Jacksonville, FL – On Saturday, March 22, over 200 community members gathered to protest the genocide carried out by Israel after it violated the ceasefire on March 18. Community members protested in the town center, on one of Jacksonville’s busiest streets, to demand an end to U.S. aid to Israel and call for the Jacksonville Port Authority to end its contracts with two shipping companies, Maersk and ZIM.

The shipping giant Maersk is among the wealthiest in the world. While they recently denied shipping arms to Israel, records show they have shipped millions of dollars’ worth of military cargo since the attack on Gaza began in 2023. ZIM is Israel’s largest and oldest shipping company, a direct supporter and facilitator of the occupation and genocide in Palestine.

The Jacksonville Port Authority has refused to answer organizers’ calls to end their complicity in the genocide since the Jacksonville Palestine Solidarity Network (JPSN) took up their Genocide Out of Jaxport campaign last October. A leading Palestinian JPSN organizer said, “After the people of Gaza were finally able to poke their head above water for a fragile gasp of air, they are again drowning in the blood that is Zionism. At the same time, we are witnessing a new level of destruction and settler violence in the West Bank. We must not slow down our fight, we must continue to reach people from different areas of Jacksonville and bridge the connection of our suffering!”

On April 5, JPSN plans to take their action directly to Jacksonville’s Dames Point Terminal, where Maersk and ZIM operate, as part of the national week of action for Palestinian Land Day called by the Anti War Action Network (AWAN). Speaking to the crowd, Ryan Delaney of AWAN’s steering committee said, “If you take one thing home with your today, let it be this: if that port in your own backyard stops shipping with Maersk and ZIM, that disrupts the killing of Palestinians from being killed. If we can stop them, we can save lives, and we can stop them, because when we fight, we win!”

The action was called by Jacksonville Palestine Solidarity Network, and answered by a broad coalition of organizations, including American Muslims for Palestine, Jacksonville Community Action Committee, Students for a Democratic Society, Jacksonville Immigrant Rights Alliance, and the Freedom Road Socialist Organization.

#JacksonvilleFL #FL #AntiWarMovement #Palestine #JaxPSN

St. Petersburg, FL – On March 23, 300 postal workers and community members came out with the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) union to stand against the privatization of the post office. With recent talk of President Trump transferring USPS to the department of commerce and privatizing it, union members are ready to stand up for the future of the public service.

Attendees held signs and stood at all corners of a busy intersection to bring awareness to the current uncertainty. The privatization of the post office could mean an estimated cut of 10,000 jobs, an increase in shipping costs, and an end to rural service.

All eyes are on Trump as he has continued to gut public services, including the Department of Education, national parks and library services. This action was one of hundreds around the country and the American Postal Workers Union and NALC will both continue to be holding actions to defend the postal service.

#StPetersburgFL #FL #Labor #Postal #NALC #APWU

Tampa, FL – On March 20, over 60 workers with the American Postal Worker Union (APWU) held a public demonstration in Tampa, Florida to bring awareness to attacks on the postal service. The Tampa APWU action was one of over 250 held across the country.

“The post office is not for sale, and it never will be!” chanted workers as they marched up and down the road handing out informational flyers to passing cars to raise awareness about the issue.

The right to a federal mail service is protected in the constitution, which means that its privatization would be illegal. Despite this, President Trump has been considering transferring U.S. Postal Service to the Department of Commerce and privatizing it, which would have the effect of cutting jobs and raising shipping costs. Privatizing the post office is only one of many attempts the president has made on public services, including his attacks on the Department of Education.

Postal workers with the National Association of Letter Carriers will be holding a similar national day of action to fight against privatization this Sunday, March 23.

#TampaFL #FL #Labor #APWU #USPS #Postal

Tampa, FL – Teamsters at 10 Roads Express, who are represented by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, have been on strike since February 18. The strike is a national effort which includes over 500 workers across eight states.

10 Roads Express is a trucking company which primarily contracts with the post office to carry mail. 10 Roads Express workers are on strike because they say that the company has refused to bargain in good faith with the union during their ongoing round of contract negotiations.

While the numbers are unknown, it is clear that the month-long ongoing strike has cost the employer vast sums of money already, and the Teamsters show no sign of giving up anytime soon and returning to work.

The company has offered the workers no wage increases in contract negotiations. Union members say that their wages are not competitive within the industry as they stand now.

The strike is nationwide, and on February 27 was expanded to include Tampa, Florida where workers are represented by Teamsters Local 79.

At a recent visit to the Tampa picket line, 10 Roads Express workers could be seen waving signs and marching along the entrance to the 10 Roads Express barn in a busy industrial area about a mile and a half north of the airport. Workers said that they have been inspired by the level of support received from others in the local trade union movement, and by example of the successful contact fight at UPS in 2023.

