Share this page!

Rep. Val Demings Profile picture
Twitter logo
7 Feb, 5 tweets, 3 min read
This weekend in Winter Park FL, America laid to rest a true hero, Chief Master Sergeant Richard R. Hall Jr.

Chief Master Sergeant Hall was member of the Tuskegee Airmen. He served in World War II and the Korean War, and earned the Congressional Gold Medal of Honor.
The Tuskegee Airmen were America's first group of Black military airmen and support personnel.

They overcame fear, hardship and prejudice to defend freedom in our hour of need. #BlackHistoryMonth
Chief Master Sergeant Richard R. Hall Jr. was a mechanic for the Tuskegee Airmen, and when asked which planes were his favorite, he would joke "none of them," since every plane that came to him was in need of critical and stressful wartime repair.
I had the honor and pleasure of meeting Chief Master Sergeant Richard R. Hall Jr. on several occasions over recent years.

He will be missed by his community, his family and all who loved him. We are grateful for a life well lived.
You can read more about Chief Master Sergeant Richard R. Hall Jr. in the @OrlandoSentinel here. #BlackHistoryMonth
orlandosentinel.com/news/orange-co…

• • •

Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to force a refresh
　

Keep Current with Rep. Val Demings

Rep. Val Demings Profile picture

Stay in touch and get notified when new unrolls are available from this author!

Read all threads

This Thread may be Removed Anytime!

PDF

Twitter may remove this content at anytime! Save it as PDF for later use!

Try unrolling a thread yourself!

how to unroll video
  1. Follow @ThreadReaderApp to mention us!

  2. From a Twitter thread mention us with a keyword "unroll"
@threadreaderapp unroll

Practice here first or read more on our help page!

More from @RepValDemings

Rep. Val Demings Profile picture
8 Feb
In spring of 1964, Dr. Robert Hayling, a Black dentist and civil rights leader in St. Augustine, FL, called for college students to come spend their spring breaks not on the beach but at nonviolent civil rights protests.

They came. (Thread) #BlackHistoryMonth Image
Dr. Hayling had attended @FAMU_1887 & served in the @usairforce.

In 1960, he moved to St. Augustine, which was just a few years from celebrating its "400th anniversary as the nation’s oldest city on an all-white basis." Image
He advocated for Black residents to be recognized at the anniversary.

In response, he and three others were kidnapped, brought to a Klan rally, beaten, and nearly burned alive.

Klan members fired into his home, killing his dog and just missing his pregnant wife. Image
Read 11 tweets
Rep. Val Demings Profile picture
28 Dec 20
Today I'll vote to increase the COVID relief from $600 per person to $2,000 per person.

If it wasn’t for congressional Republicans, Americans would have gotten $2,000 relief checks months ago. They have blocked us at every turn, and they will block this effort too.
I strongly support increasing the emergency relief to $2,000. This infusion of direct assistance would be critical to help my constituents stay in their homes, keep food on the table, and make up for lost ground due to COVID this year.
President Trump could have come out in favor of $2,000 checks during any of the 276 days since he signed the last emergency relief. Instead he decided to golf, watch TV, ignore the negotiations, and let Mitch McConnell take the lead until the last moment.
Read 4 tweets
Rep. Val Demings Profile picture
2 Nov 20
100 years ago today, Moses Norman, a Black man in Ocoee, Florida, tried to vote.

This challenge to the racial order caused a white mob to lynch voting rights activist July Perry, and with further violence to murder or eventually drive out every other Black resident in the town.
Those who attempted to return faced threats or overt acts of violence, including “dynamite thrown into their homes.”

Their property was seized and sold. One local official, a confederate veteran who had fought to preserve slavery, took ownership of some.
“SPECIAL BARGAINS: Several beautiful little groves belonging to the Negroes that just left Ocoee,” read his advertisement.

Those who excuse today’s inequalities without recognizing our nation’s history of theft and racial violence do a disservice to the truth.
Read 6 tweets
Rep. Val Demings Profile picture
11 Sep 20
I have introduced legislation to prohibit states from denying voting rights to American citizens, regardless of prior criminal convictions.

Every American should have the right and the responsibility to participate in our democracy.
demings.house.gov/media/press-re…
I enforced the law for nearly three decades. Anyone who commits a crime should be held accountable.

But committing a crime does not remove your humanity and it should not silence your voice.

A debt to society must be paid, but that debt should never include our right to vote.
Efforts to exclude these Americans from voting—either directly or through convoluted poll tax schemes—go against our fundamental principle that our government must be answerable to the people.

A criminal conviction does not erase a person from our communities or our country.
Read 4 tweets
Rep. Val Demings Profile picture
18 Jul 20
I woke up this morning to the sad, sad news of the passing of my friend and colleague, Mr. John Lewis.

Every time I would see him, I would say, "Hello Mr. John Lewis." He would respond, "please call me John." And I would say, "okay, Mr. John Lewis." We would both laugh.
I was in awe in the ‘60s and am still in awe today of the man who was larger than life. Mr. John Lewis was strong as a lion, yet gentle as dove. He loved America and was willing to work hard and sacrifice to make it a better place.
In the dark and difficult days, he reminded us to protect our inner light, maintain our hope and our spirit; that only despair can impede the cause of justice.
Read 6 tweets
Rep. Val Demings Profile picture
12 Jun 20
49 lost friends. 53 carrying wounds temporary or permanent. Four years after #Pulse, I remain assured that '#OrlandoStrong' was never just a slogan. It was a promise.
We promised to support each other, to love each other, and to never forget those we lost, nor those who are still with us.
I am inspired by the passion of the advocates who have turned tragedy into action; who saw the tragedy of Parkland and said "I know what you've been through, and I can help." #HonorThemWithAction
Read 7 tweets

Did Thread Reader help you today?

Support us! We are indie developers!

This site is made by just two indie developers on a laptop doing marketing, support and development! Read more about the story.

Become a Premium Member ($3/month or $30/year) and get exclusive features!

Become Premium

Too expensive? Make a small donation by buying us coffee ($5) or help with server cost ($10)

Donate via Paypal Become our Patreon

Thank you for your support!

Follow Us on Twitter!

Like this author's thread?

Get emails when @RepValDemings has new unrolls!

Check out other threads from @RepValDemings!

Read all threads by @RepValDemings