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Recently, Former State Senator and current Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg addressed a crowd of Floridians for Democracy supporters, stating the assault on democracy is real in the U.S. and Florida. While the situation is cause for concern, he urged action and voiced encouragement about the future.
Throughout Florida, many pro-democracy organizations and individuals are rising up to educate and speak out about the risks we face and to advocate for protecting American democracy. To thank and acknowledge some of our local activists, Floridians for Democracy announced its inaugural Voices for Democracy Awards:
Robert Hilliard is a lifelong champion for freedom, from the time he was a soldier at age 20, fighting fascism and working to save the lives of Nazi concentration camp survivors, and throughout his life as an educator, author, playwright, activist, and humanitarian.
Bobbie D’Alessandro and Madelon Stewart are persistent women who went up against the powers that be to change the gerrymandered Lee County Commission districts, and to campaign against the Lee County Superintendent becoming an elected and partisan position. They are leaders of The Purple Group, standing up for strong public education, respect for educators, and allowing professionals to guide school curriculum and book availability.
Michael Sales and Phyllis Andrews are leaders of Collier Freedom that register voters, organize marches and rallies, town halls, and Zoom meetings in support of immigrant rights, sensible gun regulations, women’s reproductive and health rights, LGBTQ rights, and voting rights. They write letters to the editor and have spontaneous street demonstrations in protest of the Dobbs decision and the surge of Fascist style politics in Florida.
Jan Sommer is a community volunteer who contributes her time to the newsletters of multiple groups advocating for freedoms and democracy, runs a local government watchdog group, and serves as a poll watcher in the 2022 election.
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