The new Selma? Activists say under DeSantis Florida is 'ground zero' in civil rights fight

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/11/05/civil-rights-are-under-assault-in-florida-coalition-of-activists-say/ [login to see] 7/
At first Salanda Benton didn’t think enough people were paying attention to what she felt was the unraveling of civil rights happening in Florida. It angered her, then saddened her as state officials banned books and restricted the teaching of Black history.

“I can’t believe it’s 2023 and we’re going through this,’’ said Benton, executive director of the Florida Coalition on Black Civic Participation. “There is not one day that we cannot have considered Florida to be the battleground. ... We’re in the belly of the beast.”

In recent weeks, more voting rights activists, faith leaders and civil rights advocates from across the country have joined Benton and other activists in Florida, which national civil rights leader Al Sharpton this week called “ground zero’’ in the modern-day fight for civil rights.