#TampaFL #FL #Labor #Teamsters

Jacksonville, FL – After hearing about the abduction of Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian graduate from Columbia University who was a legal permanent resident, organizations in Jacksonville sprung to action. The Jacksonville Palestine Solidarity Network, the Jacksonville Immigrants’ Rights Alliance, and the Jacksonville chapter of Students for a Democratic Society coalesced forces to rally on the morning of Saturday, March 15, with chants of “Free Mahmoud Khalil!” echoing through Jacksonville’s downtown.

Over 150 community members from all walks of life covered the steps of the Federal Building, with signs demanding Khalil’s immediate release, an end to the political repression and the targeting of our movements, as well as a call to action to defend immigrant communities in the face of a mass deportation campaign. Speakers made clear connections to the central force behind each of the attacks our communities are currently experiencing; the ruling class that seeks to sow division amongst the multi-national working class.

A member of the Jacksonville Immigrants’ Rights Alliance rallied the crowd around the fight against anti-immigrant legislation being advanced at the city level, “Legislation like 2025-0138 and 2025-0147 seeks to criminalize immigrants, deny essential services to families, and divert critical resources toward punitive measures like mobile fingerprinting devices for law enforcement. These bills are unjust, inhumane, and counterproductive. Denying services to children based on their immigration status is cruel and contradicts the values of compassion and fairness that we hold dear – We say no to these racist laws and no to the criminalization of our communities.”

An organizer with the Jacksonville Palestine Solidarity Network urged that these attacks were nothing more than attempts to repress our broad movements, stating, “Rasmea Odeh, a Palestinian revolutionary who gained U.S. citizenship after surviving Zionist torture, was deported in 2017 in order to stoke fear and send shockwaves through our communities. And just as our movements fought back heroically against the state’s repressive attempts then, we will do the same now!”

Follow @unidosjax, @jaxpsn, and @jax_sds for updates.

#JacksonvilleFL #FL #Palestine #AntiWarMovement

Orlando, FL – On March 16, over 50 people gathered at Lake Ellenor Park to celebrate the life of Luis Lopez and to demand justice for his murder. Attendees watched Lopez’s team win their soccer match before gathering for a vigil and press conference.

Luis Lopez was murdered by the Orange County officers in his own home on February 8. The police were called by a neighbor and friend Loida Zunun during a reported home invasion. Officers Alex Duran and Paul Ortiz arrived on the scene and shot Luis through a window while yelling “drop the knife.”

“We have come here to this exact place today, to remember the life of Luis Lopez because this is where he spent so much of his time, and by all accounts he should be here today,” said Cassia Laham. The local community gathered wearing shirts that read “Justice for Luis Lopez.” A number of speeches were given by various members of the community, including Luis’ friends and teammates.

Edmund Anglero, a member of Orlando Against Police Crimes, stated, “Now that the names of the officers and the bodycam footage have been released, we call on State Attorney Monique Worrell to press charges against the officers who killed Luis: Alex Duran and Paul Ortiz.”

In a letter to State Attorney Worrell, Orlando Against Police Crimes demands justice, stating, “While steps towards transparency have been made with the releasing of the names and bodycam videos of the officers responsible for Luis’ killing, there is yet to be any form of accountability. Orlando Against Police Crimes, in unison with friends and loved ones close to Luis, and the broader community call on you to charge officers Alex Duran and Paul Ortiz with murder. We demand that you stand with the community in our calls for justice and accountability!”

#OrlandoFL #FL #InJusticeSystem

Tampa, FL – On March 12, Tampa Bay’s Students for a Democratic Society led a protest to demand the release of Mahmoud Khalil, who is under the threat of deportation as the U.S. pushes to revoke his green card.

Khalil is a Columbia University graduate who had participated in the nationwide pro-Palestinian encampments on his campus. He was arrested when ICE agents entered his home, taking him into custody in front of his wife, without his having been charged with any crime.

Khalil’s case is a clear threat to students and community who choose to participate in pro-Palestine protests, something the students of the University of South Florida are familiar with.

At the Tampa protest on Fowler Avenue, SDS member Joseph Charry spoke about his experience with USF. Charry was hit with a suspension from the university while out of the country, with FSU claiming he was responsible for the violence that occurred after police tear-gassed and arrested students during the nationwide solidarity encampments.

Charry stated, “At no point during my suspension process did any USF administration officials help me figure out what I should do, or what would happen to my student visa, or if I was effectively being deported from the country”

Charry was eventually forced to leave the country in September of 2024 to avoid any future complications. Charry was eventually able to return. He states, “Neither me nor Mahmoud or any other international student should be deported for standing up for Palestine”

A crowd of about 50 community members, including members of Freedom Road Socialist Organization, Tampa Bay Activist United, Party for Socialism and Liberation and others, joined students in a march in front of the University of South Florida with speeches demanding for the release of Khalil and the stop to the repression of pro-Palestinian solidarity actions under Trump.

As both the Trump administration and Universities crack down on what they deem “antisemitism” and “Hamas sympathizers,” these students remain steadfast in their support for the Palestinian community.

