is being met with anti-Blackness, right wing resistance, and anti-democratic tactics intended to keep our communities trapped under the leadership of white conservatives.
We’ve seen it before. After the election of the first Black President, we saw a wave of voter suppression laws intended to constrain Black political power and right-wing politicians refusing to let President Obama conduct the most basic aspects of his duties like appointing a Supreme Court Justice. We have to send a clear signal that when it comes to real leaders like Aramis Ayala, we’ve got their backs.
During his tenure, Governor Rick Scott has repeatedly failed to step up to other state attorneys when they did not serve justice. He shunned the family of Trayvon Martin. In 2012, when 17-year-old Trayvon Martin was killed by cop wannabe George Zimmerman, Governor Scott moved too slowly to pursue justice for the teenage boy and his family. It was only after urgent pleas from protesters and community members that Scott finally stepped up and appointed a special prosecutor. But who he appointed was damaging–Angela Corey–whom he knew would support his “Stand Your Ground” law where he saw fit. Instead of fighting for justice, Corey allowed Zimmerman to get off. Since then, the Governor hasn’t done a thing about the criminalization of Black folks or the laws that allow them to be killed in cold blood.
Yet, Governor Scott did not even wait a day to take State Attorney Aramis Ayala off this crucial case, diminishing and undermining her position as a prosecutor. He is sending a scary and unfair message — the voters’ choice in who they elect to serve real justice does not matter.
Local prosecutors are the most influential decision makers in the criminal justice system and their work has an enormous impact on the lives of the most vulnerable among us. Our communities cannot afford to have elected leaders put their own interests and power above the people. That is why Orange-Osceola County State Attorney Aramis Ayala–someone who will stay committed to making justice a reality for all people–is the kind of leader that we need. We cannot stand by and let someone like Governor Rick Scott silence her and the voters who elected her to fix our criminal justice system. Let’s show up for Ayala’s bravery and integrity.
Until Justice is real
Rashad, Arisha, Scott, Clarise, Anay, Enchanta, Malaya, and the rest of the Color of Change Team
References:
- “State attorney likely to be booted, WFTV analysts predict,” Orlando Sentinel, 03.19.2017 http://act.colorofchange.org/go/7606?t=9&akid=7138.1174326.ADWpUq
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“Gov. Scott appoints special prosecutor after Ayala says she won’t pursue death penalty, ” Orlando Sentinel, 03.16.2017. http://act.colorofchange.org/go/7602?t=11&akid=7138.1174326.ADWpUq
- “Father of Sade Dixon speaks out about prosecutor’s stance on death penalty, ” Fox 35, 03.16.2017.
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/7603?t=14&akid=7138.1174326.ADWpUq
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Hot Spots H20: March 21: Conflict in Yemen Leaves Millions Hungry and Thirsty
Yemen hovers at the “point of no return” as conflict leaves millions hungry and thirsty. A United Nations report claims the Syrian government deliberately bombed the Damascus water supply, an event which left 5.5 million people without water for weeks. As the Iraqi army moves to retake Mosul from Islamic State militants, thousands remain trapped inside the Old City district without food or water. A skirmish over grazing land leaves nearly a dozen Kenyan pastoralists dead and several others injured. In India, the government introduces a bill intended to streamline inter-state water disputes.
“We keep on talking about a country that’s on the brink of famine, but for me these numbers highlight that we’re at the point of no return. If things are not done now we are going to be looking back on this and millions of children will have starved to death, and we’ll all have been aware of this for some time. That will shame us as an international community for years to come.” –Mark Kaye, Yemen’s Save the Children spokesperson, in reference to country’s impending famine. Civil war has halted food supply to Yemen and left 7 million on the brink of starvation. The Guardian
By The Numbers
600,000 Number of civilians potentially trapped inside Mosul with Islamic State militants. The Iraqi government is gradually recapturing Mosul, but militants still control several districts—including the densely-populated Old City, where food and water supplies have been cut off for days. Thousands more residents have fled the city. Reuters
10 Number of Kenyan pastoralists who were killed in a gun fight over grazing land. Dozens of others sustained gunshot wounds. Pastoralists have clashed frequently in the past several months as drought in northern Kenya worsens. Reuters
Science, Studies, And Reports
After reviewing video footage, witness accounts, and satellite imagery, the United Nations Commission of Inquiry found the Syrian army responsible for airstrikes that damaged the Damascus water supply in late 2016. The damage, which the Syrian government initially blamed on rebel forces, left 5.5 million people without water for over a month. The New York Times
On The Radar
The Indian government introduced a bill that would establish a single standing tribunal for resolving river water disputes between Indian states. The current system, which requires a separate tribunal for each dispute, has proved largely inefficient. Hindustan Times
The Global Rundown
Yemen hovers at the “point of no return” as conflict leaves millions hungry and thirsty. A United Nations report claims the Syrian government deliberately bombed the Damascus water supply, an event which left 5.5 million people without water for weeks. As the Iraqi army moves to retake Mosul from Islamic State militants, thousands remain trapped inside the Old City district without food or water. A skirmish over grazing land leaves nearly a dozen Kenyan pastoralists dead and several others injured. In India, the government introduces a bill intended to streamline inter-state water disputes.
