With election day upon us, the possibility that Florida may elect an anti-police governor has become a frightening possibility.
Democratic Candidate for Governor and Tallahassee Andrew Gillum is currently leading in Florida polls, despite his antagonistic stance toward “Stand Your Ground” laws and signing of the so-called “Freedom Pledge,” created by the anti-police and anti-Israel group, Dream Defenders.
Gillum recently came under fire for his comments on left-learning podcast Pod Save America, after he claimed that officers drawing a weapon of any kind when approaching a suspect is going “too far.”
“All this stuff that they say, I’ve got to let them know, anti-police? No. I’m for police accountability, but law enforcement society cannot work and, quite frankly, law enforcement cannot do its job if it does not have a trusting relationship with the community,” Gillum said. “At the time that a law enforcement official has to go to a weapon, to a gun, to a baton, to a taser, then they have already have to go too far by their very presence.” By the very trust that they inspire in community and in society, they are supposed to be able to bring most situations to heel.”
Gillum’s affiliation with the Dream Defenders is a curious alliance, one that Gillum initially denied having a part in, only to later double down.
“Police were never meant to protect and serve me and you,” according to the “Freedom Papers” a series of documents created by the Dream Defenders that claim American law enforcement “started as slave catchers hired by wealthy plantation owners.
Gillum has proven to be wildly unpopular with Floridia sheriffs and police unions, who have largely expressed their support for his opponent, former Republican Congressman Ron DeSantis.
In fact, over half of Florida’s elected sheriffs have penned a letter calling for Gillum to withdraw his Dream Defenders pledge, citing the oath as “anti-police.”
“We, the undersigned members of Florida’s law enforcement community, ask that you immediately and unequivocally withdraw your pledge to the organization, Dream Defenders,” the letter read. “After learning of this organization’s disturbing and anti-law enforcement position and statements, we believe that any candidate wishing to lead our state should in no way be aligned with this radical group.”
“The pledge you signed not only calls for you to defund police and prisons, but the papers that accompany this pledge wrongly claim, ‘Police were never meant to protect and serve me and you…Police and prisons have no place in ‘justice…Police and prisons aren’t just racist but they work to enforce the separations of rich and poor,’” the letter continued. “We believe you will agree that anyone seeking to be Florida’s next Governor should support the men and women who put on a badge daily and risk their lives to protect their communities. We ask that you respond to this request with urgency and agree with us that the men and women of law enforcement in our state deserve respect and support.”
According to Fox News, the Dream Defenders also embrace anti-Semitic policies, and was partially founded by Ahmad Abuznaid, an anti-Israeli activist who just so happens to be the son of former Palestine Liberation Organization ambassador Nabil Abuznaid.
In previous social media posts, Abuznaid praised Palestinian terrorists and hijackers, including those who deliberately targeted civilians.
Gillum, however, has blamed criticisms railed against him as nitpicking mired in racism.
“The Republicans obviously want to distract, want to suggest…All along on the trail, they’ve wanted the people of this state to believe somehow I haven’t deserved what I’ve gotten, I’m unethical, participated in illegal and illicit activity,” he said in response to allegations made by his opponent, DeSantis. “I mean, you name it. The goal is obviously to use my candidacy as a way to reinforce, frankly, stereotypes about black men.”
How can the police have a trusting relationship with a community that refuses to be a witness to a crime and says, “I didn’t hear nothing, I didn’t see nothing, I don’t know nothing.” A community that tolerates criminals and criminal activity? A community whose members are quick to call the police when they are a crime victim, yet won’t cooperate with a police investigation. Trust works both ways and cannot be one-sided. I speak from the experience of a career in law enforcement during which I tried every day to bridge the gap only to constantly be met with racism and slurs because my skin color was different and I wore a uniform. And all Gillum is doing to stoking the fires of hate. How can law enforcement rust a man who, as governor, would direct his attorney general to investigate every officer-involved shooting with prejudice toward the officer. Florida, I sure hope you don’t elect this man to the Governor’s office.
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