Petition to the Pinellas County Commission

Stop anti-black discrimination!

Restore and award the rightful funding to south St. Petersburg’s African People’s Education and Defense Fund!

Whereas the African People’s Education and Defense Fund (APEDF) is a nonprofit organization that fulfills all of the legal and other requirements to receive funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) as a means to further advance its mission to “defend the human and civil rights of the African community and end the disparities faced by African people in health, healthcare, education and economic development”;

And whereas the ARPA fund stipulates that funding to organizations serving low income neighborhoods— which APEDF does—will be prioritized;

And whereas the APEDF provides critical services to the black community of south St. Pete including a community radio station, licensed community kitchen and accessible events hall, AND was ranked highly (4th out of more than 50 applicants) by an independent review board selected by the Pinellas Community Foundation (PCF);

And whereas the Pinellas County Commissioners, in its role as administrator of these federal funds, should be approving PCF funding recommendations on the merit of the proposal and should not be discriminating against organizations with whom they disagree politically;

We, supporters of the right to freedom of speech, call on the Pinellas County Commissioners to:

  1. Restore the $36,801 in ARPA funding to APEDF for radio station equipment for Black Power 96.3 FM radio that you revoked in February 2023 after the previous Commissioners had approved it in November 2022.
  2. Approve and grant the $67,327 in ARPA funding to APEDF for a back-up generator for the Uhuru House, per the recommendation of the Pinellas Community Foundation grant reviewers.

Sign the Petition to the Pinellas County Commission

128 signatures

Latest Signatures
128 Tammy J. St Petersburg, Fl Sep 03, 2023
127 Annette H. Columbia, SC Jul 16, 2023
126 Jessica L. Saint Petersburg, FL Jul 12, 2023
125 Brook B. Tampa, FL Jul 02, 2023
124 Nizammah W. Saint Petersburg, Florida Jun 30, 2023
123 Chrisley C. Tampa, FL Jun 16, 2023
122 Wendy C. San Diego, CA Jun 14, 2023
121 Lori P. antioch, ca Jun 13, 2023
120 Daneisha Y. Saint Louis, MO Jun 13, 2023
119 Robin B. Portland, Oregon Jun 12, 2023
118 Margaret K. Gulfport, FL Jun 12, 2023
117 Catoria S. Deltona, FL Jun 12, 2023
116 Mary B. Saint Petersburg, Florida Jun 12, 2023
115 irrissa P. St. Petersburg, FL Jun 12, 2023
114 Margaret P. St. Petersburg, FL Jun 12, 2023
113 Jim B. Harrisburg, PA Jun 12, 2023
112 Barbara A. Long Island, NY Jun 12, 2023
111 Sonia C. StPetersburg, FL Jun 12, 2023
110 King E. Miami, Fl Jun 12, 2023
109 Njeri Y. London, UK Jun 12, 2023
108 Mariah B. Gulfport, MS Jun 12, 2023
107 Ralph p. BKLYN, NY Jun 11, 2023
106 Nichole H. Saint Petersburg, FL Jun 11, 2023
105 Jamie S. Saint Petersburg, FL Jun 11, 2023
104 Terrell N. Saint Petersburg, FL Jun 11, 2023
103 Rosalind A. London, United Kingdom Jun 11, 2023
102 Lisa W. Minneapolis, MN Jun 11, 2023
101 Renee N. PHILADELPHIA, PA Jun 11, 2023
100 Barbara D. St Petersburg, FL Jun 10, 2023
99 David A. Tallahassee, FL Jun 10, 2023
98 James A. St. Louis, MO Jun 10, 2023
97 SHAYLA B. Grandview, MO Jun 10, 2023
96 Margaret K. Gulfport, FL Jun 09, 2023
95 Ernest H. St Peter’s burg, Fl Jun 09, 2023
94 Shirley W. Passadena, Fl Jun 09, 2023
93 Margaret K. Gulfport, FL Jun 09, 2023
92 Joel H. Richmond, California Jun 09, 2023
91 Elyshah J. St.pete, FL Jun 08, 2023
90 Marcnick R. Miami, Florida Jun 08, 2023
89 Jacob H. Olivette, MO Jun 08, 2023
88 Janet V. Tacoma, WA Jun 08, 2023
87 Jonathan C. St. Louis, Missouri Jun 08, 2023
86 Teresa J. Palm Harbor, FL Jun 08, 2023
85 BETTY D. BK, NYC, NY Jun 08, 2023
84 Paul B. Spokane, WA Jun 07, 2023
83 Joseph D. Las Vegas, Nevada Jun 07, 2023
82 Cara L. Oakland, CA Jun 07, 2023
81 Devon H. La Mesa, CA Jun 07, 2023
80 norman r. toronto, ontario Jun 07, 2023
79 Angelika M. Saint Louis, Missouri Jun 07, 2023