“We keep on talking about a country that’s on the brink of famine, but for me these numbers highlight that we’re at the point of no return. If things are not done now we are going to be looking back on this and millions of children will have starved to death, and we’ll all have been aware of this for some time. That will shame us as an international community for years to come.” –Mark Kaye, Yemen’s Save the Children spokesperson, in reference to country’s impending famine. Civil war has halted food supply to Yemen and left 7 million on the brink of starvation. The Guardian
By The Numbers
600,000 Number of civilians potentially trapped inside Mosul with Islamic State militants. The Iraqi government is gradually recapturing Mosul, but militants still control several districts—including the densely-populated Old City, where food and water supplies have been cut off for days. Thousands more residents have fled the city. Reuters
10 Number of Kenyan pastoralists who were killed in a gun fight over grazing land. Dozens of others sustained gunshot wounds. Pastoralists have clashed frequently in the past several months as drought in northern Kenya worsens. Reuters
Science, Studies, And Reports
After reviewing video footage, witness accounts, and satellite imagery, the United Nations Commission of Inquiry found the Syrian army responsible for airstrikes that damaged the Damascus water supply in late 2016. The damage, which the Syrian government initially blamed on rebel forces, left 5.5 million people without water for over a month. The New York Times
On The Radar
The Indian government introduced a bill that would establish a single standing tribunal for resolving river water disputes between Indian states. The current system, which requires a separate tribunal for each dispute, has proved largely inefficient. Hindustan Times
Circle of Blue
circleofblue.org
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I vehemently opposed Obamacare. Then it saved my life ~ Jeff Jeans
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| Friend —
I was a lifelong Republican and worked on Ronald Reagan and George Bush’s campaigns. My grandparents were even invited to Reagan’s inauguration. I vehemently opposed Obamacare when it became law, as I recently shared during my question to Paul Ryan during a televised CNN Town Hall. But then Obamacare saved my life. I took a new job and moved my family across the country — but due to a glitch, my employer was unable to offer health care coverage. I lost my voice and ignored it for quite some time, thinking it was an allergy. My voice never returned, and I was having difficulty breathing, so my wife made an appointment with the doctor. I was diagnosed with stage III, borderline stage IV vocal cord cancer, and I had no health insurance. We offered cash upfront to pay for my treatments but were denied over and over again. We had always assumed that if you had money that you could get treatment. We were wrong — six weeks away from being dead wrong! Although I had cancer, Obamacare gave me access to an insurance card, and I began receiving life-saving treatments the day my insurance plan took effect. I would be dead if it weren’t for Obamacare, the same law I had so loathed. People across the country have received life-saving care, thanks to Obamacare. But that isn’t stopping the House from moving forward with a vote to repeal the law, tomorrow. Now it is my time to give back and work on behalf of the legislation that saved my life, helping others to avoid the same pitfalls I had fallen into. Health care should not change with every new administration, and we should be able to rely on steady, affordable care with guaranteed patient protections. Access to timely treatment, affordable medication, and regular doctor visits are essential for every American. Obamacare allows people to take responsibility for themselves, purchase insurance, and pay for their own care. Repealing it with no adequate and immediate replacement will destabilize the health care market and leave millions of my fellow cancers survivors at risk in the future. Constant worry about having affordable care is an added stress that no patient needs. After my experience gaining health care through the Affordable Care Act, I began a Facebook page called “Obamacare Saved My Life.” It has given me the opportunity to meet thousands of others who are reliant on Obamacare for coverage — and they are terrified about the future. My wife and I share that same anxiety, even though I’ve been cured of cancer and am one of the lucky ones. It would only take one incident of cancer, one heart attack, one stroke, one bad car wreck, or a bad fall to join the ranks of those labeled as “pre-existing.” It only takes one test to show that you have high cholesterol or high blood pressure to be thrown into that group with us. Americans now know what better health care is, and we should all demand it — for the well-being of our citizens and our economy — for America. Anything less is simply not an option. If you agree, make your voice heard now: https://my.ofa.us/Obamacare-Works Thanks, Jeff Jeans |
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Affordable healthcare – What kind do members of Congress have?
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