Ep. 21: Supporting Florida’s Fight for Direct Democracy

The ballot initiative process can be used to pass laws when legislatures refuse to act, but in Florida, a new statute, HB 1205, is threatening the survival of this process — and the broader movement to protect U.S. democracy. Southern Poverty Law Center attorney Avner Shapiro and political science professor Daniel Smith break down the SPLC’s efforts to fight HB 1205 and protect direct democracy in Florida.Apathy Is Not an Option is a production of PRX and the Southern Poverty Law Center. Nichole Hill and Mark Pagán are the senior producers and editors, and Jade Abdul-Malik is the associate producer. Terence Bernardo handles sound design and mixing. Alexandria Beightol is the host. For the SPLC, the executive producers are Cassandra Douglas and Julian Teixeira, and Kali Robinson is the associate producer, with assistance from technical producer Neil Parekh and senior producer Jennifer Lazarus of Digimentors. From PRX Productions, the project manager is Edwin Ochoa, and the EP is Jocelyn Gonzales. Visit splcenter.org and follow us on social media to learn more, take action, and support the work of dismantling white supremacy and advancing racial and economic justice.