Tampa Faith Leaders Condemn Gov. DeSantis’s Suspension of State Attorney Warren
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, August 8, 2022
MEDIA CONTACT
Austin Schuler, aschuler@faithinpubliclife.org | 540-280-3393
Tampa Faith Leaders Condemn Gov. DeSantis’s Suspension of State Attorney Warren
“Andrew Warren has done nothing but enhance the culture of the Hillsborough County State Attorney’s Office to bend the long arc of the moral universe toward justice in our community”
Tampa, FL - Hillsborough State Attorney Andrew Warren has vowed to fight back against his suspension by Governor Ron DeSantis over Warren’s promise not to enforce the state’s 15-week abortion ban and to continue support for gender transition treatments for minors.
Below are statements from faith leaders in the Tampa area condemning Gov. DeSantis’s actions.
Pastor Norman Harris, Esq.
Vertical Renewal Ministries
Tampa Bay, FL
“If I had to choose one word to describe Governor DeSantis’s administration and recent decision to suspend State Attorney Andrew Warren, it would be tyrannical. His recent action demonstrates at its best an abuse of power to undermine a free and fair election, which cuts at the heart of democracy. It was the will of the community to elect Andrew Warren as State Attorney twice. Governor DeSantis has shown, once again, disregard to democracy and has misused the authority of his administration and platform to advance personal aggrandizement and political agenda. Ironically, Governor DeSantis is guilty of the very thing he falsely accuses Andrew Warren of, failure to uphold his oath of office.
Andrew Warren has done nothing but enhance the culture of the Hillsborough County State Attorney’s Office to bend the long arc of the moral universe toward justice in our community, where he has been elected twice to serve, and has upheld his oath of office to support the Supreme law of the land, the Constitution. Governor DeSantis, unfortunately, chooses to take autocratic action with those on the wrong side of history who have violated human dignity by supporting an interpretation and application of law and power to deny, disrespect and dehumanize others, including their mothers, wives, daughters and people of color. Those who don’t bow to the sound of his music are thrown in the fiery furnace."
Bishop Thomas Scott
Lead Pastor, 34th Street Church of God
Tampa Bay, FL
“The removal of Hillsborough State Attorney Andrew Warren was an overstep and overreached by the governor. This is the action of an authoritarian leader. He is Donald Trump on steroids. And the people of Florida must open their eyes and see we cannot afford to have an elected official take it upon himself to remove or suspend another elected official without cause and without any violation of the State or United State constitution.”
Rev. Dr. Steven Blinder,
Royal Palm Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and former pastor in Hillsborough
Coral Springs, FL
“DeSantis’ continuous promotion of misogyny and transphobia deny the magnificence of God’s creation, and his suspension of Andrew Warren threatens the health and integrity of our democracy.”
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Faith in Public Life Action is a national movement of clergy and faith leaders united in the prophetic pursuit of justice, equality and the common good. Together, with a network of over 50,000 leaders, they are leading the fight to advance just policies at the state and federal level that affirm our values and the human dignity of all.