Tampa Bay SDS remains an expelled organization at USF; however the students say, “SDS will continue to fight on the right side of history.”

#TampaFL #FL #StudentMovement #InJusticeSystem #PoliticalRepression #AntiWarMovement #Palestine #MahmoudKhalil #SDS

Orlando, FL – On March 8, the Orlando district of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO) held a spoken word and trivia fundraiser to commemorate International Women’s Day and gather the Orlando community in the face of recent attacks on women. The slogans raised at the event were “Defend Women’s and Reproductive Rights,” “Stand with the Women of Palestine” and “Stop the Deportations! Keep Families Together.”

Cassia Laham, member of FRSO Orlando, kicked off the event by explaining the history of International Women’s Day and the current situation of women stating, “Today, women of all sectors of society face renewed attacks by the forces of reaction, with Trump and his cabinet full of abusers and women-haters leading the charge against our rights.” She continued, “Just as we fought before, we will fight again!”

Other speakers focused on varied topics. Rasha Mubarak of Florida Palestine Network spoke of the struggle of Palestinian women, and two teenage organizers with the Farmworkers Association of Florida discussed the impact of deportations on their community. Chants of “When immigrant rights are under attack, what do we do? Stand up, fight back!” rang throughout the building.

Vanessa Christaldi of the University of Central Florida Students for a Democratic Society read a poem focused on the ownership of one’s body and the inspiration of women resistance fighters. “What is the right way to have a body? And more importantly, what is the right way to assert that I am more than that?” She ended her poem with an acknowledgment that all of the rights women have today, both domestically and internationally are won through struggle, not simply given.

After the speeches, an International Women’s Day-themed trivia, hosted by Sarah of Feisty Trivia, was held with proceeds going to the Palestinian Motherhood Society. The Florida Palestine Network sold tatreez with proceeds also going to the Palestinian Motherhood Society. The total fundraised was announced as $920, with cheers from the audience.

The co-sponsoring organizations were the Florida Palestine Network (FPN), the University of Central Florida Students for a Democratic Society (UCFSDS), The End to Genocide Coalition (ETGC), The Farmworkers Association of Florida (FWAF), and the Palestinian Feminist Collective (PFC). The trivia was led by Sarah of Feisty Trivia, Orlando's Only Female-Owned Trivia Company. The event was a broad multi-generational event filled with community members and organizers commemorating International Women’s Day.

#OrlandoFL #FL #WomensMovement #InternationalWomensDay #AntiWarMovement #Palestine #SDS #FPN #FRSO #ETGC #PFC

Tallahassee, FL – Shouts cut through the gray skies outside Florida’s state capitol on March 8, International Women’s Day, as people gathered to mark the new phase in the fight for women’s rights that came with the second Trump administration. Hosted by the Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO) alongside various community organizations, the rally brought out around one hundred people who braved the rain.

Trump's second term promises a new wave of attacks on women, especially on the right to abortion, transgender women's access to gender-affirming care, and protections from discrimination. Florida, with its Republican domination in the state legislature and fiercely far-right Governor Ron DeSantis, forms the front line for much of the GOP's sexist agenda.

“We're at a critical period in history,” said Delilah Pierre from the Tallahassee Community Action Committee. “We're either gonna go forward to a future for all of us, or backwards to a past for the few.”

The decision to rally at the Florida state capitol was particularly relevant. Abortion rights in Florida face a grim future, with DeSantis fiercely defensive of the state's current ban on abortion beyond the first six weeks – a time when many women don't even realize they're pregnant.

A recent attempt to enshrine abortion access in Florida's constitution, the Amendment 4 campaign, won 58% of the vote but was still 2% below the strict 60% threshold to pass.

Many speakers gave their personal experiences with patriarchy and the struggles women face to defend their equality in their schools and workplaces. “While we should be out here for our mothers, sisters, aunts, grandmothers, partners, and friends, I dare you to find your loved ones in the stories of others and to fight for them like they are your own, because we are not free until we are all free,” said JJ Glueck from Tallahassee Students for a Democratic Society.

The political system in the U.S. is still unable or unwilling to protect women from ongoing oppression. Many speakers and attendees expressed disillusionment with the two-party system and the power of ultra-rich men like Elon Musk. Joelle Nuñez, member of the FRSO, declared that “this system is not gonna come apart step by step. It's gonna come down in one big blow, because the whole damn system is rotten!”

After the rally, FRSO hosted an International Women’s Day discussion panel and concert at the Blue Tavern. The show featured the talents of local Latina artist-activist duo Isabela and Kristellys, as well as women and trans-led bands Degenerate State and hardtogetaholdof(untilyoucall).

Staring down four more years of right-wing attacks on women's rights and people's movements, organizers in Florida are refusing to sit down or give up. In Tallahassee, and in the cities across the country that joined them on International Women's Day, the people are standing up and fighting back.

