February 28, 2015 is the date of the Noche de Gala, when our City of St. Augustine, Florida honors the 497th birthday of Pedro Menendez de Aviles, the founder of St. Augustine, who committed murders in the name of the Spanish monarchy and the Roman Catholic Church.
No other Florida City organizes and spends money on galas: we have two!
Some people get free tickets to the gala.
Others protest.
Others shake their heads in disbelief at honoring a man who committed war crimes, mass murder and genocide.
Menendez also ordered the first anti-Gay hate crime in what is now the United States (1566 murder of Gay French translator of the Guale Indian language, ordered by Menendez and written down by his brother-in-law, a crime that helped convince United States District Court Chief Judge Henry Lee Adams, Jr. to order Rainbow flags to fly on our historic Bridge of Lions June 8-13, 2005 for Gay Pride).
Commencing September 2, 2010, when Michelle O'Connell was shot to death in the home of Deputy JEREMY BANKS, there has been an ongoing coverup by the former St. Augustine Police Chief, DAVID BERNARD SHOAR, who is now the St. Johns County Sheriff, elected in 2004 with a quarter million dollars in campaign contributions, coronated in 2008 and 2012 without opposition.
While the New York Times, PBS Frontline, Dateline NBC, Good Morning America, Dr. Phil, et al. have covered the case, the St. Augustine Record has mainly covered it up.
How shall We, The People of St. Augustine and St. Johns County regard the gathering of the 1%, including politicians and business people and clergy who all look the other way and say nothing to call for Justice for Michelle O'Connell?
What do We, The People think about our public officials celebrating a murderer's birthday without leading?
Where will you be on February 28, 2015?
Whose side are you on?
Justice for Michelle O'Connell or celebrations for a mass murderer's birthday?
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