Comments on Viewing “The Untouchables” Film in Florida
Weekly Update 2017-06-13
Dear Members and Advocates;
Tonight, FAC is co-hosting a viewing event of Untouchable in Tampa, followed by a panel discussion. Another viewing is scheduled in Ft. Lauderdale on June 20th. We want you to come, but much more importantly, we want you to help spread the word and encourage others to come. We need community leaders, religious leaders, people in the education and criminal justice fields, employers and anyone else who has a misguided opinion on registrants and sex offender regulations to see this film.
These screenings are our opportunity to educate the general public and stakeholders. While it’s good to see registrants and members at these events; we’re just preaching to the choir by not including outsiders. If we encourage attendance by outsiders to our cause, we sway public perception on this issue and that is critically important to support all our legislative and legal efforts. If you are in or near Tampa or Ft. Lauderdale, know people in that area or are nonetheless committed to helping us spread the word and want to source some community organizations there to reach out to and invite to this event, please use the following links to invite people to the Tampa event TONIGHT (http://evite.me/zb33fptxt9) or the Ft. Lauderdale event on June 20th (http://evite.me/Cfe7rmwpHJ)!
Something else is going on this week that is important to touch on; the sexual assault trial of Bill Cosby. Yesterday, for the second day, the Jury is deliberating their verdict and will likely come to a decision very soon. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years for each count and will be labeled a sex offender. The point of mentioning it, is not to weigh in on his case, but to point out that the perpetrators of sexual assault are not necessarily the creepy looking loner in the long trench coat, but anyone. From 1984 to 1992, the Cosby Show was the ratings leader and Bill Cosby’s character was a role model – referred to as “America’s Dad”. Off screen, Cosby was known for his philanthropy and, in particular, support of education and self-improvement for African American kids.
That’s not to say that good deeds cancel out the bad. Clearly anyone who commits a crime deserves to be punished. But what it does go to say, is that victimization can come at the hands of anyone. Exactly one year ago, former Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert entered prison. Last month Congressman Anthony Weiner plead guilty and, as we’ve reported on extensively this month MANY teachers and coaches have gotten caught for sexual offenses. These people are not “stereotypical” sex offenders and most important to point out; none were on a registry.
Hope to see you at the screenings!
Sincerely,
The Florida Action Committee
Next FAC Meet and Greet is in Jacksonville on Saturday Jun 24th from 1-3 pm. If you are interested in attending, please RSVP at (833) 2-REPEAL [833-273-7325] or email anita@floridaactioncommittee.com.
SOME HEADLINES FROM THIS WEEK
Bill requires moving companies disclose employed sex offenders
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1 out of every 111 Adult Males in Florida is a Registered Sex Offender
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Private prison industry converts Florida inmates into very profitable commodities
The governor did not say, “Dammit … I’m getting to the bottom of this money-sucking private prison mess.” Rick Scott’s reticence might seem a bit out of character, given his self-crafted persona as Florida’s cold-blooded budget-cutting crusader. Here’s a guy who…
Must Read: Examining Sex Offenders Under Federal Post-Conviction Supervision
An article, written by Social Science Analyst Thomas H. Cohen and Probation Administrator Michelle Spidell, came out yesterday on registrants on Federal Supervision. No surprise: those convicted of sex offenses in general scored lower on the Post Conviction Risk…