From the Divine Nine to the Black Caucus to the Clergy Alliance, a plethora of organizations came together on Monday to blast Gov. Ron DeSantis for vetoing the redistricting map adopted by the Florida Legislature and essentially drawing his own map.

His, they say, will give the Republican Party a huge advantage in the state, and will leave Blacks without representation.

On Tuesday a special legislative session assembled to address the issue of redistricting. But on Monday the various organizations led by Faith in Florida, a non-partisan, multiracial and multi-faith group which spans the state, met at St. James Missionary Baptist Church in Riviera Beach as well as other parts of the state to demand that lawmakers do the right thing.

In a statement the coalition of groups said: “The Florida Legislature will convene for a special session on Congressional redistricting following Governor Ron DeSantis’ unprecedented decision to veto the maps passed during the regular session and submit his own. Republican leadership has indicated they will surrender their constitutional duty to draft a redistricting plan and will instead approve the governor’s new proposal map. This will slash Black representation in Congress in half and violate the Fair Districts Amendments passed by 63 percent of Floridians prohibiting partisan gerrymandering…”

According to Pastor Rae Whitely of Faith in Florida, who led the press conference, the mostly minority district formerly led by the late Alcee Hastings, and now by Rep. Sheila McCormick, would, under DeSantis’ proposal, be represented by Republican Brian Mast. It would be a devastating blow to minority constituents who have had Black representation for decades.

State Sen. Bobby Powell said that district would be impacted, but not as hugely as two others. The districts of Al Lawson in Tallahassee and Val Demings in Orlando would lose out in a major way, said Powell. Those two would become more race-neutral rather than predominantly Black as they currently are.

Powell said they are in Tallahassee now to vote on the governor’s proposed map but he expects the measure to go through because of the Republican majority. At that point only the courts can change it, he pointed out. Whitely believes it will go all the way to the Supreme Court.

Meanwhile those represented at the press conference expressed anguish and outrage and even held back tears out of frustration.

Elizabeth Jackson, state deputy director for Faith in Florida, said Florida lawmakers have got it all wrong. “We must remind them they work for the people of Florida, not for DeSantis!”

DeSantis has one thing on his mind, said attorney Richard Ryles, president of the Palm Beach County Black Caucus. “It’s his bloodthirsty quest to become president of the United States of America.”

Pastor J.R. Thicklin, founder of the Palm Beach County Clergy Alliance, said DeSantis is trying to silence the people. “This diminishing the voices of the people has to stop! What DeSantis is in essence saying to Black and Brown people is that your voice doesn’t matter. You don’t get to choose your voters, your voters get to choose you.”

Shandra Stringer, a local business executive who recently made a run for mayor of Riviera Beach, said she represents the community at large. “We will never allow politics to be over people. We matter!” Community organizer David Rae, 34, said he’s concerned about the young people. “I stand on the shoulders of greats and I’m not going to waste that opportunity.”

Powell said people must get out and vote and register others. Representatives from Broward and MiamiDade drove north for the press conference saying they stand united with Palm Beach and the entire state.