Mother of slain airman blames Okaloosa sheriff

Chantemekki Fortson did not mince words at the NAACP town hall regarding his son, Roger, shooting dead in the hands of today, Eddie Duran, former deputy with the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office. At the public meeting, she made it clear that Sheriff Aden's words regarding her son's death were not enough for her.

About 250 people gathered at the Fort Walton Beach Civic Auditorium on Miracle Strip Parkway in the middle of a hot, sunny Emerald Coast summer day to hear from Roger's family. Absolute silence haunted the audience when Chantemekki Fortson first spoke. Hundreds of eyes focused with rapt attention as she spoke about her son. The air conditioning system, which worked very well, was the only sound, besides her voice, that could be heard while she spoke.

Fortson says Aden's cumulative actions so far should not be enough to Okaloosa County voters either; ” I think [Incumbent Okaloosa County Sheriff Eric Aden] “I'm going to have to go,” Fortson said to applause from the crowd.

She cited a loss of trust in the sheriff's word for why she thought he should Is handed over, replaced. “The sheriff looked me in the eye and said, “if I see something wrong, I'm going to do something. [Sheriff Aden] fired him four days ago [his last day, per his resignation letter].” Documents show former MP Eddie Duran has resigned Before shooting. The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office terminated Duran's employment with the agency on May 31.

“What did you do?” she asked rhetorically of Aden, who was not present. “You did nothing. You made a fool of yourself.”

As Fortson continued to speak, her frustration over her son's death built. “All I asked for [Sheriff Aden] At first it was to apologize because he was trying to say my kid was a thug,” she added, “All I'm asking you guys [is to] “Make him take responsibility.”

As the town hall progressed, Fortson laid the blame for the shooting not at the feet of former Congressman Duran but at those of Aden. “It's just go It's only a matter of time before he sacrifices himself [other people in the community.]. Eddie Duran was sacrificed” she told the crowd of former Rep. Duran, “[Duran] left to get along, and when the pressure got on, [Duran] was abandoned.

RELATED: Family of airman allegedly killed by Okaloosa sheriff's deputy hires civil rights attorney

Update on Criminal Investigation of NAACP Deputy Duran

As the public session drew to a close, the president of the NAACP and Donor to Eric Aden's re-election campaign Sabu Williams briefed those gathered on the state of the state. department of the police investigation.

Williams said the investigation was supposed to be over Sometimes during the first week of. July. However, he added, due to the Independence Day holiday – The FDLE says the investigation will likely conclude next week.

“There was one last thing that they “It had to be done,” Williams noted during his conversation with FDLE Pensacola Director – Chris Williams. “Leave me just saying this, Sabu Williams added: “The conclusion of the investigation does not mean that charges will be laid at this moment. Because the FDLE doesn't lay charges, they only investigate. So our pressure at that point will be on the State Attorney's Office. The State Attorney's Office is the only office at this point who can bring charges. This is where we will have our eyes and ears has.”

A Roger Fortson Day and a warning about Christian nationalism

Okaloosa County residents offered their condolences to the family, but also shared thoughts and warnings for one another. One man in the crowd suggested holding a Roger Fortson Day each year to remember the young airman and keep the issue of racial prejudice at the forefront of the community's mind.

Another man, Pastor Clint Akins, warned the assembled crowd of the dangers of a particular ideology that he said may have been behind the shooting. “I went to Africa for 24 years to work with African churches and leaders. I came back to Fort Walton Beach in 2005 to take care of my father and I thought that [racism] was finished. I thought [racism] was finished here in America. I think it's worse 1719703398. And our institutions here have, I think, an even greater challenge than before.” Pastor Akins added that he believes a new ideology, Christian nationalism, is the source of the problem.

Christian nationalists, who do not necessarily define themselves by that label, believe that “Christianity should enjoy a privileged position in the public square,” according to Christianity today [CT]. CT adds “Christian nationalism is an ideology predominantly defended by white Americans, and therefore tends to exacerbate racial and ethnic divisions. »

Akins believes that ideology threatens both country and faith he served for more than four decades. “The impact it has on people is subtle. So, Google Christian nationalism; it is the enemy of today,” he concluded.

Who attended the public meeting regarding Roger Fortson in Fort Walton Beach?

The NAACP hosted the town hall, which had a Above all An African-American audience. Members of the religious community, including several pastors, Greek-letter fraternities and sororities and other civic groups, wore their badges in the audience.

Several candidates Also sat in their seats and listened to the Fortson family and community members speak. None spoke. Among them were Edward “Eddie” Perillo, candidate for Okaloosa Sheriff’s Office and candidates for district three county commissioner Keri Pitzer And Sherri Cox.