Key takeaways: Vice President Harris has called on Congress to enshrine abortion rights into law. Harris has pushed back against Republican claims and attacks on…
Posts tagged as “Equality Florida”
19-year-old Coco Gauff is set to make history in the U.S. Open women's title match on Saturday, joining other Black American tennis icons like Serena Williams and Venus Williams. Gauff expressed her support for the climate change protest that disrupted her semifinal match, and is now hoping to be the latest Black American woman to leave a history-making mark on the most sacred grounds of U.S. tennis. She'll face the U.S. Open's No. 2 seed, Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, in the Grand Slam season's last women's title match.
Joseph Ruddy, a federal narcotics prosecutor from Tampa, Florida, was recently arrested and charged with driving under the influence and leaving the scene of a crash with property damage. Body-worn camera footage showed Ruddy attempting to leverage his position to blunt the fallout from the crash, and he was waiting with his U.S. Justice Department business card in hand. The incident has caused a stir in the Tampa community and the consequences for Ruddy are still unclear.
Reza "Ray" Baluchi, a Florida ultra-marathoner and peace activist, was arrested last week by the U.S. Coast Guard after attempting to cross the Atlantic Ocean in a homemade "human-powered hamster wheel". Baluchi had refused to get off the vessel and had threatened to harm himself or the crew when the Coast Guard attempted to board the vessel. This is reportedly the fourth time Baluchi has attempted to cross the Atlantic Ocean in a homemade vessel. The U.S. Coast Guard said they take "all maritime threats seriously" and will use all available resources to ensure the safety of life at sea.
Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner have announced their divorce after four years of marriage, with Jonas filing for divorce in Miami-Dade County, Florida and citing the marriage as "irretrievably broken". The couple had agreed to a prenuptial agreement and have two daughters, and Jonas is asking the court to uphold the agreement and ensure shared parental responsibility.
A Florida state judge has ruled that the redistricting plan proposed by Republican Governor Ron DeSantis and approved by the state legislature violates the state constitution and is prohibited from being used for any future U.S. congressional elections. The plan was challenged in court by voting rights groups, who argued that it would reduce the influence of Black voters in the state. The ruling is seen as a victory for those fighting for voting rights and fair representation in the state, and is expected to have a major impact on the 2022 congressional elections in Florida.
President Joe Biden visited Live Oak, Florida on Saturday to survey the damage caused by Hurricane Idalia and meet with local officials, first responders, and survivors. He expressed his gratitude to the first responders and storm survivors, and vowed to approve any requests from the state for federal recovery assistance. Biden also had an aerial tour of the damage on his way to Live Oak and praised the courage of those who ran towards danger instead of away from it, as part of his ongoing tour of states affected by natural disasters.
President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden are visiting Florida to survey the damage caused by Hurricane Idalia and meet with first responders, federal personnel, and local officials. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has voiced concerns with the president's "security apparatus" disrupting recovery efforts, and the visit is reminiscent of then-Governor Chris Christie's embrace of then-President Barack Obama during Superstorm Sandy. It is yet to be seen how the President's visit will affect the 2024 presidential race.