Tampa 5 defiant: “We’re on the right side, the one that will win!”
Tampa, FL– On July 12, a crowd of 50 people gathered at the Hillsborough County Courthouse. They were there to demand that DeSantis-appointed Florida State’s Attorney Susan Lopez and Florida State Prosecutor Justin Diaz drop the charges against the Tampa 5 – Chrisley Carpio, Laura Rodriguez, Gia Davila, Lauren Pineiro and Jeanie Kida.
The Tampa 5 face felony charges with the possibility of ten years prison time for protesting against Governor Ron DeSantis’ racist and bigoted agenda. Each defendant is charged for alleged “battery on a police officer,” carrying five years of jail time. More felony charges were added on by prosecutor Justin Diaz after the Tampa 5 rejected a plea deal.
“DeSantis wants people afraid, unable to stand up for themselves, isolated, and hopeless that things could ever change. He doesn't want us to use our First Amendment right to protest these things,” says Joe Nohava, a member of the Tampa Bay Community Action Committee.
Nohava continued, “We must not let this outrageous case of political repression be Ron DeSantis’ test case for even more repression and brutality. When people take to the streets, killer cops can be put behind bars, not protesters fighting against a racist, anti-LGBTQ, pro-life legislature.”
Last month, a major conference was held in Tampa to rally forces around the campaign to demand the charges be dropped. At the Justice for the Tampa 5 Conference, serious connections to other movements, such as the movements to protect civil liberties and the labor movement, were made and the Emergency Committee to Defend the Tampa 5 was formed.
One of the defendants, Chrisley Carpio, said at the rally, “This is a major step forward in our fight to drop these charges. Protests are going on across the country to raise consciousness around our case and connect it to larger right-wing attacks. Susan Lopez and Justin Diaz are on the wrong side of history. We’re on the right side, the one that will win!”
This rally for the defendants’ pretrial hearing was organized by the Emergency Committee to Defend the Tampa Five. Groups such as the West Central Florida Central Labor Council, Coalition of Civil Freedoms, and Tampa Democratic Socialists of America also attended to speak out against this injustice.
With the next court hearing on August 9, the Emergency Committee to Defend the Tampa 5 are hoping that anyone and everyone concerned can continue to mobilize and apply pressure. Additionally, the Tampa 5 have begun a national speaking tour and have already given presentations on the case in Seattle and Miami.