#TallahasseeFL #FL #WomensMovement #InternationalWomensDay #FRSO

Jacksonville, FL – This year’s International Women’s Day was celebrated March 8 by a crowd of nearly 100 people on a day to honor revolutionary and working women, filled with speakers, performances, crafts and good food. Members of the Jacksonville community joined together to remember the struggle of women who have come and fought before us, and to stand with the women continuing that struggle now.

The jam-packed program featured speakers representing a coalition of organizations that emphasized the vital role of women in every movement for change. There were poetry readings, a musical performance, and a Plena performance from members of the Jacksonville Immigrant Rights Alliance, a Puerto Rican dance and music style historically used as a form of resistance.

The crowd was reminded to stand with the women of Palestine as they resist, in all forms, the occupation of their land.

“Today we recognize and honor Palestinian women for their resilience and the integral part they play in the resistance. We recognize the key role they played historically and still do to this day,” said a member of the Jacksonville Palestine Solidarity Network.

Speaking on incarceration and its effects on Black revolutionary movement, a member of the Jacksonville Community Action Committee noted, “What many do not know is that women leaders of these movements, who were not only integral, but also pivotal to the successes of these movements, were political prisoners as well.”

As the event closed out, attendees chanted, “El pueblo unido jamás será vencido,” along with a recitation of the Assata Shakur chant. While we honor and remember all revolutionary leaders and political prisoners, this International Women’s Day we hold close to us the women who have built movements for change and those continuing that fight, for women hold up half the sky!

#JacksonvilleFL #FL #WomensMovement #InternationalWomensDay

Tampa, FL – Around 80 people gathered in front of Tampa City Hall on Saturday, March 8, in honor of International Women’s Day and to rally against Trump’s reactionary policies.

The program featured a range of speeches. One speech denounced Trump’s attacks against immigrants, with the crowd chanting, “No hate, no fear, immigrants are welcome here!” Another speech emphasized the relationship between reproductive rights and LGBTQ rights, condemning Trump’s executive order banning gender affirming care for youth.

The protest was organized by the Freedom Road Socialist Organization, with support from Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society, the Tampa Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, and Tampa Activists United.

Once the crowd was at its peak, the protesters marched through downtown Tampa’s tourist-filled streets. The crowd’s anti-Trump chants echoed through downtown.

#TampaFL #FL #WomensMovement #InternationalWomensDay

On Thursday, March 6, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office released the bodycam footage detailing the events that took place on the evening of February 8, 2025 resulting in murder of 26-year old Luis Lopez by Orange County deputies.

 Around 11:30 pm, officers arrived at the scene in the Pine Castle neighborhood upon reports of a burglary in progress. The bodycam footage shows that both dispatch and the officers on scene had knowledge that a Spanish interpreter was being used to communicate. One officer found signs of forced entry at the front entrance of the home. At least two officers then entered the backyard and found a ladder propped underneath an open window that the intruder, a disgruntled coworker, had used to enter the home.

 In the video, Luis can be clearly heard shouting “No, no, no!” and “¡Ayuda!” or “Help!” in Spanish. A few moments later, Luis was seen from the window holding the intruder in a headlock. The officers ordered him to “drop the knife,” multiple times in English, a language which Luis did not speak. They each fired a round from their handguns, striking Luis in the head and killing him. No knife was found at the scene.

 Orlando Against Police Crimes strongly condemns the unjust murder of Luis Lopez. We demand that the Orange County Sheriff’s Office release the names of the officers responsible for Luis’ murder. Additionally, we demand State Attorney Monique H. Worrell to press criminal charges against the offending officers.

 Orlando Against Police Crimes is working alongside the friends and family of Luis Lopez to organize a memorial vigil at Lake Ellenor Park on Sunday, March 16 at 2 pm. The vigil will be an opportunity to honor his memory, demand accountability, and call for justice. For more information, visit https://orlandoapc.org

#OrlandoFL #FL #InJusticeSystem #PoliceCrimes #KillerCops #OAPC #NAARPR

El Noticiero ¡Lucha y Resiste! está circulando el siguiente comunicado de Orlando Contra los Crímenes Policiales sobre el asesinato de Luis López, publicado originalmente en inglés el 13 de febrero de 2025.

Orlando Contra los Crímenes Policiales condena enérgicamente el asesinato de Luis López, de 24 años, a manos de agentes de la Oficina del Sheriff del Condado de Orange la noche del sábado 8 de febrero en el vecindario de Pine Castle.

Los agentes llegaron tras recibir reportes de un robo en una casa. En una declaración para WFTV, una amiga cercana de López, Loida Zunun, dijo: “Un tipo estaba tratando de entrar a su casa y llamó a mi mamá”, dijo Zunun. “Él tenía miedo y nos dijo, oye, hay alguien tratando de meterse a mi casa”.

