Baptist minister and retired Arkansas judge Wendell Griffen stood before an audience of faith leaders and education advocates in Tallahassee, Fla., March 9, pointed to his lapel and dared Gov. Ron DeSantis to have him apprehended for being politically and…
Florida Immigrant Coalition denounces DeSantis plan as ‘draconian’
Immigration advocates say a new legislative proposal by Gov. Ron DeSantis could criminalize ministries, businesses, cities and individuals that serve immigrants in Florida. “DeSantis is leading the way in turning back the clock on human rights and descending us into…
Tom Ascol endorses Ron DeSantis and Christian nationalism in weekend campaign rally invocation
The same weekend Ron DeSantis released a campaign video saying he had been sent to Florida directly by God on the eighth day of creation, a prominent Southern Baptist pastor offered an invocation at a DeSantis campaign rally and then…
Americans United says Florida is inserting white Christian nationalism in the classroom
Americans United for Separation of Church and State is investigating allegations that the state of Florida is promoting white Christian nationalism through new public school curriculum standards. Concerns stem from a new Civics Literacy Excellence Initiative promoted by Gov. Ron…
DeSantis and Abbott working hard to see who can be more cruel to immigrants, faith leaders contend
The governors of Florida and Texas seem to be vying for the title of who can be the cruelest to immigrants, some faith leaders say. Whether motivated by their 2022 re-election campaigns or a desire to gain a VP nod…
With a school voucher case already teed up at the Supreme Court, Florida adds a twist under the cover of COVID
The political fight over COVID-19 restrictions now has found its way into the debate over taxpayer funded vouchers for private religious schools. ABC News reported Aug. 6 that the Florida State Board of Education will offer private school vouchers to…
Why do we obsess over single tragic events and ignore the greater peril?
Since the moment the 12-story Champlain Towers condominiums partially collapsed June 24 in Surfside, Fla., the tragedy has topped the news — hourly, daily, exhaustively. News outlets nationwide have breathlessly reported every updated body count, every revised tally of the…
It’s up to the Senate now to fix our democracy
Everywhere I go, I meet people of all ages and backgrounds who wonder whether their votes count, whether they can really make a difference. Many of them, sadly but understandably, believe our government no longer works for them. I get…
Hurricane season has ended (yay) but the poor aren’t cheering
The 2018 hurricane season, which officially ends today, unleashed yet another barrage of terrifying and destructive weather that left huge swaths of the nation soaked, flattened – or both. And as usual, it is those with the fewest resources who have been left with the biggest obstacles to overcome.