"Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity." - Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  

Picture from Three Lakes neighborhood in southwest Miami-Dade County, Florida. Halloween display depicting lynching of two men dressed in urban-themed clothing. Homeowners refuse to remove display.

A Halloween display of a mock hanging of two men in the gated Miami community of Three Lakes has caused quite a bit of controversy. A Trump-Pence campaign yard sign is also near the hanging dark-hued dummies dressed in urban-themed clothing. The yard sign is actually in the adjoining yard of a neighbor and exacerbates an already racially-sensitive situation. Donald Trump has encouraged violence against protestors at his presidential campaign rallies and his campaign is closely associated with white nationalists. Nooses... hangings... lynchings... are symbols of the history of terror that Blacks have been forced to endure. This Halloween display is not a good look for the Trump-Pence campaign and it's definitely not a good look for Miami.

The homeowners refused to remove the display. They also declared the display is not racist it's just Halloween fun. Hmmm... Let me keep this 100 and translate that response for you: Listen Black people and bleeding heart liberals, we don't care about you and your feelings! Yeah...that sums it up. 

Meanwhile, please go to the updated Miami New Times story on this Halloween display and share it far and wide with all of your networks of family, friends and various organizations. Also, get more information via the related links to this post. Since today is Halloween, let's see how soon the homeowners take down the offensive display. 

Is this how we make America great again? I don't think so. Wake up. Stay woke.

 @vanessawbyers

This is the homeowners' response to complaints about their Halloween display of the mock lynching.

Related Links:

Miami New Times - Dummies Lynched Next to a Trump Sign for Halloween in Kendall UPDATED

WPLG Channel 10 - Halloween display sparks controversy in southwest Miami-Dade neighborhood (Please note that the Channel 10 report refers to the hanging decoration as "classic.")

The Legacy of Lynchings in Halloween Decorations (Please read this for a historical perspective.)

MIAMI, FL – One thousand middle school boys, 300 police officers, and mothers who lost children to gun violence participated in a Police and Youth Conference hosted by The 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project Founder Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson, on Tuesday, October 25, 2016, at Miami-Dade College North Campus.  The conference concluded with a march led by Congresswoman Wilson to unveil a new billboard sponsored by Clear Channel Outdoor located at 27th Avenue and 106thStreet.  The billboard depicts solidarity between police and youth along with a powerful messaged aimed at ending gun violence.

“I see hope for the future,” said Congresswoman Wilson.  “We all know that there is tension between young boys of color and police officers.  The 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project hosts these annual conferences to foster better relations between police and youth which help ease that tension.”  

Students from 34 middle schools participated in interactive workshops with law enforcement personnel.  Top brass and police officers representing several municipalities joined together to facilitate the workshops with the goal of educating youth on how to interact with law enforcement.

The Hillary for Florida campaign is courting the Caribbean American vote via a celebration at Island Restaurant near the West End Regional Library early voting site. Food and music will be provided on-site. 

Like all early voting sites, the West End Regional Library will be open from 7 AM to 7 PM through November 6, which makes voting easy and convenient for local residents. Florida voters can visit iwillvote.com/locate to find all of their early voting locations. To follow Hillary for Florida early vote efforts on Twitter, use the hashtag: #EarlyVote4Her. 

If You Go:

"One Love For Hillary" Early Vote Celebration

When: Saturday, October 29, 2:15 PM

Where: Island Restaurant, 10201 Hammocks Blvd #143, Miami, FL 33196

By now you've either heard the commercials on the radio or seen the commercials on television touting Amendment 1 as favorable to Florida's consumers. Don't fall for the okey doke. Here's what you need to know AND share with your family, friends, co-workers, etc. VOTE NO ON AMENDMENT 1!

Please join me this weekend in viewing the semi-autobiographical movie, Moonlight. The film’s director and writer is Barry Jenkins. It is adapted from In the Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue, a play written by Tarell Alvin McCraney. Both accomplished young men are from the projects in Liberty City and challenging family situations. Jenkins is a graduate of Miami Northwestern Senior High and McCraney attended New World School of the Arts. 

Much of the scenery in Moonlight was shot in Liberty City. From the rave reviews, this movie is sure to be Oscar-nominated. 

Here is the link to local theaters and times. http://www.fandango.com/moonlight2016_194816/movietimes O Cinema in Wynwood is featuring a Q&A with Tarell Alvin McCraney, tonight and Saturday after the 7 pm showings.

 @vanessawbyers

Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson (left) and Miami-Dade County Commissioner Barbara Jordan (right) helped hundreds of drivers restore their licenses at local reinstatement event.

