By Rhetta Peoples
On Saturday, July 28, 2024, Vice President Kamala Harris’ Florida campaign team held a Black Men’s Roundtable with community leaders at New Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Tampa.
Attendees included volunteers, members of the Florida Democratic Party, local elected officials and community members.
Sean Shaw moderated the speakers who discussed the most pressing issues to Black men in America. Speakers included Keto Nord Hodges, Criminal Justice Advocate Marlowe Jones, Navy Veteran Walter L. Smith II, Air Force Veteran Lewis Singleton Daryl Hych, Businessman Gary T. Hartfield, New Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church Pastor Larry Roundtree II and Lead Organizer for the Beyond Coal Campaign Walter L. Smith II.
The discussion was focused on Economic Empowerment, Education and Opportunity, Criminal Justice Reform, Veterans and Health Disparities.
Advocate Marlow Jones is hoping the new administration will make health care for Black men a priority. “We need to get that money in the state of Florida that our governor is constantly declining that could expand Medicaid; give people in our community more access to these resources,” Jones said.
The Biden-Harris administration fought big pharmaceutical companies and were successful in capping insulin at $35. Shaw said, “The other guy has already said one of his top priorities is to totally end the Affordable Care Act.”
Voting in Florida: Primary election day is August 20, 2024. The registration deadline to vote by mail and in person is July 22. The deadline to request a mailed ballot is August 8th. The early voting period for the primary election is August 10-17. For the general election, the deadline for voter registration for vote by mail and in person is October 7. The deadline to request a mailed ballot is October 24. The early voting period is October 26 through November 2. Election Day is November 5th.
