Bill to honor Florida’s civil-rights leaders

BY SKYY SANDIFER
Outlook Staff Wr

In an effort to pay respect to leaders who came before him, Rep. Alan B. Williams, D Tallahassee, proposed a bill to establish a Florida Civil Rights Hall of Fame at the Capitol.  Williams said different groups are recognized at the Capitol, and it is equally important for civil rights leaders to be acknowledged as well.

“There is a women’s hall of fame, an educators’ hall of fame, but there isn’t one for civil-rights leaders,” said the District 8 representative.  ”This is an opportunity to recognize those greats in our state, whether it’s black, white, Hispanic, Asian Americans – Floridians of all nationalities and ethnic groups.”

Williams said he always had the idea, but that his passion for the project was fueled by Pastor Joseph Wright of Jerusalem Baptist Church.  ”It was a conversation that Pastor Wright and I had that made me take it a step further,” he said.  ”He told me, ‘We need to recognize our civil-rights icons,’ and that led me to draft this bill. He had an idea that I believe is very important, so I brought it through.”

The possibility of seeing this bill become a law is still under way, however.  Williams said there are several steps that must be taken before the hall can be established.  He said the bill has been filed, and the speaker will refer it to three committees for review.  The bill must be discussed and debated before it can be voted on and possibly become law.

Williams said there is no set timetable for the bill’s passage but is encouraged that the bill has a lot of support.  “Senator Tony Hill has been working hard with his staff and I’m getting good support,” he said.  “There’s also been a lot of bipartisan support.”

Rep. Dwight Bullard, D-Miami, is also one of those in support of the Civil Rights Hall of Fame.  He said having a Civil Rights Hall of Fame is imperative to the history of this state.

“Rep. Williams is showing homage to all of Florida’s civil-rights trailblazers by working to honor them in this way,” Bullard said.  ”It is very valuable for Floridians to know of the active role other Floridians have played in the struggle for civil rights in this country.”

Bullard even has a few people in mind that he would like to see in the hall if developed.  ”Individuals like the Rev. C.K. Steele (former local civil-rights leader), Rep. Gwen Cherry and Florida A&M University’s own Patricia Stephens-Due (helped sparked the student- bus boycott) are the kinds of Floridians that have made a significant impact on this state and country,” he said.   ”It is through their actions that I am able to achieve all that I have today. ” Angela Stone, a fourth year Pharm. D. student at Florida A&M University, said she thinks the Hall of Fame is a great idea that will allow a more diverse audience to get a glimpse into Florida’s civil rights history.  “It will be an educational opportunity for grade-school children to learn and visit for field trips.”

Skyy Sandifer can be reached at SSandifer@capitaloutlook. com.

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