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The Rev. Al Sharpton stopped in Orlando on Tuesday and called on black churches and clergy to lead efforts in registering ex-felons to vote, following the passage of an amendment restoring that right to 1.4 million Floridians.

We must use this state as ground zero to be a template for doing this nationwide, Sharpton said of Amendment 4. Because if they can vote, it would turn every election and it would change the political landscape.

Sharpton opened the 2018 National Consultation, Conference of National Black Churches at Rosen Centre Hotel with a fiery speech, where he critiqued President Donald Trump and called for black churches to step forward to lead in their communities.

He said clergy need to find the felons in their churches and educate them on how to register and make sure they vote in future elections.

The problem is.that many of those 1.4 [million] dont know they can vote now, Sharpton said. So weve got to go now back into the communities through the churches and put our hands on the ex-felons, and register them, and stay in touch with them and bring them out to vote.

Florida voters approved the measure in November with 65 percent of the vote, restoring voting rights to nonviolent offenders. Previously, those with felony convictions could appear before a clemency board comprised of the governor and his Cabinet in order to have their civil rights restored.

However, few who applied actually had their rights restored fewer than 2,000 annually under Gov. Rick Scott.

The amendment made it on the ballot by petition and largely received bipartisan support.

Experts have cautioned that its unlikely that an overwhelming number will register to vote, and even fewer will cast ballots.

Sharpton also addressed Floridas governor race, where Republican Ron DeSantis narrowly defeated Andrew Gillum, the Democrat Tallahassee mayor.

Sharpton said race played a role in Gillums defeat.

He lost because of the blatant racial appeal that the governor-elect DeSantis used, Sharpton said. And the president came down here to campaign for him.

Several hundred preachers, pastors and other clergy filled a ballroom at the hotel for the opening luncheon and Sharptons speech.

By the end of the half-hour speech, many were standing as he issued a call to action.

So now is the time for us to stand and be what weve always been: And thats the bedrock for justice and fairness in our communities, Sharpton said.

Have a news tip? You can call Ryan at 407-420-5002, email him at rygillespie@orlandosentinel.com, follow him on Twitter @byryangillespie and like his coverage on Facebook @byryangillespie.

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Dear America, Sorry we keep screwing up Democracy. Love, Florida Our state is the reason we cant have nice things.

Dear America, Sorry we keep screwing up Democracy. Love, Florida Our state is the reason we cant have nice things.

Dear legislators: No one cares what you think about voting rights for felons. Enact Amendment

Dear legislators: No one cares what you think about voting rights for felons. Enact Amendment

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In Orlando, the Rev. Al Sharpton calls on clergy to help ...

She is her fathers daughter.

Dominique Sharpton, daughter of shakedown artist Al Sharpton, scored a $95,000 settlement from the city over a sprained ankle even though she had posted snaps of herself on social media climbing a mountain in Bali and strutting around in high heels just seven months after the fall.

It took nearly four years, but deBlasio administration lawyers finally threw in the towel in the case.

After a thorough evaluation, we determined that settling this case was in the best interest of the city, said a spokesman for the city Law Department.

The 32-year-old Brooklyn resident, who is the eldest daughter of the activist and TV host, sued the city in April 2015 for $5 million after severely injuring her right leg on cracked pavement crossing Broadway at Broome Street in 2014.

I sprained my ankle real bad lol, she wrote in an Instagram post after the Oct.2, 2014, stumble.

Her suit said she was in permanent physical pain, but the fall didnt stop her from wearing high heels, mounting a ladder to decorate a Christmas tree and even hiking for two hours up a mountain during a girls getaway to Indonesia in May 2016.

She posted snaps of herself performing the feats on social media.

The case was settled after the city admitted it was aware of the cracked pavement in the crosswalk but did nothing to fix it.

Reached by phone Friday, Dominique Sharpton wasnt even aware that a deal had been reached.

I dont really know the particulars at this time, she told The Post.

Her lawyer, John Elefterakis, said the case was always about fair compensation for Ms. Sharptons ankle injury, which we contend was a result of the citys negligence.

Despite unfair treatment in the press, this settlement reflects the reasonableness of Ms. Sharpton, who was willing to settle her meritorious claim for a fair amount based on all factors, he said.

The deal comes after Sharpton missed four scheduled depositions over six months in 2016, causing city lawyer Michelle Fox to gripe that the plaintiff stymied the citys efforts to litigate this matter.

Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Margaret Chan gave Sharpton one last chance to show up or else see her case dismissed.

When Sharpton sat for a grilling in July 2016, she admitted she changed into party clothes and attended a two-hour gospel concert for her fathers 60th birthday hours after the incident.

She didnt break any bones but underwent surgery for ligament tears. Still, the injuries didnt prevent her from visiting her fianc in Miami, dancing with her dad in New Orleans, working out and touring thecountry in a play all activities she detailed in her deposition.

The payout surprised legal experts.

That sounds like a very generous settlement under the circumstances, said Elizabeth Eilender, an experienced Manhattan litigator not involved in the case.

And one longtime personal-injury attorney asked incredulously, For a sprained ankle they paid $95,000?

Sounds like a f--king de Blasio administration settlement to me. Its really worth about half that, not even, maybe $25,000 or $35,000, said the lawyer, who asked not to be identified.

The legal shakedown resembles Al Sharptons reported use of boycott threats against large companies like McDonalds and Macys to generate large donations.

