Round two of Mayor Lenny Curry’s community conversations on discrimination will seek more dialogue from attendees looking to weigh in on the issue.
That opportunity starts at 6 p.m. tonight at Edward Waters College with a forum focused on “Religious Freedoms, Thoughts & Beliefs.”
Like the Nov. 17 forum on families, tonight’s event will feature a panel discussion and question-and-answer session with the audience.
There are some tweaks, though.
The first forum had six panelists, this one will have four to save time.
Panelists will be Senior Rabbi Joshua Lief of Congregation Ahavath Chesed; Torin Dailey of First Baptist Church of Oakland; Ronnie Edwards of Blessed Hope Missionary Baptist Church; and Roger Gannam of the Liberty Counsel. Gannam also served as a panelist at the first forum.
Another change will be how public comment is handled. The first forum at the Downtown campus of Florida State College at Jacksonville drew about 400 people, many of whom filled out speaker cards.
Marsha Oliver, spokeswoman for Mayor Lenny Curry, said about 100 people showed up very early and because speakers were chosen on a first-come, first served basis, not everyone had an opportunity to speak in the allotted time.
In fact, just nine people — all in support of expanding the city’s human rights ordinance — got to speak. That decision prompted an outcry from many in the crowd who claimed they spent hours waiting but were not heard during the 30-minute or so public portion of the meeting.
That feedback prompted one key change.
“The goal is provide ample time for question-and-answer,” said Oliver. “We’re going to randomly draw cards for people to speak … to promote an opportunity for more voices and more people heard.”
The first forum was standing-room only, with about 100 people standing during the two-hour event. That response also caused a venue shift at EWC. Initially, the discussion was to be held in the Milne Auditorium, which can accommodate 450 people. The event has now been moved to the Adams-Jenkins Music & Sports Center, where 900 seats will be available.
“We are making certain to put it in a place that can accommodate everyone,” said EWC President Nat Glover, “and we are looking for a good response and turnout that’s conducive for open dialogue.”
While advocates far outnumbered opponents the first time, it’s possible that could change. One example: First Baptist Church is offering a shuttle service from its Downtown campus to EWC tonight for the forum, according to the church’s website.
Also since that first forum, there’s been noise from outside groups trying to influence local process. A Dallas-based group says it will crowdfund to give $10,000 to each of the 19 City Council members who vote in favor of expanding the human rights ordinance.
The idea would be highly unethical and was enough for a leading local advocacy organization to come out condemning it.
The Jacksonville Coalition for Equality called the apparent attempt at bribery “shameful” and “uninvited” to the local conversation.
The coalition also is hosting a news conference at 2 p.m. today Downtown that will have a half-dozen religious leaders voicing their support on the expansion, all leading up to the 6 p.m. discussion.
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