Jolly scolds Byron Donalds for ignoring the political assault on Blacks
By Noni Haynes
By Noni Haynes
TALLAHASSEE — Gwen Graham was in a familiar place on June 7th. She attended the church service at Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, a place of fellowship steeped in the civil rights movement launched in the 1950’s. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, Reverends Ralph Abernathy, Jessie Jackson, and Al Sharpton are just a few of the civil rights icons who mobilized Black Floridians from the Bethel pulpit. The revival has begun again with the extraordinary rollback of hard-fought equal rights gains by Governor Ron DeSantis and President Donald Trump.
Reverend RB Holmes delivered a sermon aimed at addressing the growing despair and anger among people of color. It was about “mercy.” James 2:13, translated, “Those who refuse to show mercy to others will face strict, unforgiving judgment themselves.” It was a message circulating throughout the state in the discussions about racism and culture wars that have taken the place of public service, according to Holmes. Graham is the oldest daughter of the late Bob Graham, the revered Governor and US Senator. She spent her formative years in Tallahassee and would become a Congresswoman and run for governor.
When Holmes introduced Graham as the running mate to David Jolly, the congregation of 500 broke into loud applause.
The formal announcement was held in front of the historic Old Capitol. There, Jolly called out the presumptive Black Republican nominee, Byron Donalds, who was endorsed by President Donald Trump. Jolly said,” I believe that for centuries, the racist, discriminatory policies that exist today have resulted in economic inequality, health inequality, education inequity, and voter suppression. I have a plan to address that and will establish the Civil Rights Commission in the Governor’s Office as a start. I recognize these issues are a serious problem that must be addressed, and Byron Donalds does not.”
Jolly’s candor about the GOP’s concerted assault on the civil rights of Blacks is not a conversation with Blacks only. It is part of his discussion in the 275 forums he has participated in since May 2025. Meanwhile Donalds has ghosted Black people and attends very few forums at all.
