The Okaloosa County NAACP strongly opposes Florida’s proposal to redo the 2020 Census, calling it unconstitutional and politically motivated.
President Sabu Williams says the effort would weaponize the census process to boost Republican congressional power.
The NAACP will present its objections to the Panhandle legislative delegation during a December 15 meeting in Shalimar.
Crestview — December 10, 2025 — The Okaloosa County Branch of the NAACP is taking a strong stand against a state-level push to redo the 2020 U.S. Census — a proposal they say is designed to increase Republican congressional seats and undermines core democratic principles.
The organization announced its opposition on Wednesday, calling the move by the Florida Legislature and Gov. Ron DeSantis “a modern-day effort at gerrymandering under the guise of a census review.”
According to the NAACP, the proposal violates the U.S. Constitution’s requirement for a single, once-a-decade population count used to determine political representation and federal funding.
The branch said re-running the census for the explicit purpose of creating more Republican-favoring districts “devalues the principles of equal representation and transparent governance,” and could disenfranchise large numbers of Floridians.
“Our branch rejects any scheme that treats the census as a political weapon,” said Okaloosa NAACP President Sabu Williams. “The 2020 Census was conducted with federal oversight, extensive planning, and bipartisan safeguards. Calling for a redo now — simply to increase an already partisan advantage — threatens the integrity of our democracy.”
The NAACP will present its arguments directly to local lawmakers during a scheduled meeting with the region’s legislative delegation on December 15 in Shalimar.
Williams said the organization intends to make clear how the proposal could impact fair representation and the communities the delegation represents — more than 700,000 residents across the Florida Panhandle.
“We believe it is crucial for our elected officials to hear directly from the communities affected by these proposals and to understand the broader implications for democratic integrity,” he said.
The branch is urging state lawmakers to take three actions:
Reject any legislation or executive order aimed at redoing the 2020 Census.
Support full funding and nonpartisan administration of the 2030 Census.
Reinforce boundaries between partisan political efforts and essential civic processes.
The Okaloosa NAACP emphasized that the census is a foundational, nonpartisan element of American democracy — and said attempts to manipulate it for political gain threaten voting rights and fair representation.
“We urge our regional lawmakers to stand with us in defense of democracy, reject this modern-day gerrymandering scheme, and keep the census a nonpartisan civic foundation,” Williams said.
The group says it will continue advocating for voting rights, fair representation, and the protection of civic processes that ensure every resident’s voice counts.
Pro Communi Bono
St. Francis De Sales, Ora Pro Nobis!
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