Left to mainstream media, one would think there is only one declared Democrat in the race for Marco Rubios U.S. Senate seat. In fact, it has been reported as such.
That is not the case. Patrick Murphy is not the only candidate in the race.
Pam Keith is a delightful breath of freshair in the staleness that is the Florida Democratic Party and an African-American woman who isnt afraid to step out, on faith and belief in herself.
Let me tell you about one incident I know of -- something every Florida voter should know. It's what sealed the deal for me on Pam Keith, what she did when no one was looking. And it relates directly to her character.
Ironically, the incident occurred in North Palm Beach, in Patrick Murphys district, to African-American canvassers who were canvassing for Patrick Murphy on the evening of Sept. 25, 2014.
After going to a house in his district to pass out Murphy for Congress literature, two minor children -- a 16-year-old female intern and a 14-year-old boy -- were racially profiled. The police were called about a burglary in progress.
There was no burglary in progress. The two children were helping the boy's mother, Heather Corpin, who was at another house passing out Patrick Murphy literature, canvassing the Murphy district. They were dressed in "Patrick Murphy For Congress" clothes. They were carrying "Patrick Murphy For Congress" literature. They rang the doorbell. It was 7:30 in the evening.
The children were surrounded by multiple police cars and officers. They were held against their will until Heather Corpin could get to the scene. Check out the police report.
You see, the house was owned by a married police couple. Sgt. Glass, the female half of the couple who was home, was reported to have said she was going to the back of the house to retrieve her service revolver. Glass's husband was among the officers who responded to the call. In fact, these children reported they were told they were lucky they werent staring down the barrel of a gun.
You mean like Michael Brown? Walter Scott? Trayvon Martin?
Here's the crux of the matter: It wasnt the Murphy Campaign that came to the youngsters' rescue, and went to Police Headquarters to lobby for their rights.
It was Pam Keith. The same Pam Keith who is running for Senate against Patrick Murphy, the Pam Keith the Florida Democratic Party won't acknowledge.
Pam Keith, who is an attorney, let the Police Department know that what they did to those children, children who could have been yours or mine, was wrong.
I dont know about you, but I want someone representing me who is going to fight for my rights and my needs. There are 23.5 million African-American women in this country and not one single African-American woman in the U.S. Senate.
In Patrick Murphys defense, he didnt find out about the incident until later -- accidentally, because campaign staffers decided he shouldnt be made aware of it.
They didnt want the campaign tarnished, because this occurred at the height of Ferguson and Michael Brown.
The mother of one of the minors who was harassed was told she couldnt mention this incident as a Murphy canvasser.
Campaigns and politics should never stand in the way of doing what is right, especially in todays climate of black boys and men being gunned down in the streets, only to receive no justice.
No one was recording that incident, and it could have turned into yet another tragedy affecting not only the African-American community, but the United States of America.
I want someone representing me who is going to speak up, speak out, and not be afraid of alienating anyone, while doing what is right.
Clearly that is Pam Keith. She wasnt related to those children.
She didnt have to advocate on their behalf.
She did it because it was the right thing to do.
She did it because she can relate to those of us who face these types of things on a regular basis.
If Pam Keith will stand up for complete strangers who were canvassing on her now-opponents canvassing team, she will stand up for you and me.
If we keep deciding candidates can only run if they come from money, we will never get representatives in Washington who actually care, and understand, about the everyday working person.
Leslie Wimes is the founder of the Democratic African American Women's Caucus. She is a registered nurse who was working in cardiovascular intensive care until she decided to form"Women On The Move,"a South Florida-based networking group that promotes positivity in professional and personal areas. Her website of the same name and progressive but independent columns have thousands of readers not only in Florida but across the nation. This column is reprinted from the site with the author's permission.