Al llegar, los agentes encontraron a López defendiéndose con un cuchillo. Los oficiales le dispararon y López fue declarado muerto después de ser transportado a un hospital local.

Los dos agentes que se presentaron a la escena, incluido el policía asesino, permanecen en licencia administrativa con goce de sueldo. El Departamento de Aplicación de la Ley de Florida (FDLE) está investigando actualmente el caso, y la Oficina del Sheriff del Condado de Orange llevará a cabo su propia investigación una vez que concluya. Sin embargo, debido al debilitamiento y eliminación de juntas de revisión sin poder real, como resultado de legislación respaldadas por los republicanos, como el Proyecto de Ley 601 de la Cámara de Representantes (House Bill 601), falta un vehículo para una revisión civil independiente y una rendición de cuentas genuina.

“Él simplemente se estaba protegiendo. No veo otra manera. Pidió ayuda y nosotros estábamos tratando de ayudarlo. No merecía esto”, afirmó Zunun.

La familia está recaudando fondos para los gastos del funeral y para llevar a Luis de regreso a su país de origen, México, puedes donar haciendo clic aquí. https://www.gofundme.com/f/ffeanm-luis-lopez?attribution_id=sl:f554e4a6-fc4c-4eb4-ba67-f224016957a8&lang=es_US&utm_campaign=fp_sharesheet&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=copy_link

¡Justicia para Luis López!

¡Encarcelen a los policías asesinos!

¡Control comunitario de la policía ya!

#OrlandoFL #FL #InJusticeSystem

Jacksonville, FL – The Jacksonville Immigrant Rights Alliance (JIRA) was founded to advocate for immigrant rights and fight against the capitalist-backed policies that target and criminalize Jacksonville’s immigrant communities.

Since its inception, JIRA has fought to end collaboration between local law enforcement and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), halt the use of local jails for ICE detention, and protect undocumented individuals from repression.

In the face of the reactionary agenda championed by figures like President Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, whose rhetoric and policies have emboldened anti-immigrant sentiment nationwide, local legislators feel empowered to introduce similar oppressive policies such as those now being proposed in Jacksonville, making JIRA’s work more critical than ever.

Mariscos El Pacifico protest

JIRA held its first major event on February 9, at Mariscos El Pacifico, a restaurant in the heart of Jacksonville’s immigrant community, in response to and collaboration with locals who held their own rally at Mariscos El Pacifico almost a week before. More than 100 people gathered in a display of working-class unity, waving signs and flags, chanting, and drawing honks of support from passing vehicles. The protest brought together activists, families, students, and labor unionists to demand an end to deportations and the state’s persecution of our immigrant neighbors.

Maria Garcia, a representative of JIRA, delivered a powerful speech, declaring, “Immigrants are our neighbors. They are sewn into the fabric of our city. And we must keep showing up to reject these backwards policies. We have a responsibility to protect our neighbors!” Her words resonated with the crowd, which responded with chants of “El pueblo unido jamás será vencido” (“The people united will never be defeated!”) and “From Palestine to Mexico, all these walls have got to go.”

Monica Martinez, a representative of JIRA, a public school teacher and first-generation Venezuelan immigrant, spoke about the impact these policies have had on students: “Este último mes, ha sido un mes fuerte para mis estudiantes inmigrantes y americanos. Es evidente de que hay mucha preocupación en las escuelas de todas partes. Desde los adultos, a los estudiantes, y también los padres. Hay mucha inseguridad, cuando las escuelas deben de ser un espacio de aprendizaje y seguridad para nuestros niños. Los niños se merecen ir a recibir sus estudios sin miedo de que ICE vaya a detenerlos para deportar a sus familias.”

“Illegal Immigration Enforcement Act”

On February 25, ordinances 2025-0147 and 2025-0138 were introduced by Jacksonville City Councilmen Kevin Carrico and Rory Diamond. These ordinances, collectively referred to as the “Illegal Immigration Enforcement Act,” are a full-on assault of immigrant communities in Jacksonville. They propose criminalizing undocumented immigrants, allocating over $76,000 to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) for 25 mobile fingerprinting devices, and further limiting undocumented individuals’ access to city resources. This legislation echoes the reactionary agenda of Trump and DeSantis, who have long sought to criminalize and dehumanize immigrants while expanding the powers of law enforcement.

While the ruling class claims these ordinances are meant to enhance “community safety,” JIRA and other people’s organizations have exposed them for what they truly are: an escalation of terror against immigrants. The proposed legislation grants JSO unchecked authority to collaborate with ICE, conduct pre-arrest fingerprinting based on “suspicion,” and engage in racial profiling at will. These measures do nothing but deepen distrust between law enforcement and the people, discouraging victims and witnesses from reporting crimes or seeking assistance.

The people fight back: JIRA mobilizes at city hall

JIRA’s efforts to oppose these ordinances culminated in a powerful mobilization at the Jacksonville city council meeting on February 25. Community members packed city hall, delivering denunciations of Council Member Kevin Carrico’s proposed “Illegal Immigration Enforcement Act.”

