Florida Legislative Investigation Committee facts for kids

The Florida Legislative Investigation Committee, often called the Johns Committee, was a special group created by the Florida Legislature in 1956. This happened during a time in the United States when many people were worried about certain ideas and groups. There was a big fear of communists (people who believed in a different type of government) and also a fear of people who were different in other ways.

The Johns Committee was like other groups in the country that investigated activities they thought were dangerous. In Florida, this committee looked into teachers, groups working for civil rights (like the NAACP), and organizations they suspected of being communist.

Why the Johns Committee Was Formed

The Johns Committee was created in 1956. Its main goal was to find and stop activities that some lawmakers thought were a threat to Florida. This was part of a larger national fear called the Second Red Scare. During this time, many Americans were very worried about the spread of communism. They feared that communists might be secretly working against the U.S. government.

Investigating Different Groups

At first, the committee tried to find links between communist ideas and civil rights groups in Florida. However, they didn't find what they were looking for. To keep getting money to operate, the committee then started to focus on a different group of people. These people were unfairly targeted because of who they were. Many people at the time had wrong beliefs about them. Because of the committee's actions, many students and teachers lost their jobs or were forced to leave their schools, especially at the University of Florida.

Charley Johns and His Influence

Charley Johns was a powerful leader in the Florida Legislature. He was part of a group called the Pork Chop Gang. These were lawmakers from rural (countryside) areas of Florida. They had a lot of power in the Legislature because of an old system. This system gave small rural areas the same amount of power as much larger cities like Orlando. This meant that a few lawmakers from less populated areas could control many decisions.

The End of the Pork Choppers

The power of the Pork Chop Gang and Charley Johns eventually came to an end. This happened when the way Florida's Legislature was set up changed. In 1968, the Florida Constitution was updated. This update made sure that each area of Florida had a fair amount of representation based on its population. After this change, the Pork Choppers lost their special power, and so did Charley Johns. The Johns Committee also ended around this time, in 1965.