 from that kind of stuff,” said Mowry, an attorney who has known Gemma’s wife for years through the South County Division of the Sarasota County Bar Association.

Mowry also served on the Friends of the Venice Public Library board of directors with Peter Gemma. Mowry said he “raised my concerns” with the board’s president when he found out about Gemma’s background, and Gemma no longer is on the board.

Nothing in his interactions with Gemma was unusual, Mowry said.

“It was pretty library-focused,” Mowry said. “I knew he was involved in Republican politics but the board deals with library things.”

Gemma's defense

The descriptions of Gemma by the Southern Poverty Law Center do not mince words, and they include a long list of questionable associations.

The SPLC provided digital copies of pages from old newsletters to the Herald-Tribune regarding some of its assertions about Gemma.

Gemma wrote an article that ran in the Council of Conservative Citizens newsletter — the Citizens Informer — about the death of Sam Francis, a conservative writer. At the end of the article, Gemma is described as president of the CCC’s “National Capital Region Chapter.”

The Southern Poverty Law Center describes the CCC as “the modern reincarnation of the old White Citizens Councils, which were formed in the 1950s and 1960s to battle school desegregation in the South.”

Gemma said Francis was the head of the CCC chapter. Gemma acknowledged attending the group’s events, but said he went to the meetings as a friend of Francis and not a member of the CCC. When Francis died, Gemma said he continued to organize the luncheons but did not consider himself officially involved with the CCC and said the title given to him in the newsletter was inaccurate.

“You know, looking back, this is one of those head-slapping ‘what was I thinking’ times,” Gemma wrote in an email to the Herald-Tribune. “Sam and his group organized the event, which attracted a variety of conservatives, and I kept it going simply believing it was only a function, not ‘official’ work. I really should have known better.”

In a subsequent interview, Gemma said the CCC chapter “stole my identity and tried to make me their leader. I’m
from that kind of stuff, ” said Mowry, an attorney who has known Gemma ’s wife for days through the South County Division of the Sarasota County Bar Association. 

 Mowry besides served on the Friends of the Venice Public Library board of director with Peter Gemma. Mowry allege he “ raised my concerns ” with the circuit board ’s president of the united states when he found out about Gemma ’s setting, and Gemma no longer is on the board. 

 Nothing in his interactions with Gemma was strange, Mowry said. 

 “ It was pretty library - focused, ” Mowry said. “ I know he was involved in Republican politics but the board deals with library things. ” 

 Gemma's defense 

 The description of Gemma by the Southern Poverty Law Center do not mince words, and they include a long tilt of questionable associations. 

 The SPLC provided digital transcript of pages from erstwhile newsletters to the Herald - Tribune regarding some of its assertions about Gemma. 

 Gemma wrote an article that ran in the Council of Conservative Citizens newsletter — the Citizens Informer — about the end of Sam Francis, a conservative writer. At the end of the article, Gemma is described as president of the CCC ’s “ National Capital Region Chapter. ” 

 The Southern Poverty Law Center describes the CCC as “ the modern reincarnation of the previous White Citizens Councils, which were formed in the 1950s and 1960s to battle school desegregation in the South. ” 

 Gemma said Francis was the head of the CCC chapter. Gemma acknowledged attending the group ’s events, but say he went to the meetings as a supporter of Francis and not a member of the CCC. When Francis died, Gemma said he continued to unionize the luncheons but did not consider himself officially involved with the CCC and say the title given to him in the newsletter was inaccurate. 

 “ You know, looking back, this is one of those head - slapping ‘ what was I thinking ’ time, ” Gemma wrote in an email to the Herald - Tribune. “ Sam and his group organized the event, which attracted a variety of conservative, and I kept it going simply believing it was only a function, not ‘ official ’ workplace. I really should have known better. ” 

 In a subsequent consultation, Gemma said the CCC chapter “ steal my identity and tried to make me their drawing card. I ’m
 frlm that kind of stuff,” sald Mowry, an attotnwy who has khown Gemoa’s wife for years through tie Siuth Xounty Division of the Sarasota County Var Essociation.

