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ACLU of Florida Names Florida State Senate Defender of Freedom
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2011 Press Releases
ACLU of Florida Names Florida State Senate Defender of Freedom
ENTIRE SENATE GIVEN AWARD FOR SAFEGUARDING LIBERTIES BY TAKING WEEK OFF
April 22, 2011
CONTACT: ACLU of Florida Media Office, (786) 363-2737 or media@aclufl.org
TALLAHASSEE – The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida (ACLUFL) today announced that the entire Florida Senate received the organization’s most recent “Defender of Freedom” award for the week which ended today, April 22, 2011.
The Senate has been on recess this entire week and as a result the Florida Legislature has been unable to pass new limitations on civil rights including free speech, privacy, protections against government searches and access to personal medical care.
"This week was the best week in the Legislature on civil liberties,” said Howard Simon, Executive Director of ACLUFL. "The assaults and roll backs on basic rights have been so sweeping and so fast that simply going on vacation is the best thing that could happen," he said.
The Florida House was in session two days this week meaning for several days both chambers of the Legislature were not working and Floridians’ rights were temporarily safe. But the Senate earned the award by taking the whole week off.
“The Senate is not the biggest problem this year but by being gone, they slowed down some really punitive and regressive big government over-reaches still being considered. In this political climate, doing nothing is progress,” said Danielle Prendergast, Director of Public Policy for ACLUFL. “There is some great stuff to see and do in Florida and I wish Senators and Representatives would get out and enjoy our state and stay on vacation just a bit longer.”
The Defender of Freedom award is presented weekly during the Florida Legislative Session to the lawmaker or other leader who displays public courage and defends constitutional freedoms in public policy. Previous winners were Reps. Jeff Clemens (D-Lake Worth) and Alan Williams (D-Tallahassee), Sen. Jack Latvala (R-St. Petersburg), Rep. Carlos Trujillo (R-Miami), Senator Mike Bennett (R-Bradenton), Rep. Jeff Brandes (R-St. Petersburg) and Rep. Scott Randolph (D-Orlando).
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About the ACLU of Florida
The ACLU of Florida is freedom's watchdog, working daily in the courts, legislatures and communities to defend individual rights and personal freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. For additional information, visit our web site at: www.aclufl.org.