Safety Harbor Mayor falls under pressure to Anti-Black Lives Matter Residents.

By
Robin Harris

A hashtag. A response. An outrage. Heartfelt.  It ignited. It moved.  #Blacklivesmatter resonated with

individuals that repeatedly watched Black lives executed by hands of police or White folks who used
their privilege to murder unarmed Black lives.  In 2013, after the acquittal of George Zimmerman in
the unnecessary slaughter of Trayvon Martin, Alicia Garza posted used the hashtag
#BlackLivesMatter – and the rest is history.  #BLM became a passion. Black Lives Matter started as a
movement in a moment and became a principle.  Black Lives Matter is a profound statement.  A
declaration. We have witnessed a profound uprising by those ignited by the fire of Black Lives Matter!
Therefore, my question to those who are calling for the disregard of #BLM is: Shouldn’t black lives
matter?  Why is it problematic to move in the moment that has ignited a historic movement?  What
harm is there in organizing around a principle? Why not allow a hashtag to become a living organism? 
Most that wear the shirts, hats, and so on, are NOT tied to a Black Lives Matter chapter.  There are
signs posted all around the nation and most that share those signs are NOT part of any formal
organization.  However, they have aligned themselves with the Black Lives Matter PRINCIPLE. 

About 2 months ago, as the Black Lives Matter movement was growing around our country, a group of
Safety Harbor residents asked the City of Safety Harbor to make a statement of solidarity with the
movement. About a month ago, Mr. Lewis Ponds held a Unity Rally at Waterfront Park that discussed
race relations in Safety Harbor. Following this, a group of 85 residents signed a petition asking the City
of Safety Harbor to place a Black Lives Matter sign at City Hall and the Library. The commission
agreed, even with opposition from the current Mayor, Joe Ayoub. Outrage over the signs led to emails
and phone calls pouring into city hall at the commission. Over 300 local community members
subsequently signed a petition asking that the signs remain. WE want these Black Lives Matters-
Justice for All signs displayed. The hope is that these signs would act as a small first step.

It is this concept that Safety Harbor, Florida is struggling with. On July 27, 2020, the Safety Harbor
Commission met online via a Zoom meeting to revisit the issue of Black Lives Matter signs being
placed in front of City Hall.  This meeting happened after the Safety Harbor commissioners initially
decided to display the Black Lives Matter signs. The initial proposal originated from community
residents asking city officials to stand in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter principle as a
commitment to racial justice.  The original request was submitted on July 16 and requested two Black
Lives Matter signs stand downtown, 1 at the public library and one  at City Hall.  Unfortunately, the
Black Lives Matter signs were not welcomed by all Safety Harbor citizens. As a result, Mayor Joe
Ayoub cowardly rescinded the original decision to display the signs and proposed that Black Lives
Matter signs should NOT be allowed. Mayor Ayoub called on the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King as
justification for backtracking on supporting Black Lives Matter. He even went so far as to suggest signs
with more inclusive and less political language: “African-American Lives Matter-All Lives Matter” or
“Safety Harbor Stands United.”  Ultimately, removing Black Lives Matter from the messaging
demonstrates Mayor Ayoub’s attempt to make the white citizens of Safety Harbor feel more
comfortable and less threatened, while forgetting the bold and courageous work of Dr. King against
systemic racism.  

Most of the excuses from Safety Harbor residents of not wanting signs supporting Black Lives Matter
(the Organization) is that Black Lives Matter is a “terrorist group” and “Marxist led.”  They also ranted
that it would ignite fear and violence.  Others felt the signs created further division as accusations of
Black Lives Matter being an organized group standing against the “Nuclear” family and patriotism. 
Many residents argued that it’s a political issue and supports a political cause.  However, if Mayor
Ayoub had done his homework he would find that there are no Black Lives Matter chapters in Florida(
https://blacklivesmatter.com/chapters/). As a matter of fact, there are no official deputized chapters in
the South, period! So, the various arguments alluding to BLM as a political movement are baseless
conjecture. Again, the passion of the statement Black Lives Matter is a response to the degradation
that white America has displayed for black lives.  

References of the history of Safety Harbor were mentioned in the meeting. As referenced residents who
grew up in Safety Harbor where the school were still segregated past the 1960’s, Black residents were
not allowed to even walk on the sidewalks in the 1970s and up until the 1980s there was a local bar
downtown who refused to serve the black residents indoors, only serving drinks thru a back window
that nested on a dirt lot. As recent as this past year, residents of a majority black neighborhood spoke up
about the City of Safety Harbor ignoring the cracked sidewalks, failing and misinstalled playground
equipment and had to fight to get the city to address the issues at all.  But many of the residents see the
beautiful, well manicured downtown and ignore the embedded racism and racist history of the
community which sits like a glacier, the tip of it emerging  from the depth of supremacy with the words
“unity- all lives matter” displayed. 