Speakers also called out the city council for its continued prioritization of funding the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) and its billion-dollar jail project, which disproportionately targets and incarcerates oppressed communities. The crowd demanded an end to policies that funnel resources into policing and incarceration while neglecting the needs of working-class residents.

In the face of this grassroots uprising, Council Member Rory Diamond resorted to lies, falsely claiming on local news that the protesters were “paid” participants. This attempt to delegitimize the voices of the people only galvanized JIRA and its allies, who responded with even louder resistance. Diamond’s dismissive rhetoric underscored the disconnect between the city’s leadership and the communities they claim to serve, further exposing the anti-democratic nature of the proposed legislation.

The protest saw participation from a broad coalition of local organizations, including the Jacksonville Community Action Committee, the Jacksonville Palestine Solidarity Network, and the Jacksonville Students for a Democratic Society. Parents, children, elders, students, and labor leaders stood shoulder to shoulder, demonstrating the overwhelming opposition to these racist policies.

Ongoing community presence

JIRA will maintain a continuous presence in the community, organizing mass actions against corrupt politicians and law enforcement agencies while fostering unity among the people. Community members can expect rallies, general body meetings, and community events designed to build solidarity and power. JIRA encourages all Jacksonville residents to stand up, fight back, and take part in building a better society – one where all people are treated with dignity, regardless of immigration status.

For more information about JIRA and its ongoing fight for justice, contact unidosjax@gmail.com.

#JacksonvilleFL #FL #ImmigrantRights #JIRA

Tallahassee, FL – On Friday, February 28, students and other groups held a protest against the arrival of right-wing pundit Charlie Kirk on FSU.

Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, is known for his reactionary statements about LGBTQ people and Black Americans, insisting that the Civil Rights Act of 1965 was a mistake and should be repealed, while calling Martin Luther King Jr. an “awful person.” He has spoken at several universities as part of his “American Comeback” speaking tour.

In the buildup to the event, Owen Girard, president of FSU Turning Point USA, reported the Black Student Union to school administration for posting a screenshot of the protest flyer on their Instagram story. He later claimed they had been “held accountable” by the school authorities. According to BSU’s mission statement, they are “an organization at Florida State University that addresses those issues that affect African-American students in a university setting.”

The protest began at 11:30 a.m. at the Integration Statue with impassioned speeches denouncing Kirk and FSU’s administration. After this, over 100 students marched to Landis Green, where the event was being held, and barriers were quickly put up by FSUPD, Tallahassee PD, and the Florida Highway Patrol.

Justin Jordan, a leader in Tallahassee SDS said, “It is disgusting for a university that claims to care about all of its students to allow Charlie Kirk, a man who has repeatedly made his disdain for Black people and our rights to come on campus.”

Hundreds more people trickled in throughout the duration of the protest and rallied against Kirk’s presence with chants such as “Racist, sexist, anti-gay, Charlie Kirk go away!”

Despite harassment from Turning Point sympathizers including slurs, bottle-throwing and even fascist salutes, the protesters successfully disrupted the event, as many attendees claimed they couldn’t hear Kirk speak amid the uproar.

The rally was organized and attended by Tallahassee Students for a Democratic Society along with the Tallahassee Community Action Committee, Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO), FSU Veggie Power, FSU Graduate Assistants United, Tallahassee Food Not Bombs, YDSA, and FL Student Power.

The event ended around 2 p.m. and the crowd gradually dispersed without incident.

#TallahasseeFL #FL #StudentMovement #SDS #CharlieKirk #TPUSA

Jacksonville, FL – Around three dozen community members gathered in front of Jacksonville City Hall on Tuesday late afternoon to say no to a projected billion-dollar proposal to build a new jail and incarcerate more Jacksonville residents.

Organized by the Jacksonville Community Action Committee and attended by other organizations such as the newly formed Jacksonville Immigrant Rights Alliance, the Jacksonville Palestine Solidarity Network, Take Em Down Jacksonville, Jax Queer Coalition, Red Alliance for Justice, Metro Gardens Neighborhood Association, Jacksonville DSA, along with the Freedom Road Socialist Organization.

Attendees heard chants of “No new jail” along with chants of “Money for jobs and education, not for mass incarceration.”

“We are here to say no to shady backroom deals with developers,” said Monica Gold, an organizer with the JCAC. “Conditions in the jail should be fixed now, not spending a potential billion dollars on a new jail to lock more people up while schools are being shut down!”

The current Duval County Jail is designed to host 2189 inmates but currently holds at least 2600 inmates, according to reports. Its horrible conditions are well known, with many inmates dying due to negligence and poor healthcare services.

The talk about moving the jail has been a major topic pushed by the city council and the mayor’s office the past year. The current jail is located in downtown near the Saint John’s River, a spot developer have been eyeing to build unaffordable high rise appartments.