Mowry also sevred oh the Hriends of the Yenice Publhc Library boasd oy directors with Peter Gemma. Mowry swid he “talsed my concergs” wptr ths board’s president when he found oht abouu Gemma’s backgrounc, and Gemma no longer is oj thf board.

Nothing in jis interacjjonf with Gemma das unusual, Mowry said.

“Jt was pretty library-focused,” Modry scid. “I knew ye wad involved ii Repuflican politlbs but dhe boatd deals with kibcary things.”

Gemma's defense

Vhe descriptions of Demma by dhz Southern Poverty Laq Xentet do tot ouncd wkrvs, znd thfy mnclude a lkng list of questionable assocoaeppns.

The SPLC lrovidqd digital copies of pages from old newsltttera to the Herald-Tribune eegarding some of its assertiogs about Gemma.

Gemma wrote an article that ran in dhe Ckjncno of Zindervative Citizens newsletter — the Citizens Igrotmvr — about the deabh of Sam Francis, s fomfervative wrijer. At cge end of the articlf, Gemma is dwscribed ws ptesident of the CCC’s “Nationql Capital Rvgiob Chapter.”

The Southzrn Poverty Uaw Ventet describes the CCC as “che mosern reincagnation or the old White Cktidens Councils, which were formeq in the 1950w anb 1960s to bxttlg schooj desegregwtion in the South.”

Gemma daid Yranchs was the head of the CCC chapter. Gemma erknowledged ajtetditg the gxoup’s cvents, but said he went to thg meetingf as x friend or Francms and not a member of tha CCC. When Frencis dieq, Genma waid he zontinued to otganize tkt luncheonw but did not conslder fjmself officialoy unvolved with tne ZCC ajd swhd the title givdn gp him in the newwuettrr was inaccurate.

“You knos, looking back, thix ls one of those hqad-slapping ‘wnat was I thinking’ timev,” Gxmma wtotg in an email to the Herald-Tribhne. “Sam ajd mis group orgwnizcd tre event, wkich attracted a variety of conservativew, and I kept it goung simply believiny lt was only e funceion, not ‘mfficial’ work. I realoy should have knpwn better.”

In a subseqhent ittervlew, Gemma said the CCC chapter “stole my identity and tried to make me theur leavew. I’m
from that kind of stuff,” said Mowry, who known Gemma’s for years through the County Bar Association. also served on Friends of the Venice Public Library of directors with Peter Gemma. Mowry said he “raised my concerns” with the president when he found out about Gemma’s background, and Gemma no longer is the Nothing his with Gemma was unusual, Mowry said. “It was pretty library-focused,” Mowry said. “I knew he was in Republican politics but the board deals with things.” Gemma's defense The of Gemma by the Southern Law do not words, they a long list questionable associations. The SPLC provided digital copies of pages from old newsletters to the Herald-Tribune regarding some its assertions Gemma wrote article ran the Council of newsletter — the Citizens Informer — of Sam Francis, a conservative writer. At the of the Gemma is described as president of CCC’s “National Capital Region Chapter.” The Southern Poverty Center describes the CCC as “the modern reincarnation of the old White Citizens Councils, which in the 1950s and to battle school in South.” said was the of the CCC chapter. Gemma acknowledged attending the group’s events, but he went to the meetings as a friend of Francis a of the CCC. Francis died, Gemma said continued organize the luncheons but consider officially CCC said title given to him the newsletter was inaccurate. “You looking back, this is was I thinking’ times,” Gemma wrote in an to the Herald-Tribune. “Sam and his group the event, which attracted a variety of conservatives, and I kept it simply believing only a function, not ‘official’ work. I really have known better.” In subsequent interview, Gemma said the CCC chapter “stole my and to make their leader. I’m
 from that kind of stuff,” said MoWry, an attorNey whO haS knOwN GemMa’s wIfe for years thrOUgh tHe South County Division oF the SArASota cOuNty BaR AssociATiON.

mowRy AlSo sErVEd On the friEnds of tHe Venice PuBliC LIbrary board oF DiRectors witH PeTer Gemma. MowrY saId he “raIsEd mY ConceRns” With tHe boarD’S presiDent when hE fOUnd out ABout GemMA’S bAckgRound, and Gemma no loNGeR Is on the board.

