Polk County Democratic Party Weekly Digest: June 14-20, 2021

Polk County Democratic activist Ruth Ann Eaddy dies at 79

Ruth Ann Eaddy, a longtime activist with the Democratic Party in Polk County, died June 6 at age 79.

“She was just involved in so many things,” said Karen Welzel, state committeewoman for the Democratic Party of Polk County. “People throughout Winter Haven and across the county knew who Ruth Ann was because she was the person we went to to ask for help, to ask for the way things should be done. She was our rock.”

For the full story, click here.

UPDATE SB 90: What you need to know about state voting law changes

Make plans to hear on June 23 from an expert on what the implications are of SB90 - which changed the state's voting law. 

Ion V. Sancho, who served 28 years as the Supervisor of Elections for Leon County Florida, is recognized for his expertise in voter education and voting technologies. He’s testified before both chambers of Congress, and before other federal and state panels. An innovator, in 1994 Supervisor Sancho introduced early voting to Florida in 1994, as well as pioneering the first integrated windows voter registration database in Florida. Mr. Sancho was appointed the technical advisor to the 2000 Florida recount by the Florida Supreme Court.

Click here to find out more and register to attend this virtual event from 7-9 pm.

CALL TO ACTION
Sign The Petition To Tell Governor DeSantis: Don't Take Away Vital Unemployment Relief For Working Floridians!

FLORIDA DEMOCRATIC PARTY COMMEMORATES 5 YEARS SINCE THE PULSE SHOOTING

June 12 marked 5 years since the devastating shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando that took 49 innocent lives. In remembrance, Florida Democratic Party Chair Manny Diaz released the following statement. 

“Five years ago at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, 49 innocent lives were cut off at their prime. Today we mourn and remember those who were killed that awful day and hold their loved ones, survivors, the Orlando community, and the entire Florida LGBTQ+ community in our hearts. Those killed were victims of hatred, homophobia, and the epidemic of gun violence in our country. They should be alive today, and it is our duty to do more than just remember. 

“We must recommit to honor them with action by fighting to end hate and homophobia, and by pushing for common sense gun reforms. Our leaders need to offer real change instead of just thoughts and prayers, and we at the Florida Democratic Party will not rest until they do.”

Amid praise from conservatives, Florida Gov. DeSantis also drawing lawsuits

While Gov. Ron DeSantis is drawing praise from conservatives and pulling in campaign cash from across the nation, he also is attracting a crush of lawsuits spurred by the polarizing legislation he signed into law.

Opponents say the outcome of the courtroom challenges will be pivotal not just to stopping what they say are unconstitutional overreaches in Florida, but also blunting a wave of copycat measures spreading across other Republican-leaning states.

“Florida has passed more of these than any other state,” said Micah Kubic, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida, which is suing DeSantis over a new law criticized as anti-protest and another imposing strict financial limits on citizen-led ballot initiatives. Click here for full story.

Florida Board of Education approves new academic standards opposing Critical Race Theory

• Unmasked: Polk County School Board members vote unanimously to make masks optional

• Polk ranks among top 10 Florida counties for COVID variant prevalence, analysis shows

• Virtually all hospitalized Covid patients have one thing in common: They're unvaccinated