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<DIV>Congratulations Marion;</DIV>
<DIV>I must say that the problem is not with the “general” public, but it is
with the disabled population...they will not get up out of their houses and
voice their issues!</DIV>
<DIV>Untill we come together as a “united front” nothing will change.
</DIV>
<DIV>Tell me what you want me to do and where you want me to be.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Jimmy Lovell</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
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<DIV style="font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A title=nfbf-tampa@nfbnet.org
href="mailto:nfbf-tampa@nfbnet.org">Marion Gwizdala via NFBF-Tampa</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>Sent:</B> Sunday, January 08, 2017 8:33 PM</DIV>
<DIV><B>To:</B> <A title=nfbf-l@nfbnet.org href="mailto:nfbf-l@nfbnet.org">NFB
of Florida Internet Mailing List</A> ; <A title=nfbf-tampa@nfbnet.org
href="mailto:nfbf-tampa@nfbnet.org">NFB of Florida Tampa Chapter List</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>Cc:</B> <A title=marion.gwizdala@verizon.net
href="mailto:marion.gwizdala@verizon.net">Marion Gwizdala</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>Subject:</B> [NFBF-Tampa] Reaching Out to Elected
Officials</DIV></DIV></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV></DIV>
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<P class=MsoNormal>Dear All,<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p></o:p> </P>
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Many of you will remember that, when I was denied access to a Hillsborough Area
Regional Transit (HART) para transit vehicle in November, the State Attorney’s
office refused to prosecute the case. Their reasons were that the driver and two
witnesses all asserted there was not enough room on the minivan for a third
person and a guide dog, a fact I offered to disprove by loading three people and
three dogs on a similar vehicle. The chief of the misdemeanor division, Greg
Covington, refused to allow me this opportunity. Furthermore, he chided me by
asking, “Do you know what they are saying about you?”, referring to one witness
(not the plural “they” he used) who asserted in his report that I made several
racial slurs, though the second passenger who was sitting closer to the door,
stated he could not hear anything I said and the driver never made such an
assertion. It is very telling to also know that the passenger/witness who made
this statement refused to sign his testimony, perhaps because the form states it
is perjury to make false statements on an official police report.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p></o:p> </P>
<P
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I posted the story of how I was treated by the state Attorney’s office on our
Harness Up blog and received a call from Andrew warren who was running for the
office of State Attorney. He pledged that, should he be elected, he would
diligently investigate and prosecute all such cases of discrimination. Well, Mr.
Warren has been elected as the state attorney for the 13<SUP>th</SUP> Judicial
Circuit of Florida. Tomorrow Sherrill O’Brien, who serves as president of the
Florida Association of Guide Dog Users (FLAGDU), as well as NAGDU Secretary, and
I will meet with Andrew Warren and other leaders in his administration to
discuss how the State Attorney and the National Federation of the Blind can work
collaboratively to ensure that disabled people who face discrimination are
treated with more dignity by law enforcement and the State Attorney’s office, as
well as measures we can take to better educate the disabled community and law
enforcement about the criminal laws that affirm our rights to full and equal
access.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p></o:p> </P>
<P
class=MsoNormal>
I want to encourage others to take advantage of the fact that there are many
newly-elected public officials – State Attorneys, Sheriffs, mayors, city council
members, county commissioners, representatives, senators, and more – who have
been elected because the people believe they wil do what is right and equitable
to ensure that everyone has the chance to live the lives they want. The National
Federation of the Blind and the National Association of Guide Dog Users are here
to help you with guidance, information, and resources to make such meetings
productive. If there is any way we can help you, please do not hesitate to get
in touch with us!<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p></o:p> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal>Fraternally yours,<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>Marion Gwizdala, President<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>National Association of Guide Dog Users Inc.
(NAGDU)<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>National Federation of the Blind<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>(813) 626-2789<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>President@NAGDU.ORG<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p></o:p> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p></o:p> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal>The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is
not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise
expectations because low expectations create barriers between blind people
and our dreams. You can live the life you want! Blindness is not what holds you
back.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p></o:p> </P></DIV>
<P>
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