BY IRIS B. HOLTON
Sentinel City Editor
The Florida NAACP State Conference has planned a two-day Town Hall meeting for Friday (today), at 7 p.m., at the Tampa Airport Doubletree, 4500 W. Cypress Street. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss redistricting.
Among those slated to participate in the Town Hall Meeting include: Leon Russell, Vice Chairman of the NAACP National Board of Directors; Hilary O. Shelton, NAACP Washington Bureau Director; Jotaka Eaddy, NAACP Senior Director for Voting Rights; Gary Bledsoe, Texas NAACP State Conference President; Victor Goode, NAACP Assistant General Counsel; Carroll Rhodes, NAACP Mississippi State Conference Attorney; and Allison Riggs, Southern Coalition for Social Justice Staff Attorney.
Leon Russell, Vice President National Board of Directors said, “Redistricting is the most important factor in determining the political future of the nation. There are going to be representatives there from Florida, Georgia, Texas, Mississippi, and New York — all states that have legal issues continuing about redistricting. We are having this summit to develop a consistent plan across the country.
“Redistricting determines who will control the policy-making process at the local, state, and national levels. This summit is intended to insure that our community has a voice in that process.”
The purpose of the meeting is to give an overview of the redistricting process in Florida; educate the community on amendments and their impact; and educate the community about the Florida NAACP State Conference’s litigation to protect the rights of minority voters.
The Redistricting Summit will continue throughout the day on Saturday, February 9th, at the hotel.