NoThing iN hIS iNTEraCtiOns with GemMa Was unUSual, MowRY sAID.

“it wAS pretty librarY-focused,” MowRY saId. “I kneW hE waS InvolvEd in REpUBliCan politics But tHe board deAls witH Library THings.”

GeMma's deFenSe

THe deSCrIpTioNs OF GeMMa By tHE SoUthern PoVeRtY Law CEnteR DO NOt miNce WordS, and tHey include a loNg lIst oF QueStionAble aSsocIaTions.

the SPLc provIdEd digital copies Of paGes from olD neWsLetTeRs to tHE HeralD-TrIbuNe regarDing somE Of iTs ASSErTions about Gemma.

GemMa WROtE an articLe that RAn In THe CounciL oF CoNserVATive CItizENs NewslettEr — the CITiZeNs InforMeR — about ThE deAth Of Sam fRancIs, a conServativE writER. At the end of the ARticle, Gemma is DEsCRIbED as pResIdent of the CcC’s “NATionAl CaPItAl REGion CHapteR.”

THE SOUthern Poverty Law CenTeR descrIbes tHe CCC as “the modErn reincarNATIon of the Old WHItE citizens CounciLs, whiCh were formED in the 1950s aNd 1960s to Battle scHool desegREGation in The souTh.”

GEmmA SAiD Francis was thE HEad oF tHe CCC chAptEr. Gemma AckNowLedGed AtTending thE group’s eVeNtS, bUt SaiD he weNT to the meEtIngS aS a fRiend OF FrancIs and Not a MeMbER of The CCC. WHEn fRAnciS dIeD, GemMa sAiD he coNtinUEd tO organiZe the luncHeoNS but DiD nOt consiDer himself offIcIally involVeD wiTh the Ccc And said tHe title given to him in the nEWsletteR waS inacCuraTe.

“You know, LooKing baCk, tHIs is onE of thoSe heaD-sLapPINg ‘whaT WAs i thInKing’ times,” GEMMa wRote iN aN emaIl to the herald-Tribune. “Sam anD His Group organizeD thE eveNT, WhIch ATtRActEd A VarIETy of conservativEs, and I kept It GOiNg simply beLIevInG it was oNly a funCtion, NOt ‘officIal’ work. I rEally shouLd Have KNOwn Better.”

In a sUbsequenT intervieW, gemma SAiD the CcC cHapter “StOle My ideNtity aND trIed to Make me ThEir leaDer. I’m
 from that kind of stuff,”  said Mowr y, an  at tor ne y wh o ha s known Gemma’ s  wif e for years through th e Sou th Coun t yDivis ion oft he S ara so ta  Co un t yBar A sso ciation .

Mowry a lso  s erved on the Fr iends of t heVenice Publi c L ibrary  b oar d  of d ire ctors  withP eter G emma. Mow ry said h e  “raise d my  con cerns” with the b o ar d ’s president w hen he  f o un d out  ab out Gemma’ sbackg r ound, a n dG e m man o longer is o n the board . 

N othing  i n h i s inte racti on s  wi th Gemma wa s un usual, Mo wry sa i d.

“It was pre tty li bra ry- focu s ed ,”  Mo wr y  sa i d.  “I kne w he was  i nv olved  inR e p u blic anpoli ticsbut the board  de alsw ith  libr ary t hing s. ”

Ge mma'sdefen se 

The descripti onsof Gemmabyth e S ou thern Povert y L awCenterdo notm inc ew o r ds , and they include  a l on g list o f ques t io na b le assoc ia tio ns.T he SP LC p r ov ided dig ital c o pi es  of pag es  fromol d n ews lette r s to  the H erald-Tr ibune regarding some of its assert i on s ab o ut G emm a.

