Two Central Florida Democratic State Representatives shared their disappointment with the passage of legislation they say limits the rights of citizens to film the actions of police officers.
In response to the passage of SB 184, titled Impeding, Threatening, or Harassing First Responders, Orlando Representative LaVon Bracy Davis and Tampa Representative Dianne Hart, both Democrats, issued the following statements:
“I am deeply disappointed that this bill, which was supposed to include a cooperative effort by both Democrats and Republicans in the House to improve its language, has passed in its current form in the Senate. We live in a society rife with historical injustices against Black people by the police, and camera phones have continuously protected minority communities from their stories being twisted and diminished. I presented an amendment to this bill on the floor that would have protected the right to film police officers while maintaining their protection against harassment, which was not even considered. Instead, they pushed forward with an unwillingness to be cooperative and passed a bill that will only be weaponized against Black people.” said Representative Bracy Davis. “The only reason we know what happened to George Floyd is because of a girl who was filming his murder close by, and it is apparent to me today that this body is more concerned with the comfort of the police officer than it is with justice and truth.”
Representative Dianne Hart added, “I’m disappointed that we as a legislature could not come together on an amendment to provide accountability measures to this bill. This goes against the purpose of the legislative process and will make communities like mine less safe.”
