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Roe v. Wade & What it Means for Florida
Jun/Jul 2022
Orlando Carnival Downtown successful after facing major adversity
On June 24th, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling Friday overturning Roe v. Wade, effectively ending all federal protections on abortion. In April, Governor Ron DeSantis signed into law a 15-week abortion ban, which has no exceptions for rape or incest. It only allows for abortions to be performed past the 15 weeks if there's a medical emergency or a "fatal fetal abnormality." However, abortion rights are protected under the state's constitution due to a Florida Supreme Court precedent that "recognized that the right of privacy in the state constitution protects abortion," according to the Center for Reproductive Rights. Planned Parenthood, the Center for Reproductive Rights, and the American Civil Liberties Union represented providers in a lawsuit filed against the state early in June. They argued the ban violates the state's constitutional protections and the privacy rights of Florida women. Additionally, Congregation L'Dor VaDor, a synagogue located in Boynton Beach, filed a lawsuit weeks later, arguing that the Florida law violates religious freedom rights. Second Judicial Circuit Court Judge John Cooper ruled on July 1st that a the 15week abortion ban is unconstitutional and he intends to block it from taking effect. However, shortly after Cooper issued the decision, the state’s attorneys filed a notice that they were appealing to the Tallahassee-based 1st District Court of Appeal. When the state files such a notice, it triggers an automatic stay — effectively meaning that Cooper’s ruling is on hold and that the 15-week abortion limit remains in effect while the case continues to play out.
It started on the 28th of May with the Jouvert celebrations. The event was scheduled to start at 8am but faced major issues from parking restrictions, to dress code issues, from over-crowding to traffic flow restrictions... all before the event even started. Complaints started pouring into our management teams cell phones, all before we could even begin our celebration. Our cultural celebrations restricted and compromised before it started.
were even
They were trying to shut us down again because the crowd appeared too large to be controlled. However, again someone stepped up and said "No, these folks have followed the rules, they have applied for all the permits they require and the permit allows them to go until 12 midnight". That same night, 28th May 2017, that person took the stage and publicly apologised to the crowd of over 15,000 attendees. They said "I need to apologize to the Caribbean American community, prior to tonight I didn't think that we could have so many people in a park with music, alcohol and celebrations and not have fights, or riots and need for heavy police engagement. I look over at this crowd and you folks just want to be free to celebrate your culture and have a good time in the area where you call home". That person was our Commissioner Regina Hill.
Over 35 years ago when the Orlando Carnival was just getting started the management team faced similar obstacles because the local Government and Police departments didn't know or understand their community and our culture. It took a simple, open minded motorcycle police officer to stand up for us and say - "Let's give them a chance"; that police officer is now the current Mayor of Orange County; Mayor Our point is simple, we are tax Jerry Demings. payers, CONSUMERS, teachers, In 2017 when we presented one of doctors, lawyers, engineers, truck our largest Orlando Carnival drivers, taxi drivers, celebrations at Tinker Field there construction workers, mothers, were forces coming out against our fathers, brothers, sisters, but most community and our culture again. importantly, WE ARE VOTERS!!!