Many have spoken out against attempts to build the jail on Jacksonville’s Northside of town, the home of a large Black community.

“Our communities are constantly told there is no resources for after-school programs, infrastructure and other social services yet the city can find a billion for a new jail? Just tells you what they think of us and our communities,” said JCAC organizer Xavier Green. “We demand a real People’s Budget, people over profit, community over cages.”

After the rally, many went inside to city council where they spoke out against a new jail proposal.

The JCAC and coalition partners have vowed to keep organizing around this issue until the proposal is stopped.

#JacksonvilleFL #FL #InJusticeSystem #JCAC

Tallahassee, FL – On February 19, Tallahassee Students for a Democratic Society held a rally to celebrate the restoration of LGBTQ+ housing at Florida State University and to voice support for FSU’s queer community.

The rally included speakers from Graduate Assistants United (GAU), the Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO), the Tallahassee Community Action Committee (TCAC), Food Not Bombs, FSU Veggie Power, and Jacksonville SDS.

LGBTQ+ housing at FSU has offered safety and community for queer students since it was won by activists from SDS, Pride Student Union, and Gender Odyssey in 2021. This housing option allowed queer and trans students to fill out an interest form stating that they prefer to room with people who share or respect their identities. This did the bare minimum for LGBTQ+ students, preventing them from getting matched with homophobic and transphobic roommates.

Amid attempts by the far-right reactionary Trump administration to destroy diversity, equity and inclusion programs across the country, FSU’s administration quietly removed options for LGBTQ+ housing without warning or explanation.

Joelle Nuñez from FRSO spoke on the university's tendency to bow down to reactionaries like Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron Desantis, stating, “FSU administration put up no fight when Desantis ordered universities to shut down their DEI programs and hid behind the excuse of ‘They made us do it.’ Nobody made them do it! And nobody made them do it this time! They tried to get rid of LGBTQ+ housing before their reactionary overlords even noticed it was there in the first place! Showing that they care more about winning points with racists than catering to students!”

Following published statements from SDS and Pride Student Union, as well as announcing plans to rally and submit public comment at the Student Senate, the FSU admin gave in and quietly restored LGBTQ+ housing. The rally, initially intended to be a protest, became a celebratory showcase of support for FSU’s LGBTQ+ community.

Delilah Pierre from TCAC highlighted the impact of this win, “Seeing FSU do this was a huge sign of hope and inspiration, not because I trust FSU’s leadership, but because I trust y’all and your power! The next time that FSU tells you that they ‘can’t do something’ because they’re ‘not allowed,’ let them know that they’re not the ones who get to decide! The people are the ones who get to decide!”

The successful pressure against the FSU administration to back off from its attempts to erase LGBTQ+ housing in the dead of night demonstrates the absolute necessity of organizing on campus. Organizing can successfully ward off right-wing and reactionary attacks on campuses. This message was not lost at the event, which also had the continued organization of students in Tallahassee as a key focus. “When we unite our forces, we're unstoppable,” stated Justin Jordan, member of Tallahassee SDS and student at Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University.

Jordan continued, “This goes beyond FSU. This goes across the tracks at FAMU. At FAMU we don’t have LGBTQ+ housing. We don’t have a Pride Student Union. And the only club we have to support LGBTQ+ people has been delisted. The impacts are very clear, so many students at FAMU feel unsafe where they live.”

In tandem with the joy brought about by this victory, the crowd had an energy of ongoing struggle. On Friday, February 28, FSU will host the far-right racist and transphobic commentator, Charlie Kirk. Tallahassee SDS will be there to show that he's not welcome and demand racists off our campus.

Tallahassee SDS will continue to organize to protect LGBTQ+ students on campuses across the city and fight against other reactionary efforts at stripping the rights of students. This victory proves the validity of the mantra of SDS activists across the country: “Dare to struggle! Dare to win!”

#TallahasseeFL #FL #StudentMovement #LGBTQ #SDS

Tallahassee, FL – Over 150 Tallahasseans assembled at the Florida State Capitol, February 17, to rally against Donald Trump and the outsized role of billionaire union-buster Elon Musk. Responding to an online call for nationwide protests known as “50501,” it was the second such rally, following an all-day action two weeks prior.

The event was organized by a coalition of local groups, and featured speakers from Students for a Democratic Society, Food Not Bombs, Equality Florida, the Tallahassee Community Action Committee, the Industrial Workers of the World, Dream Defenders, and the Freedom Road Socialist Organization.

Most of the crowd faced the intersection of Apalachee Parkway and Monroe Street with signs, drawing supportive honking from drivers. Some had gotten there five hours early to protest and stayed there until the event ended. Even at the home of the most far-right state governments in the country, Trump and Musk’s unprecedented attacks on millions of Americans have brought out hundreds since the inauguration to stand up and fight back.

