Howdy folks, just a note to let everyone know I am not giving up on changing the name of BK Roberts Hall, but due to the current composition of the Florida legislature (Republican supermajority) and the pervasive movement against diversity related issues, I am taking a low key approach until things change. Last year I was unable to persuade anyone in the 2024 legislature to file a bill that would remove the BK Roberts name from the main classroom building at the FSU law school, not even members of the black caucus. The one representative who showed interest later said he spoke with FSU officials and since they did not support advancing the issue at the current time, he would not file a bill until FSU was behind it. I was hoping the fall 2024 elections might improve the situation, but no luck. And no one has filed a bill for the 2025 legislative session which starts next week.
In short, the time will come for this, but it’s not now, and we are stuck with probably the last public building in the southeast still named for a prominent segregationist. My strategy at this point is to take a long term approach and work on getting FSU support and then go back to the legislature. The situation at FSU is not much better as one of our main supporters, the Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) group at FSU, was suspended last year for protesting too loudly. In the meantime I am spending my time with my other volunteer activities like building Shaketown (band rehearsal studios), coaching little league, working with the attorneys at the Quincy office of Legal Services, and setting up field trips for the students at Grassroots Free School. As always, thanks for those who support this campaign and keep the faith and any questions/comments/suggestions are welcome.