DeSantis declares Ocoee Massacre Remembrance Day
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A century after Black Ocoee residents were killed and terrorized by a white mob in response to a Black man attempting to vote, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday declared Nov. 2 as 1920 Ocoee Election Day Massacre Remembrance Day in Florida.
The proclamation followed an Oct. 23 request by the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida and the Orange County Branch of the NAACP.
“We’re happy that [DeSantis] was decent enough to sign it, that he saw fit to sign it,” said Beverlye Colson Neal, president of the Orange County Branch of the NAACP. “I’m very surprised but I’m happy and delighted. After 100 years [July Perry] can be recognized by the state of Florida for giving his life so people could have the right to vote.”
The massacre began on Election Day on Nov. 2, 1920 and lasted into the next day, culminating in Perry’s lynching. It is unknown how many people were killed. Records uncovered from the time point to six deaths including Perry’s but some accounts said dozens of Black residents were killed.
Included with the civil rights groups' request was a draft of a proclamation for the governor to sign. The proclamation DeSantis signed is similar, but differs in some details.
The draft written by the civil rights groups said “the harms of this tragedy are not limited to Ocoee, but rather have statewide impact” and “the harms of this tragedy remain even today, as voter intimidation and violence at polling locations is a genuine concern in modern elections."
DeSantis' proclamation omitted both passages. It also replaced a reference to “ensuring the right to vote to all eligible citizens regardless of race, gender, religion, creed, or national origin” with a shorter phrase: “ensuring the right to vote to all eligible citizens.”
A spokesperson for DeSantis did not immediately respond to questions from the Orlando Sentinel about the differences between the draft and the proclamation the governor signed.
Neal called the proclamation “watered down” but said she is still glad Perry will be honored in some way.
“The impact of him being killed, it did impact the entire state,” Neal said. “It made people fearful. ... Even though it’s watered down, we appreciate the fact that... at least there is some statewide observance."
dstennett@orlandosentinel.com
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