Guest column: Wants minority communities in District 2
Every 10 years, using new Census data, our governments create new voting districts, based upon one-person, one-vote. Our Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments — and our Voting Rights Act — ban government actions that dilute minority voting strength.
I support the redistricting plan advanced by American Legion Post 194 and NAACP, known as “revised Plan E.” Revised Plan E’s District 2 includes Lincolnville, West Augustine and the Town of Hastings — the district is about 16 percent African-American. As County Commissioner Jay Morris (R-Ponte Vedra) said, “Modified Plan E is the closest to where we are currently.” In two straw votes, County Commissioners wisely ranked it first.
Our St. Johns County School Board on Nov. 8 voted for another approach (“modified Plan C”), one that would divide these three African-American communities, reducing District 2 minority voting strength by one-third. The School Board shows disdain for public opinion and civil rights, indulging political pressures from angry Republican politicians who asserted, “It’s not about race.” In my experience, whenever someone says, “it’s not about race,” it’s definitely about race.
On Nov. 9, my colleague, Ed Slavin, and I wrote Attorney General Eric Holder and the U.S. Civil Rights Commission (CRC). We asked Holder to consider bringing a lawsuit against our School Board to enforce the U.S. Constitution. We asked the CRC’s Florida Advisory Committee to hold hearings on race relations here.
Hearings should focus initially on School Board practices and procedures, including disparate treatment of African-American students and employees. In the past few years, our city and county have made real progress on respecting African-Americans, making us proud. We must promote reconciliation and solve festering problems caused by discrimination, including unequal government services, infrastructure and educational opportunities. Our School Board must begin to solve problems, not create more problems.
A District 2 that preserves “where we are currently” and assures African-Americans undiluted voting power will help empower our School Board to protect minority rights.
School Board member Carla Wright has made disdainful, mocking attacks on Rev. Ron Rawls’ residency.
Every single County Commissioner rightly defended St. Paul A.M.E. pastor Rawls, who has done so much for our community. (Yes, he lives in Gainesville, where his wife’s a University of Florida law professor; he’s here every day mentoring our children). School Board members need to apologize to Rawls.
On Tuesday, Record guest columnist Randy Covington attacked Rawls, also attacking Slavin and me, complaining that it was “intimidation” and bullying for us to report our School Board to the Justice Department. That’s a twisted, upside-down view. Who is this Covington to judge us? In his column, Covington identified himself only as a “private citizen activist,” not as St. Johns County Republican State Committeeman (and Tea Party faction leader). Is this deception by omission?
St. Johns County had a long, history of “Jim Crow” segregation and disrespect for African-Americans’ rights. Courts have repeatedly found that our School Board violated citizens’ constitutional rights. Enough.
We expect today’s leaders to work toward a more harmonious, civil society. Unfortunately, our current School Board is a divisive force. Board members are pandering to prejudice and political self-interest. They must stop, look, listen, learn and grow. We’re blessed that County Commissioners aren’t buying what Covington & Co. are selling — division, hatred and prejudice. There’s a new day in St. Augustine and St. Johns County. We are all in this together. Let us live together in brotherhood.
School Board members, kindly look into your hearts and souls. Please adopt “Plan E,” which is consistent with both our Constitution and our community values. Please keep Lincolnville, West Augustine and Hastings together in District 2.
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Judith Seraphin, CEO of Global Wrap LLC, is president of the Lincolnville Neighborhood Association, a trustee of St. Paul A.M.E. Church, and one of four co-founders of the Lift Up Lincolnville Revitalization Corp., which started the Lincolnville Farmers Market (Sundays, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Galimore Center on Riberia Street).
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