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CELEBRATING OUR 10TH YEAR STATEWIDE!
A look at firsts for Blacks In politics and law See Page B1 FEBRUARY 26 – MARCH 3, 2016
VOLUME 24 NO. 9
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WE WILL DECIDE BY ANTHONY MAN SUN SENTINEL / TNS
FORT LAUDERDALE – When the Democratic presidential campaign hits Florida in full force, no constituency will be more critical to the outcome than the state’s Black voters. African-Americans and Caribbean-Americans have the numbers to decide whether Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders wins the March 15 primary, and whether it’s a blowout victory or a close contest.
Pressure on Hillary The stakes are highest for Clinton, whose campaign has been left reeling by Sanders’ strong showing in states that have already voted. In Florida, Clinton is depending on the deep reservoir of support she enjoys among Black voters, political leaders and activists.
state; he spoke to the NaAs absentee tional Urban League convoting begins, vention in Fort Lauderdale, Clinton also apthe unexpectedly where peared, on July 31. Sanders is attempting to close race for chip away at Clinton’s supthe Democratic port among Black voters and leaders nationally, and presidential Clinton has made extensive to head off Sanders’ nomination makes efforts inroads. Florida’s Black vote In the numbers critical for victory. After he won an overby either Clinton whelming victory in New Hampshire, the Clinton or Sanders. campaign circulated a meBut her Florida campaign is just getting started. And so far, Black Democratic leaders said, it’s not even visible in the African-American and Caribbean-American communities. Sanders has given even less attention than Clinton to Florida. She has made several appearances in the
mo from campaign manager Robby Mook in which he wrote that states like Florida, with large minority populations, are critical. The numbers show why. More than 28 percent of the state’s registered Democrats are Black. In Broward, FILE PHOTO Palm Beach and MiamiDade counties, more than In 2010, students at Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach marched to See VOTE, Page A2
the polls to vote early.
ETA NU CHAPTER / OMEGA PSI PHI FRATERNITY, INC.
Teaching Black history
No celebratory shooting Scott signs ‘backyard’ gun range bills BY JIM TURNER THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA
TALLAHASSEE – Surrounded by a group of police chiefs, Gov. Rick Scott signed into law a measure dubbed the “backyard range” bill, intended to restrict the recreational discharge of a firearm in certain residential areas. The proposal was one of nine that Scott signed into law Wednesday. The backyard range measure (SB 130) prohibits the recreational discharge of a firearm outdoors, including for target shooting or celebratory shooting, in primarily residential areas with a density of one or more dwelling units per acre. A violation would be a firstdegree misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine.
Immediate effect
Members of the fraternity’s Eta Nu chapter, located in Pompano Beach, held their educational foundation’s Third Annual Black History Festival, which included historical exhibits, health screenings, live entertainment, and a car show. Black History Month commemorations are winding down around the state.
The bill, which goes into effect immediately, was backed by the Florida Police Chiefs Association, the National Rifle Association and the Unified Sportsmen of Florida. St. Augustine Beach Police Chief Robert Hardwick said the legislation will ensure “residential areas are better protected from people using firearms irresponsibly and unlawfully.” A Senate staff analysis of the bill pointed to reports about people constructing gun ranges in their backyards, with neighbors being concerned for safety. Law enforcement officials complained See BILL, Page A2
SNAPSHOTS
State’s ‘Johnny Reb’ general returning home BY JIM SAUNDERS THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA
TALLAHASSEE – Confederate Gen. Edmund Kirby Smith is headed to retirement. The Florida House on Wednesday gave final approval to a bill that would lead to removing a statue of Smith from the National Statuary Hall at the U.S. Capitol. Gov. Rick Scott indicated he likely will sign the bill (SB 310), which had already passed the Senate. “Just because those who we honor are replaced by future peo-
ALSO INSIDE
ple doesn’t mean that the person who was there previously is any less brave or any less valiant,” House sponsor Jose Felix Diaz, R-Miami, said. “We just continue to add to the history of Florida. We’re certainly not trying to forget the history of Florida.”
Two statues apiece Each state is allowed two statues in the National Statuary Hall, and Florida is represented by statues of Smith and John Gorrie, widely considered the father of air conditioning. Under the
bill, a committee would recommend three prominent Floridians as potential replacements for Smith, and the Legislature would pick one whose statue would be placed in the hall. Florida donated the Gorrie statue to the National Statuary Hall in 1914 and followed eight years later with the Smith statue, according to a Senate staff analysis. The bill would not affect the statue of Gorrie, an Apalachicola physician in the 19th Century. The staff analysis said Smith taught at the U.S. Military Acad-
FLORIDA | A3
Bush supporters turn to Rubio NATION | A6
Supreme Court hears case on police powers Obama touched by girl’s tears on his final year HEALTH | B4
The health divide in Baltimore
See STATUE, Page A2
COMMENTARY: LUCIUS GANTT: WHERE’S THE BLACK POLITICAL CAMPAIGN MONEY? | A2 COMMENTARY: VAUGHN MCLAUGHLIN: FIGHT OVER SCHOOL CHOICE ABOUT FREEDOM, JUSTICE | A4