U.S. Senate candidate Val Demings took her campaign trail to South Florida. The Democratic candidate addressed parishioners at Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church.
Addressing Social Issues
In a report with Miami News, Demings discussed the housing crisis in Florida. She also touched ground on pressing social issues such as women's reproductive rights.
Demings is a former Orlando police chief. She is slated to run against incumbent Marco Rubio.
The Senate candidate spoke to her supporters on Friday, Sept. 2, during a Women for Demings event. The said gathering took place at the Firefighters Memorial Building in Doral.
Need of Support
She was met with chants like "Let's go, Val! Let's go, Val!" as she made her way on stage.
Demings said that her greatest challenge was convincing Florida voters to choose her over Rubio.
She addressed the crowd, saying that she needed their help to be elected.
Demings addressed her supporters and discussed women's reproductive rights. She discussed its significance given the recent decision of the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn Roe vs. Wade.
She pointed out the differences between her pro-choice views and Rubio's pro-life stance.
Demings also met with local civil rights leader, Thelma Gibson. They discussed the importance of affordable housing in solving the social issue of homelessness.
Woman on Mission
She told the news outlet about how good God was to her. Demings said that He allowed her to stand before her supporters to address whatever issues they had.
Demings stressed that her reason for running for a seat in the Senate was not for self-gain. She believed that she was on a mission to help and serve the people who needed it the most.
She emphasized that she needed to come out and discuss these issues.
The church was only the first of three stops while at Coconut Grove. She also visited the Thelma Gibson Heritage Garden.
"I'm running to represent all people," she told the news outlet.
Demigs will attend another campaign event in Doral.
She will meet alongside Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava.
Addressing Police Brutality
In a report with The Tampa Bay Times, Demings plans to push for policies that would allow officers to succeed. She said this in response to addressing the issue of pro-law enforcement and anti-police brutality.
She pointed out that society often depends on police officers to handle situations on mental health.
Demings added that these were often high-stress situations that involved substance abuse. She emphasized that police officers needed all the training they could get.
She also stressed that police departments needed to ensure that certain officers were not abusing their office.
"When police officers do not do the right thing, they need to be held accountable," Demings said.
Rubio gained the endorsement of the National Association of Police Organizations. He is also supported by the Florida Police Chiefs Association, Florida Police Benevolent Association, and Florida Fraternal Order of Police.
Elizabeth Gregory, a Rubio campaign spokesperson, told voters that Demings is "no longer the police." She added that it was clear that Florida law enforcement wanted her to be silent.
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