In 2011, we saw a triple play of voter suppression with redistricting, HB 1355 (dubbed the Voter Suppression Act), and regressive changes to Florida’s Clemency Rules. The Florida legislature is accountable for the first two and to their credit, they did try to fix some of the mess that they created. But, Florida is not off the hook yet with disenfranchisement.

It saddens me to say that Florida ranks high on the list of states that disenfranchise individuals indefinitely after they have returned to the community. And as a result, our state’s denial of voting rights for people with past felony convictions is about to go under the international human rights microscope.

 In 2011, the Clemency Board consisting of Governor Scott, Pam Bondi, Jeff Atwater, and Adam Putnam foolishly decided that it is not enough that returning citizens face major challenges when they are released from prison, they decided to make it harder for them to get their civil rights restored and thereby harder to fully participate in the democratic process. Now, a returning citizen must wait five to seven years to apply to get their civil rights restored.  That’s not all; it can take an additional two to five years for applications to be processed!  In the meantime, they have lost their most basic right in our democracy – the right to vote.

There are many collateral consequences for individuals who have a past felony conviction. They lose certain occupational licenses, they often can’t get housing, get governmental loans, or get a job.  This is a recipe for despair recidivism – desperate people returning to crime because our society has closed off all other options to them. The impact ripples out to encompass their family and community.

There are 5.85 million individuals who are disenfranchised nationally because of past felony convictions. Among those are over 1.54 million Floridians. These are people who are unable to vote because when you commit a felony in Florida, you lose your civil rights: the right to vote, to run for office and to serve on a jury.  You heard right: over 1.54 million.  This is a human rights violation.

There is another dimension to the problem of disenfranchisement in Florida: African Americans are disproportionately impacted.  23% of African Americans of voting age – nearly one in four -- have lost the right to vote. Here is how Florida ranks relative to other poorly performing states: Florida (23%), Kentucky (22%), and Virginia (20%).

This human rights violation is about to make Florida – and the entire nation – face serious international scrutiny.  This month, the U.S. was scheduled to appear before the U.N. Human Rights Committee to review whether or not our country is in compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), an international human rights treaty. I was asked to travel to Geneva to speak before the committee and report on Florida’s disfranchisement of people with past felony convictions and how the problem was exacerbated by the Scott administration’s 2011 actions.

Because of the federal government shutdown this month, the review was rescheduled for March 2014. It is not too late for the Clemency Board to right a major wrong for its citizens and keep voting rights in Florida from becoming an international embarrassment for the United States.

Recently, Virginia moved in the right direction to re-enfranchise Virginians who had their civil rights taken away by a similar process.  It is long overdue for Florida to support reintegration of returning citizens by restoring their civil rights.

If I had gone to Geneva for the U.S.’s ICCPR review, I would have said all of this and more. I wish that I could report otherwise. And now, the unexpected delay has given our state more time to right this wrong. Join me in telling Florida’s Clemency Board that they must release the vote!  

Paola Everett also contributed to this blog

As the country faces multiple national problems, including the most recent government shutdown, the immigrant rights movements have taken to the streets to remind Congress of yet one critical issue that has stalled because of the same gridlock: immigration reform. The need for reform is urgent, and across Florida and across the country people have been publicly declaring that the time is now to pass meaningful reform that will improve the lives of millions.

From California to our communities in Florida, October has been a key month for immigrant rights groups sending a wave of pro-immigration reform actions. Here are just a few of them that the ACLU of Florida has been involved with:

Saturday, October 5^th, National Day for Dignity and Respect

On Saturday, October 5 in over 160 cities across the country groups in favor of immigrant rights activities, organized marches; vigils; protests; walks, to demand "dignity and respect" for immigrants. The ACLU, the ACLU of Florida and other ACLU affiliates across the nation took part in the activity.

In Miami, hundreds of people gathered at noon at Jose Marti Park to march from the historic Calle Ocho in Little Havana to the Cuban Memorial Plaza. Two women spoke to the attendees and the media about how their lives have been severely affected by our immigration system. The first was Victoria Viteri, an Ecuadorian woman who has not seen her daughter for three years since she returned to Ecuador when she was unable to continue her education due to not having documents. Victoria uses her bike to get to work, fearing a stop by the police and immigration, however this limits their work and income. Then Rosa Oseguera told the story of how her son was kicked out of his home by immigration officials and being held in a Federal Center in Downtown Miami. While in detention, he was diagnosed with a bacterial infection which is immediately life-threatening.

Leaders from other organizations said a few words: Francisco Portillo from the Organización Hondureña Integrada Francisco Morazán, Ivan Parra of 1Miami, and Maria Rodriguez for Florida Immigrant Coalition, who closed with a moving speech about the importance of continuing the fight for dignity and respect for immigrants. "I wish John Boehner had ovaries that I have I" Rodriguez said to a cheering crowd.

The marchers took to the sidewalks of Calle Ocho carrying banners reading "The Constitution is my document," "Whose father did you deport today?", "Immigration reform is in the hands of Congress", "We want immigration reform, now." The activity ended with the stories of other affected families, and live music.

Meanwhile in Lakeland, about 200 people gathered at a vigil outside the First Presbyterian Church, which was attended by Congressman Dennis Ross and his family. Community members remained for hours on the sidewalk with candles and banners reading "deportation is not a family value” while praying and asking for the respect and dignity of immigrants. Multiple organizations and community groups spoke about the importance of immigration reform for families who are being separated. The vigil lasted 16 hours and ended with 25 community members participating in Sunday Mass.

Following the Lakeland vigil, 11 pilgrims started a 150 mile, 7 day walk from Orlando to Tampa raising awareness on the importance and necessity of reform. PICO clergy, faith leaders and community members were joined by hundreds of supporters in Sacred Heart Church in Downtown Tampa. They then marched to the Federal Courthouse were they continued to pray for congress and the 11 million people currently in the country waiting for an immigration reform.

Tuesday, October 8^th “Camino Americano” (American Path)

On October 8th around 20,000 people gathered on the National Mall in Washington and marched to the U.S. Capitol to send a message to the House of Representatives: Get Immigration Reform Done; and Get it Done Now. At least eight House Democrats supportive of a reform bill were among around 200 arrested at the rally for blocking traffic in front of the US Capitol in an act of civil disobedience.

Going forward…

Throughout the month of October, the immigrant rights movement has taken to the streets and exercised their right to make their voice heard. Future demonstrations and actions are already planned and will likely continue until we see immigration reform that includes a path to citizenship for the nation’s 11 million undocumented people. If you are planning on getting involved in these planned actions, be sure to know your rights as a protestor, as a photographer, and when encountering law enforcement. There are still two more weeks left, but October seems already to be a month of heat on the streets, despite the fact that summer is over.