During the meeting, there was also some pushback from the Commission to the Mayor about revisiting
the previous decision. Many felt like it would be a disservice to the Black community to change its
stance just a week later. Unfortunately, the opposition was not strong enough.   Mayor Ayoub was
adamant about having a sign that showed no blackness and no power fist.  Keep in mind - the power
fist historically represents self-determination and is a proper representation of the struggle of Black
people in America. This symbol is a call against Colonialism and White Supremacy.  White
Supremacists have always found ways to create and encourage disenfranchisement; to keep Blacks, and
all other races inferior.  Waving a power fist in no way harms anyone.  It historically was and is
symbolic for African Americans to demonstrate empowerment and determine their own paths to
economics and political freedom.  Self-determination is simply Black people controlling their own
narrative, especially when it comes to racism and disparities.  Black led. White people listening.  The
Safety Harbor Commission has a long way to go on grasping this idea.

It appears that the Commission is formulating a diversity committee that will assist in the process of
overcoming racial issues and educating other white residents and officials in Safety Harbor.  The
visible problems I see with this idea is that the Commission itself is predominantly white. The
Diversity Committee presently consists of two Blacks; a man and a woman who eloquently expressed
their heartfelt concerns.  It was heartbreaking to hear them slightly concede.  They were torn between
leaving the signs up in support of racial pride versus not wanting to further cause issues within the
community.  The Mayor did little to ease their stress as he pounced on the opportunity to twist the
narrative. Some officials did point out that they were not hearing total resolve - that these two
individuals were trying to be fair in spite of the damaging blowback the Black community was
experiencing.  It must be stated that Mr. Lewis Ponds, one of the Diversity members said; “Let me be
clear.  I stand by the signs...and them being in front of City Hall.”   Unfortunately, this sentiment was
neutralized by Mayor Ayoub and as he made it appear as though these two individuals’ desires were
more in-step with his authority.  The evening meeting concluded with a 3-2 vote in favor of removing
the Black Lives Matter signs.  Much political and legal jargon was used to justify this (Mayor Ayoub’s)
decision.  Also, the dialogue amongst the commission during this meeting was disturbing as it was
demonstrative of a predominantly white group making decisions for Black people.  White folks sharing
their thoughts on the lived experiences of Black people.  This behavior is problematic, only perpetuates
racial divide, and serves as the perfect example of why Black Lives Matter is important.  

The hypocrisy and racism of the Mayor and Commission of Safety Harbor, Florida must be called out. 
There was nothing democratic or equitable about the events of this meeting (the 3 ½ hour meeting can
be found on the city website. 
https://safetyharbor.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=6&clip_id=2268)
If those in attendance were truly concerned about Safety Harbor’s Black citizens, they would recognize
the disparities of Black communities nationally.  They would strive to be in touch with what is going on
globally to repair the harm.
If Mayor Ayoub and Commission were committed to rectifying the racial bias in their community, they
would have been vocally strong about examining the racial demographics in Safety Harbor.  The
population in short is White: 89.50%, Black or African American, 4.74%.  So, the question to the
Mayor of Safety Harbor should be: how do you allow bullying of a 90% white community to prevail,
while you ignore the hearts and requests of 5% of your Black community? These citizens were not just
ignored - but silenced.  This type of polite erasure and quiet violence has been historical in the South.
These Klan-ish tactics have been prominent in Amerikkka since its founding.  White people getting
their way in the name of God, family, country and supposedly - diversity. Systemic racism was on full
display in Safety Harbor on July 27, 2020.  

Now is a time for conversation and learning and self reflection . There are racial injustices happening in
every town, we can not deny or ignore it. We must stand together as one unified voice. If we ignore it,
we are a part of the problem, not the solution.  Ignoring this needed message shows that the elected
leaders are lacking the conviction to stand for a value that we all believe in, EQUITY. How are we
expected to move forward without even being willing to have a conversation, when even a sign causes
the feather to be ruffled on the wing of white fragility?

It is true that signs don’t make a difference, but the removal of them does.  No, the Black community
did not lose or take steps back.  The white community in Safety Harbor did not move forward.  They
remained safely tucked in with their White Supremacy.  The stench of white fragility remains in the
air.  In today’s political and social climate, many cities, countries, and nations have and are endeavoring
to honestly and openly listen to the voice of its Black citizens.  This cannot be said about Safety
Harbor.  Many that opposed the Black Lives Matter Signs urged that they should not be put-up because
since the emergence of the Black Lives Matter movement post-murder of George Floyd, uprisings and
burnings have taken place. Perhaps we need to remind white citizens of Safety Harbor of the 500 years
of burnings, lynching, rapes, murders, Jim Crow and, various other Black Codes.  And, these actions
were all legalized.  Should Florida’s white citizens, including Safety Harbor be reminded of murder,
rioting, and stealing land from Florida’s Indigenous people?  Perhaps if there was real concern and
remorse for Florida’s racist history and Safety Harbor’s sincerity to repair these injustices, this meeting
would have had a different vote result.  Instead of taking a small step forward, Safety Harbor just took
a step back and solidified its footing of racial inequality.