Florida has dozens of active hate groups, with seven of them located in Duval County, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center.
The Jacksonville City Council held a workshop on hate last week. City Councilwoman LeAnna Cumber said city leaders and residents should be aware of hate groups and their symbols.
The Anti-Defamation League, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the FBI made presentations at the workshop.
Federal law enforcement points to white supremacist groups as a major national security threat. Many were at the Jan. 6 insurrection at the nation’s Capitol in support of former President Donald Trump.
On First Coast Connect with Melissa Ross Tuesday, Cumber was asked if as a Republican, she denounces Trumpism as an animating force within her own party.
She responded by saying, “What I would like to do is move forward and when I talk about our policies, I’m talking about school choice, I’m talking about supporting law enforcement and personal security and I’m also talking about economic security; I mean this pandemic and these shutdowns has destroyed, almost destroyed, an entire generation of working women.”
When asked if running for Jacksonville mayor might be in her plans for the future, Cumber said she’s focused on her district right now.
To hear the full interview with Cumber, listen to Tuesday's First Coast Connect with Melissa Ross, which encores at 8 p.m. on WJCT News 89.9.
Michelle Corum can be reached at mcorum@wjct.org, 904-358-6308 or on Twitter at @MCorumonME.