MIAMI, FL – Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24) and Miami-Dade County Commissioner Barbara Jordan, in conjunction with the Public Defender, Eleventh Judicial Circuit County Court Criminal Division, and the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles helped hundreds of people with suspended driving privileges restore their licenses at a driver license reinstatement event on Friday, October 21, 2016, at the Richard E. Gerstein Justice Building in Miami-Dade County. 

“Many people who came today were thankful and said that this event was a lifesaver,” said Congresswoman Wilson.  “A suspended license can create a vicious cycle that is difficult to break as traffic fines continue to collect interest.  This event has put many people on the road to prosperity because they can now get to school or work and improve their quality of life.” 

The reinstatement event, coordinated by Chief Judge Samuel J. Slom and other members of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit County Court Criminal Division, alleviated the burden of traffic fines and fees that had previously hindered over 350 individuals from securing their licenses.  The event was offered on a first-come, first-serve basis to individuals with specific citations in Miami-Dade County excluding driving under the influence, felony-involved traffic offenses, habitual traffic offenses, and suspensions for failure to pay child support. 

“Since the year 2000 the cost of tickets has risen 170%, while the minimum wage only rose 53%,” said Judge Samuel J. Slom.  “It’s easy to see by those statistics why people are unable to pay tickets that have been assessed.  Today we’re giving people a chance to modify those obligations so they can get their licenses and seek employment.” 

More than 1.5 million people in Florida have had their licenses suspended for a variety of reasons including seat belt violations, unpaid traffic tickets, and broken tail lights.  Nearly 500,000 of those people live in Miami-Dade County.  A suspended license limits transportation options and hampers the livelihood of a major facet of the community.

“My mantra since I’ve been in Congress has been jobs, jobs, jobs,” said Congresswoman Wilson.  “Events like this are part of furthering that mantra.  I am certain we can reduce our nation’s deficit if people who want to work, can work.” 

Early voting for the November 2016 General Election has begun in Miami-Dade County. Please get out and vote today. This election, like others in previous years, is important. While the presidential race is garnering most of the news coverage but our state and local races are equally important also.  

Make sure all of your family and friends vote. Do you want to exercise your right to vote or do you want to wallow in regret? No excuses. No complaining. Inarguably, this presidential election cycle has been particularly nasty and polarizing. Many Americans are tired of the divisiveness and lies and just want the election to be over already.

Here is a list of the early voting sites in Miami-Dade County. Each location will be open 7am-7pm through Sunday, November 6. Don’t boo, vote. 

Newly Crowned Queens shine after pageant on Sunday, October 23, 2016, in Lauderhill, FL. 

From left, Miss Jamaica Florida Teen - Shanna Francis; Little Miss Jamaica Florida - Danniella Spence; Junior Miss Jamaica Florida- Sade White; and Miss Jamaica Florida - Shanique Brown.

Photo: David Muir of DAVIDiphoto, Inc.

On Thursday, October 20, President Barack Obama will campaign for Hillary Clinton in South Florida. At a public event, President Obama will lay out the high stakes of November's election for Florida families and highlight Clinton's vision for an America that is stronger together, with an economy that works for everyone, not just those at the top.

With more people voting in this election than any in history, President Obama will urge Florida voters to take advantage of in-person early voting, which begins in Florida on Monday, October 24.

On Saturday, October 15, and Sunday, October 16 -- the final weekend before Florida's new October 18 voter registration deadline -- Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Kaine will return to Florida to campaign in Miami-Dade and Broward counties, where he will discuss his and Hillary Clinton’s plans to create an economy that works for everyone, not just those at the top, and their shared vision for an America that is stronger together. Joining Kaine at a Florida Democrats block party Saturday in Liberty City, hip hop recording artist and Virginia native Pusha T will lay out why he is supporting Clinton and Kaine in this election and urge Floridians to register to vote.

With more people voting in this election than any in history, Kaine will urge Florida voters to visit iwillvote.com to register to vote, check their registration status, and make their voices heard this election, ahead of the new October 18 voter registration deadline.

Florida Democrats Block Party to Celebrate Liberty City Organizing Office Opening with Senator Tim Kaine

Block Party Doors Open: 2:45 PM EDT

Sen. Kaine Remarks Time: 5:15 PM EDT

Where: Parking lot of the Carrie P. Meek Entrepreneurial Education Center, Miami Dade College - North Campus, enter at NW 63rd St. between NW 7th Ave and NW 8th Ave.