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Al Sharptons daughter gets $95K settlement for sprained ankle

Rep. Beto O'RourkeRobert (Beto) Francis O'RourkeDems attracted to O'Rourke because he demonstrates civility, says political analyst Gillum to speak at gathering of top Dem donors: report O'Rourke edges out Biden in MoveOn straw poll MORE (D-Texas) reportedly spoke late last week with Democratic activist Rev. Al Sharpton as the congressman mulls a possible White House bid.

BuzzFeed News reported Monday that the two men spoke on Friday.Rachel Noerdlinger, a spokesperson for Sharpton, told the news outlet that they "had a great conversation" and agreed to meet within a couple of weeks.

Sharpton, who served as an adviser to former President Obama and was briefly a Democratic presidential candidate in 2004, is the latest prominent Democrat to speak with O'Rourke following his unsuccessful campaign to unseat Sen. Ted CruzRafael (Ted) Edward CruzDems attracted to O'Rourke because he demonstrates civility, says political analyst Gillum to speak at gathering of top Dem donors: report O'Rourke edges out Biden in MoveOn straw poll MORE (R-Texas). The campaign attracted enormous fundraising totals and national attention.

O'Rourke reportedly met with Obama at his Washington, D.C., offices roughly a week after the midterm elections. Several former Obama advisers have also publicly voiced support for the lawmaker.

O'Rourke previously said he was not interested in a White House run in 2020, but has since revised his position to note that he would not rule anything out.

The Texas congressmanwaslisted near the top of a poll earlier this monthof potential 2020 Democratic candidates, along wit former Vice President Joe BidenJoseph (Joe) Robinette BidenUniversity of Delaware renames public policy school after Joe Biden Dems attracted to O'Rourke because he demonstrates civility, says political analyst The case for reauthorizing VAWA MORE and Sen. Bernie SandersBernard (Bernie) SandersCoal supporter Manchin named top Dem on Senate Energy Committee Gillum to speak at gathering of top Dem donors: report O'Rourke edges out Biden in MoveOn straw poll MORE (I-Vt.).

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O'Rourke spoke with Al Sharpton amid 2020 speculation ...

Lawyers for New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio paid Dominique Sharpton, 32, a $95,000 settlement after admitting the city had been aware of the cracked pavement but did not fix it.

After a thorough evaluation, we determined that settling this case was in the best interest of the city, a spokesman for New York Citys Law Department said in a statement.

The 32-year-old, who is Sharptons eldest daughter, sued New York City for $5 million in April 2015 for severely injuring her ankle while crossing an uneven Manhattan street in 2014.

I sprained my ankle real bad lol, Dominique Sharpton wrote in an Instagram post after she took a tumble in October 2014.

Sharpton claimed in her lawsuit that she suffered from permanent physical pain, but subsequent social media posts just months after the fall showed she had a very active lifestyle.

One of her Instagram posts showed Sharpton climbing mountains on vacation, while she sported high heels and climbed a ladder to hang Christmas decorations in other social media photos.

Despite the windfall, Sharpton said Friday she was not aware of the settlement.

I dont really know the particulars at this time, she told the Post.

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Al Sharpton's Daughter Bags $95,000 Settlement for ...

Al Sharptons own charity has reportedly bought the rights to his life story for over half a million dollars, according to a report by the New York Post.

Tax filings cited by The Post are said to reveal that Sharptons charityThe National Action Network (NAN)committed to paying the preacher $531,000 for his life story rights for a 10-year period.

The story could hypothetically be sold down the road at a profit to those wanting to produce a book or film documenting the activist preachers life.

Sharpton told The Post that movie deals alone could be sold for at least three times what the charity paid for them.

He told the paper that the initiative was thought up by several unnamed NAN board members as a way to provide the organization with future streams of revenue. He said they wanted to create a source of revenue for the civil rights organization after he steps down in about a year.

This way they make a profit from the beginning and all of the revenues, he said of the civil rights organizations plans to secure funding after he steps down.

Sharptons list of credentials runs long, including founder and president of NAN, civil rights activist, Baptist minister, television/radio talk show host, and former White House adviser for President Barack Obama.

Obamadescribed him as the voice of the voiceless and a champion for the downtrodden.

Sharpton told The Post there was interest from multiple sources in memorializing his legacy. He said he had signed contracts for two movies, and a third was being negotiated. He cited additional assets, including a recording where James Brown is singing and hes talking, and video footage of him with Michael Jackson, as potential valuable revenue streams for NAN.

Youve got real property here. Youre not talking about just me as an activist. These are non-related NAN things that are the saleable items, he said, according to the report.

Legal experts cited by The Post said that for a nonprofit to do deals with its president is potentially treacherous territory. If not done carefully, it could threaten a charitys tax-exempt status.

Marcus Owens, a former IRS official and a partner with the Loeb & Loeb law firm in Washington told The Post that if a charity pays too much for assets of the type it paid to Sharpton, it could violate tax rules regarding excess benefits given to a nonprofits key officials.

Sharpton told The Post that the value of the assets that were part of the transaction was formally appraised, while tax filings showed that the boardsexecutive committee independently approved the deal.

But Linda Sugin,a Fordham University Law School professor and associate dean, questioned the impartiality of the decision.

In this case, its really difficult because of his role in the organization and just because of his overall influence, Sugin said.

When I see this kind of thing, it just makes me roll my eyes because theres so much potential for funny business, she added.

A less controversial way for NAN to benefit from the sale of Sharptons story rights would have been for him to sell the rights to a production company and donate part of the proceeds.

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Al Sharpton Sells His Life Story Rights for Over Half a ...