The Latest Mass Shooting in Florida Was Racist. What Role Do State Politics Play?
The Latest Mass Shooting in Florida Was Racist. What Role Do State Politics Play?
Texas based artist Robert Marquez works on memorials for Jerrald Gallion, Angela Carr and Anolt Joseph Laguerre Jr. near a Dollar General store where the were shot and killed two days earlier on August 28, 2023 in Jacksonville, Florida. Sean Rayford/Getty Images hide caption
Texas based artist Robert Marquez works on memorials for Jerrald Gallion, Angela Carr and Anolt Joseph Laguerre Jr. near a Dollar General store where the were shot and killed two days earlier on August 28, 2023 in Jacksonville, Florida.
Sean Rayford/Getty ImagesThe latest mass shooting in Jacksonville, Florida left three people dead.
All of the victims were Black and the white gunman left behind racist, hate-filled letters.
The Justice Department is now investigating this shooting as a hate crime.
A big part of the conversation now is what role state politics play in crimes like this.
Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis has loosened gun laws in recent years and put restrictions on how race is taught in public schools.
NPR's Juana Summers talks with Mutaqee Akbar, president of the Tallahassee branch of the NAACP, about how much responsibility lies with politicians.
In participating regions, you'll also hear a local news segment to help you make sense of what's going on in your community.
Email us at considerthis@npr.org.
This episode was produced by Brianna Scott and Alejandra Marquez with engineering by Tre Watson. It was edited by Sami Yenigun. Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.