FC
EE FR
PRESORTED STANDARD MAIL U.S. POSTAGE PAID DAYTONA BEACH, FL PERMIT #189
www.flcourier.com
READ US ONLINE
Like us on Facebookwww.facebook.com/ flcourier
Remembering Jackie Robinson’s 1947 debut See Page B1
Follow us on Twitter@flcourier
www.flcourier.com
APRIL 21 – APRIL 27, 2017
VOLUME 25 NO. 16
FAILING GRADES SPECIAL TO THE FLORIDA COURIER
FORT LAUDERDALE – The Florida State Conference of NAACP Branches’ latest Diversity Matters Report Card clearly shows that Florida has work to do when it comes to Blackowned businesses and media outlets. The report, released Wednesday to media outlets statewide, examined the records of some of Florida’s leading public and private organizations over the last several months. According to NAACP State President Adora Obi Nweze and State Economic Development Chair Torey Alston, the organization spent months examining the records of public and private organizations. It included well-known companies like Hertz, ADT and Spirit Airlines, as well as selected cities, county governments, and school districts.
‘Last priority’
Maybe many of Florida’s cities, counties and publicly-traded companies don’t believe in hiring a diverse workforce or doing business with Blackowned businesses and media outlets. Or maybe they just don’t want to talk about it. ority,” Alston said in a statement. “While there are some bright spots, there is still much work to be done ensuring diversity and inclusion is reflected in all aspects of government and the private sector.”
“This year’s report card continues Grades and categories The report uses population data to show cities, counties, school districts and private companies have di- from the 2010 US Census data as its versity and inclusion as the last pri- baseline.
NAACP
FLORIDA STATE CONFERENCE 2017 DIVERSITY MATTERS REPORT CARD
Seventy-five percent of Florida’s population is “White alone,” as the Census describes it. Twenty-five percent of the state population is non-White, and all fall into other demographic groups: Black/African-American; American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, 2 or more races and some other race alone. Twenty-five percent non-White participation was the main benchmark. Here’s the grading scale: • A (Excellent; exceeds diversity and inclusion standards) with 25 percent or above non-White participation; • B (Above average; meets diversity and inclusion standards) with 20 percent to 24 percent participation; • C (Average performance on diversity and inclusion standards) with 15 to 19 percent participation; • D (Below average performance on diversity and inclusion standards) with 14 to 18 percent participation; • F (Failing-does not meet diversity and inclusion standards with 13
Private Corporations ADT Capital City Bank Group Hertz Global Holdings NextEra Energy Spirit Airlines Stein Mart World Fuel Services School Districts Desoto County School District Duval County School District Gadsden County School District Glades County School District Hardee County School District Hendry County School District Jackson County School District Miami‐Dade County School District Monroe County School District Santa Rosa County School District Walton County School District City Government City of Crestview City of Daytona Beach City of Fort Walton Beach City of Hialeah City of Hollywood City of Sanford City of Key West City of Lakeland City of Live Oak City of Melbourne City of Palatka City of West Palm Beach County Government Bay County Board of Commissioners Charlotte County Board of Commissioners Escambia County Board of Commissioners Highlands County Board of Commissioners Manatee County Board of Commissioners Miami‐Dade County Board of Commissioners Nassau County Board of Commissioners Osceola County Board of Commissioners Sarasota County Board of Commissioners St. Lucie County Board of Commissioners
One year ago this week Gov. Rick Scott Aramis Ayala
Notables pick sides in Scott vs. Ayala
Sharpton’s network to host convention this month
ALSO INSIDE
*F *F *F *F *F *F *F
*F *F *F *F *F *F *F
*F *F *F *F *F *F *F
*F *F *F *F *F *F *F
F F *F *F F F *F F *F *F *F
A A *F *F A A *F A *F *F *F
D A *F *F F A *F A *F *F *F
F B *F *F D B *F B *F *F *F
*F F F *F *F *F *F F F F *F F
*F A A *F *F *F *F A A A *F A
*F F A *F *F *F *F F F F *F F
*F D B *F *F *F *F D D D *F D
F *F F F F D F F F F
A *F F A A A A A A A
F *F F D A F F B F F
D *F F D B D D C D D
FLORIDA STATE CONFERENCE OF NAACP BRANCHES
State House apologizes for abuse, racism
TALLAHASSEE – On Tuesday, the Florida House of Representatives recognized and apologized for the state government’s collaboration and involvement in two notorious incidents in Florida’s recent history.
