By Kristen Hernandez
Miami Gardens – Villij News was invited to the Florida Grassroots event with President Joe Biden, Charlie Christ, Val Demings, and Peabody award-winning actor Keegan-Michael Key at Florida Memorial University, Tuesday November 1. With such a critical midterm election taking place across the nation during the next week, listening to their stances and separating fact from fiction is challenging, but imperative.
Unfortunately, despite the fact we were invited, showed credentials, were on an approved press list and on time, we were denied entry and missed the entire event. A Miami Gardens Police Department barricade posted several blocks from the entrance of Florida Memorial University stopped us, right next to Florida State Representative Joseph Scott Geller and his daughter, and some of his staffers who were also denied entry. Rep Joe Geller currently serves and represents district 100, which includes most of Hollywood in South Broward County and parts of Miami-Dade.
Others couldn’t get passed the barricade either. Several staffers of Val Demings stepped away to live stream the outside crowd, but were denied reentry. A university student, Tianna “Tee” Ayulo tried to get into her dorm but was denied access for two hours, until the event began. An elderly woman walking home after grocery shopping was stopped and had to wait, although her home was just a block away.
The chaotic logistical nightmare drew a crowd of frustrated citizens. A group of minority students became irate, yelling at officers about how they were denied entry due to the color of their skin. Assistant Chief of Miami Gardens PD, Joseph Nargiso, walked over to stand with the girls and talk to them.
He explained the seriousness of the situation, how officers were protecting the President of the United States, Joe Biden, who was approaching in his motorcade, and the reason Secret Service was denying access to everyone, regardless of skin color. Soon, the Chief had the group laughing, expertly demonstrating how to deescalate a tense situation which could have potentially gotten out of control.
Once Grassroots began, a Secret Service SUV came to get Rep Geller and his daughter. Eventually, the barricade came down and pedestrians were permitted to pass, but entry into the event would remain closed.
