Mail bomb suspect attacks Florida gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum on Twitter

Gillum campaigning at Bethune-Cookman University

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Andrew Gillum spoke in front of hundreds Friday at the performing arts center at Bethune-Cookman University as part of a tour across the state ahead of the general election in November.

Gillum's rally happened one day before early voting begins in Volusia County. This was Gillum's second trip to B-CU. He was on campus in August just before he won the Florida primary.

Earlier on Friday, the FBI arrested Cesar Sayoc, 56, of Aventura, in connection to more than a dozen explosive devices that were mailed to prominent Democratic politicians and leaders across the country. 

A Twitter account that the FBI confirmed was operated by Sayoc negatively references Gillum several times.

After speaking at B-CU Gillum addressed the possible threat and called Sayoc's comments "hateful rhetoric."

"We need to do a much better job of lifting the elections," Gillum said of the negativity.

Gillum, who is the current mayor of Tallahassee, said authorities have already or will do a security sweep of his campaign officers around the state.

Gillum's campaign released the following statement Friday afternoon after learning Sayoc appeared to target Gillum on social media.
 
"It is fortunate that the evil intent of the bomber has not been realized. I call on all political leaders to cease the dangerous rhetoric of hatred and division that is poisoning our society. I believe that what is decent and what is right in our society will triumph and that hate will never win. Together, we must fight fiercely for a more decent and a more respectful state for all of us." 

Gillum also had planned stops in Deltona and Sanford on Friday.


About the Author:

It has been an absolute pleasure for Clay LePard living and working in Orlando since he joined News 6 in July 2017. Previously, Clay worked at WNEP TV in Scranton, Pennsylvania, where he brought viewers along to witness everything from unprecedented access to the Tobyhanna Army Depot to an interview with convicted double-murderer Hugo Selenski.

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