As DEI comes under attack, St. Petersburg hoists Black history month flag

Yahoo

31-01-2025

ST. PETERSBURG — As President Donald Trump blames the worst U.S. air disaster in more than a decade on diversity policies and companies scale back anti-discrimination programs amid conservative political pressure, St. Petersburg raised a Black History Month flag over City Hall Friday for the ninth year in a row.
During the ceremony, Mayor Ken Welch, the city's first Black mayor, acknowledged the policies and rhetoric coming out of the new administration. But he said St. Petersburg 'continues to move forward together, undeterred by fear, intimidation or untruth.'
Welch announced this week the appointment of a new chief equity officer, a position born out of a city-commissioned study in 2021 that found structural racism remains in many facets of the community.
George Smith, the leader of south St. Petersburg's community redevelopment agency, will step into the role in March as the city's third chief equity officer. Carl Lavender, who came out of retirement to serve as interim director when the city's first chief equity officer quit days into the job, is stepping down.
'Let this flag be a symbol of our history, our futures and our shared values as a city, a reminder that St. Pete is a city where we recognize, respect and celebrate the full story of America,' Welch said.
Welch said he wasn't aware of the city receiving any pushback from the state or federal government about raising the Black History Month flag, but said he has been concerned about repercussions. After checking with the city's legal team, he said he thinks the city is in good shape and is prepared to address any challenge.
Welch said the city is committed to leveling the playing field for all through equity and viewing issues with the city's history in mind, such as in the redevelopment of the Historic Gas Plant District. Residents of the racially segregated neighborhood were promised jobs and better housing decades ago as part of a redevelopment that never came. Instead, the land was used to build a baseball stadium.
The current plan to build a new Tampa Bay Rays stadium and redevelop the surrounding land emphasizes diversity, local hiring and affordable housing.
'Why should an outside entity change what we've already agreed to as a city?' Welch said. 'We know who we are as a city. We've come to consensus on what our history means and how it should inform us going forward, and we ought to stay on that path.'
Welch said the recent efforts to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion programs within public institutions and businesses did not factor into Lavender's departure. He said Lavender's time at City Hall was intended to be temporary and lasted longer than anticipated.
Lavender previously worked as the chief equity officer at the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg. He referred comment to a city spokesperson.
'As a professional who's worked in equity for so long, the things that are going on in the nation have to be disturbing, but it didn't play into his his departure from the city,' Welch said.
Smith said he was excited for his new role and appreciated the opportunity from the mayor. Asked if he was nervous about taking a job whose mission has come under attack, Smith said he didn't know.
As for who would take over managing the South St. Pete Community Redevelopment Area, which encourages economic development in a predominantly Black and poor area, a successor has not been named yet.
Terri Lipsey Scott, the executive director of the Woodson African Museum of Florida, clipped the flag bearing the name and likeness of Carter G. Woodson, the historian who founded Black history month, to the flag pole. Though she's spoken at the annual ceremony for years, she became emotional.
'At a time when our nation grapples with division and discord, let us take pride in the good fortune of living in St. Petersburg, a city that chooses to celebrate and uplift all people,' she said.