Torture at boys school With 17 former students of the Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys watching in the public galleries, the state House formally apologized for abuse suffered by hundreds of boys at the now-closed reform school. “We stand here in solidarity, saying we’re sorry,” said Rep. Tracie Davis, D-Jacksonville, a sponsor of the resolution (HR 1335) co-sponsored by 116 members of the House. The resolution acknowledged that treatment of boys sent to Dozier and a related facility in Okeechobee was cruel, unjust and “a violation of human decency.” More than 500 former students have alleged brutal beatings, mental abuse and sexual abuse at the Dozier school, which was closed in 2011 after 111 years of operation in Marianna.
‘Genuine thing’
RICHARD HARTOG/LOS ANGELES TIMES/TNS
In this file photo, Prince performs “Purple Rain” as the opening act during the 46th Annual Grammy Awards show on Feb. 8, 2004 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Prince died on April 21, 2016. He was 57.
See SIDES, Page A2
NATION | A3
Total Grade
FROM WIRE AND STAFF REPORTS
TALLAHASSEE – On one side, there’s the Florida Cabinet, the Florida Prosecuting Attorneys Association and the Republican-dominated Florida House of Representatives. On the other side, there’s the Florida State Conference of NAACP Branches, the Florida Legislative Black Caucus, Color of Change, the Dream Defenders, Service Employees International Union, and more than 100 other legal experts. The issue: Whether Gov. Rick Scott can legally remove Central Florida State Attorney Aramis Ayala Florida’s first Black elected state attorney from nearly two-dozen death penalty cases. Ayala, the state attorney in Orange and Osceola counties, sued Scott because the governor stripped her office of 23 death penalty cases after she announced she would not seek capital punishment in any cases – including the high-profile case of accused cop-killer Markeith Loyd. She is challenging Scott’s legal authority to remove her from the cases, arguing that prosecutors have broad discretion over charging decisions. But Scott’s supporters say Ayala’s refusal to seek capital punishment exceeds her authority. Scott reassigned the cases to Ocala-based State Attorney Brad King, an outspoken supporter of the death penalty.
SNAPSHOTS
Small, Veteran & Minority Advertising & Marketing
School and law enforcement atrocities cited
FROM WIRE AND STAFF REPORTS
State and national groups contend that Scott’s treatment of Ayala is a reflection of Flori-
Employment Diversity
The state NAACP’s latest Diversity Report hit the streets See GRADES, Page A2 on Wednesday.
PRINCE ROGERS NELSON, 1958-2016
Discriminatory action?
Small, Veteran & Minority Business Spending
FLORIDA | A6
HEALTH | B3
SPORTS | B4
A family court with a holistic approach
CDC urges lookout for Zika-related epilepsy
Robinson’s legacy includes Dodgers manager
“That was a genuine thing that was heartfelt by all of the White House boys,” said Charles Fudge, a 69-year-old Homosassa resident who wiped away tears during the House debate and vote. “It means an awful lot for them to acknowledge the abuse that went on.” Fudge, who was sent to Dozier with three of his brothers in the early 1960s, is part of the “White House Boys” group, which is named after a facility at the school where boys were beaten and abused. It was testimony and information-gathering by the White House boys that led to a state investigation of Dozier, the exhumation by University of South Florida researchers of 55 graves at the facility and the appointment See HOUSE, Page A2
COMMENTARY: PAUL DELANEY: TRUMP’S AVOIDANCE OF BLACK PRESS REVEALS TENSE RELATIONS | A4 COMMENTARY: BRUCE A. DIXON: BLACK LIVES MATTER REVIVES ‘BLACK CAPITALISM’ MYTHS | A5