St. Petersburg activist and city council candidate Eritha “Akile” Cainion raised $13,000 in one week. Her opponent, incumbent Lisa Wheeler-Bowman, only raised $1,500 within the same time span, reported Florida Politics.
Donations poured in to Cainion from 39 states and Washington D.C. The amount of donations was so plentiful, the reporting system would not accept Cainion’s report initially. The city clerk said he has never seen so many donations in one week.
The outpouring of support shows Cainion, 22, is a more viable opponent than initially believed. Running on a platform of reparations, Cainion is a part of the Uhuru Movement.
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Intelligent and outspoken, she expressed pride that her campaign in supported by people across the country and not special interests and big corporations.
“My opponent, the incumbent, has the financial support of big real estate developers and the establishment. I am incredibly proud of the fact that my campaign and our platform of reparations and economic development for the black community are spreading like wildfire, receiving the support of hundreds of people from around the country,” Cainion said.
In addition to Wheeler-Bowman, Cainion faces two other challengers in the city council race. The primary election will take place Aug. 27 and the top two vote-getters will face off in the genral election on Nov. 5.