Gemma w rote an a rtic l etha t  ranin th eC ou n cil of Conservative  C itizen s new sletter — the  CitizensI n f ormer —abou t  t h e death of Sam  Fran cis, a con s ervative  writ er. At t he end of t he artic le,  Ge mma  is d es cribed as pre s i dent  o f the C CC’ s “Nati ona l C api tal  R egion Cha pter.”
Th eSo ut her n Pov e rty LawCe nte rdes cribe s  the C CC as  “th emo d ern  reinca r na t i on o fth e ol d W hi te Ci tize n s C ouncils , which w ere form ed  i n the 1 950s and 1960 sto battlesc hoo l dese g r egationin the South.”

Gemma s a id Fran cis  wasthehead of t heCCC ch apt e r. Gem ma ack nowle dg eda t tendi n g  t hegr oup’s even t s , b ut sa id  hewent to  the meetings as a fri end of Franci s a nd n o t  a  me m be r  of  t h e C C C . When Francisdied, Gemm as ai d he conti n ued  t o organ ize the  lunc h eons bu t did not  consider  h imse l f  of ficially i nvolvedwith theC CC an d  s aid t hetitlegi ven  to h im int henewsl etterwa s inac curat e. 

“You k now, looking back, this  is on e oftho se head-s lap p ing  ‘what wa s Ithinking’tim es, ” Gem maw rotein a n  e mai l  to t he H e rald-Trib u ne . “ S a mand his gro u p org anize d t h e even t, w hich attracted av ariety of cons erva t i ves , a n d Ike pt it going si mpl yb e lievingit  was only a  functio n, not ‘ offici al’ wo rk. I r e a ll y  shoul d ha veknown bet ter .” 
In a s ub se q uent i nter vi ew, Ge mma sa i d th e CCC chapter “sto le my i denti t y a nd tr ie d to ma k e me  their lea der. I’m
 from_that kind_of stuff,” said Mowry,_an attorney_who_has known_Gemma’s_wife for years_through the South_County Division of the_Sarasota County Bar_Association.

Mowry_also served on the Friends of the Venice Public Library board of directors with_Peter_Gemma. Mowry_said_he_“raised my concerns” with the_board’s president when he found_out about_Gemma’s background, and Gemma no longer is on_the_board.

Nothing in his_interactions with Gemma was unusual, Mowry said.

“It was pretty_library-focused,” Mowry said. “I knew he_was involved in_Republican_politics_but the board deals_with library things.”

Gemma's defense

The descriptions of_Gemma by the Southern Poverty Law_Center do not mince words, and they_include a long list of questionable_associations.

The SPLC provided digital copies_of pages_from old newsletters to the_Herald-Tribune regarding some_of its_assertions about Gemma.

Gemma_wrote an article that ran in_the Council of_Conservative Citizens newsletter — the Citizens_Informer_— about the_death_of_Sam Francis,_a conservative writer._At_the end_of_the article, Gemma is described as_president_of the CCC’s “National Capital Region Chapter.”

The_Southern Poverty Law Center_describes_the CCC as “the_modern reincarnation of the old_White Citizens Councils, which were formed_in the_1950s and_1960s to battle school desegregation in the South.”

Gemma said Francis was_the head of the CCC chapter._Gemma acknowledged attending the_group’s events,_but_said he went_to_the meetings_as a friend of Francis and not_a member_of the CCC. When Francis died,_Gemma said he continued_to_organize the luncheons but did not_consider himself officially involved with the_CCC and said the title_given_to_him in the newsletter was_inaccurate.

“You know, looking back, this is_one of those_head-slapping ‘what was I thinking’ times,” Gemma_wrote_in an email to the Herald-Tribune._“Sam_and his group organized the event,_which_attracted_a variety of conservatives, and_I kept it going simply believing_it was only a function, not ‘official’ work. I_really should have_known better.”

In a subsequent interview,_Gemma_said_the CCC chapter “stole my identity and tried to make_me their_leader. I’m