Black Lives Matter

The man who was carried across the Pensacola Bay Bridge on the hood of a vehicle is invoking Florida’s self-defense statute in his defense.

On June 7, while helping block the Pensacola Bay Bridge an SUV – later found to be driven by Nathan Matusz, drove into the crowd, forcing Uphaus onto the hood.

Attorney Chris Klotz represents Jason Uphaus, who last month was part of the “Black Lives Matter” protest at the 17th Street railroad trestle and Bay Bridge.

People facing criminal charges for demonstrating are being offered pro-bono legal aid from a Pensacola law firm.

Eric Stevenson and Chris Klotz of Stevenson Klotz are among a number of attorneys in Florida who are volunteering time to protect citizens’ rights for peaceful assembly, in connection with protests over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, as well as other instances of police misconduct nationwide.

Undeterred by rain, protests continued in DeFuniak Springs and Navarre Sunday bringing together hundreds of people waving signs and chanting against police brutality and systemic racism. 

About 500 people gathered at Harbeson Field and walked a half mile to Wayside Park, across the street from DeFuniak City Hall, waving signs and chanting “No Justice, No Peace.” Some cars driving by honked in appreciation. One man in an orange tractor gave a friendly wave. 

The Race and Reconciliation group is moving forward with its community conversations about race and racism in Pensacola. They’re beginning a new Cross-Cultural Education Series this Thursday night at the Bowden Building downtown.

Julie Patton, an instructor in the UWF Social Work Department, joined with some friends and colleagues to form the Race & Reconciliation group.

On the heels of Donald Trump’s inauguration, hundreds of thousands of people gathered on the National Mall Saturday for the Women’s March on Washington. The event was organized as a grassroots movement to stand against Trump and for women’s rights and a variety of other causes.

In solidarity, “sister marches” were held in cities across the country, including Pensacola.

Picking up on Hillary Clinton’s campaign mantras, chants of “More love, less hate” and “Love trumps hate” filled the air as the marchers proceeded through downtown Pensacola.

The second in a series of community workshops titled “Racial Tension: Cooling the Fires” is set for this Thursday, October 20, in downtown Pensacola. The event will be held at the J. Earle Bowden Building, 120 Church Street, from 6:00-8:00 p.m.

The workshops were initiated by the UWF Department of Social Work to focus on systemic racial problems in Escambia County.