“Trump played on the real fears of working people in America, promising peace and prosperity, but we know that he’s only intensifying the war on oppressed people worldwide,” said Joelle Nuñez from the Freedom Road Socialist Organization.

Protesters paid special attention to the power and influence held by Elon Musk, condemning the Trump administration for empowering an unelected billionaire to slash federal spending and lay off thousands of employees.

“Despite the fact that Elon Musk has never been a public official, he was appointed to an office that Trump created which now has more control over our government than any one man should,” said Kingsley Early from Tallahassee SDS.

Robert Lee from Food Not Bombs Tallahassee, a local mutual aid organization, stated, “Mutual aid work like this is small, and is never enough to tackle the enormous social problems that are the inevitable byproduct of a capitalist free market system, but they are absolutely necessary, even essential. Every time your hands do the work – good, kind work – you are making the world a materially better place, even for just one person. That’s not only a kindness to others, it’s a gift to yourself.”

#TallahasseeFL #FL #PeopleStruggles #Trump #Musk

At the start of the Spring 2025 semester, FSU Admin secretly axed LGBTQ+ Housing – which provides much needed accommodations to transgender and queer students living on campus without communicating their decision to any students, or even the Inter-Residence Hall Council (IHRC). This comes amid escalating attacks on the rights and autonomy of queer and trans people by the reactionary Trump administration and the ruling Florida Republican Party.

As soon as the student body found out, Tallahassee SDS and other student organizations, including the IHRC and Pride Student Union, condemned FSU Admin for putting queer students in danger by removing this program which was meant to protect them from being forced into potentially unsafe gender-segregated living arrangements that don’t align with their gender. Or being assigned bigoted roommates and being forced to live in an unsafe environment.

Queer people at FSU have the right to safe housing in which they can feel comfortable living openly as themselves, expressing their gender identity and sexuality without fear. Admin may have backed down today, but the callous disregard for queer students which led them to try to destroy LGBTQ+ Housing has not gone away.

This whole episode has made it very clear that FSU cares more about placating Ron DeSantis and Donald Trump than they do about their own students. FSU Admin didn’t restore LGBTQ+ Housing out of the goodness of their hearts– they did it because the student body stood up and fought back!

The LGBTQ+ housing program was established only in Fall of 2021 after a lengthy grassroots campaign led by activists from Gender Odyssey, SDS, and the Pride Student Union – which was itself established through militant student activism in the 60s and 70s.

All of our rights have been won through mass struggle, and queer students’ right to safe housing is no different! This historic victory – one of the first in a long time for Tallahassee’s progressive students– was only possible because of the people’s vigilance and determination, and it shows what we can achieve when we unite and fight the power!

Make no mistake: Queer students are still under attack from the rich and powerful, and we have to defend ourselves! No matter the repression from forces that seek to strip away our rights, we must never be afraid to stand on the right side and openly struggle for our liberation! We must not cower in fear thinking of what can be lost, but rather push forward thinking of what can be won!

The fight doesn’t end here! We have to carry forward the fighting spirit that defeated FSU Admin today, so that we can defeat Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis tomorrow! We must continue to be vigilant, organized, and united to fight for queer liberation! Because as this victory shows: When we dare to struggle, we dare to win!

#TallahasseeFL #FL #StudentMovement #LGBTQ #SDS #Statement #Housing

Tampa, FL – On Wednesday, February 12, students and community members organized by Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), gathered on 50th and Fowler, a location directly across the street from the Tampa campus of the University of South Florida (USF), to rally against Trump’s agenda.

They demanded that the USF administration protect transgender and queer students, protect immigrant and undocumented students, defend Black history programs, implement more diversity initiatives, and keep Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Connor Jaap of Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society led chants, shouting, “Trans rights are human rights!” People nearby and passing cars honked and cheered as the protestors chanted, “When Black history is under attack, what do we do? Stand up, fight back!”

SDS previously launched a “Defend Diversity” campaign in response to the USF administration’s attacks on DEI, with demands to protect Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality studies, expanding Africana studies, and funding multicultural organizations.

USF administration continues to remain one of the most politically repressive universities in the country, where they punish, brutally attack and arrest students and community members who try to hold the USF administration accountable. Most recently, in response to this repression, Tampa Bay SDS launched its Title VI legal battle, a Civil Rights Act of 1964 discriminatory complaint, filed against USF for its discrimination against pro-Palestine students and groups.

Currently, with Trump’s presidency, the threat of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) places undocumented students at risk of deportation.

“We demand that USF not allow ICE on our campus!” Victoria Hinckley from Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society exclaimed, “Make USF a sanctuary campus for undocumented students!” As of February 14, USF administration refuses to speak out in support of protecting its immigrant and undocumented students on campus.

Despite USF’s continuous attempts to silence the opinions of its student body, Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society continues to lead the struggle against the USF administration to regain its right to free speech and the right to organize with students.

#TampaFL #FL #ImmigrantRights #StudentMovement #Trump #SDS