Perry Harvey, 81, died recently. He was a former president of Local 1402 of the International Longshoremen’s Association and the acknowledged political power broker for Tampa’s black community for several decades. He went on to become Tampa’s first black city councilman.
Harvey was controversial and confrontational–but a trailblazing figure in local civil rights. Mayor Bob Buckhorn recalled Harvey as a “fierce advocate for the African-American community,” one who “never, ever lost sight of the fact that he represented those who had never had a fair playing field.”
His death was front page news in both local dailies. With one notable difference.
The Tampa Tribune included a prominent file photo of a handcuffed Harvey on the jump. He had been indicted on charges of embezzling union funds. A jury would find him not guilty.
Was this perp-walk photo inclusion really necessary in the context of reporting his death? Especially since he would be found not guilty. Just asking.