Tampa, FL – Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) organized a speak-out against the Minneapolis police murder of Jamar Clark, an African American man shot in the head while lying face down on the ground. The students also spoke in solidarity with the five African American protesters in Minneapolis shot by white supremacists.

University of South Florida (USF) student Taina Pantoja of Tampa Bay SDS spoke in solidarity, “They are not alone in the fight against white supremacy. We must keep demanding justice for lost Black lives and continue the fight against white terrorism!”

Another USF student, Rahma Elmohd with Students for Justice in Palestine, explained international connections, “We recognize that the terror tactics used against Palestinians have been used to trained U.S. police on privately-funded trips to Israel, so police can further militarize their oppression of the Black community in America.”

Danya Zituni of the Committee to Stop FBI Repression-Tampa continued on the themes of political repression and national oppression, “Agencies of the state like the FBI and police work hand in hand to target revolutionaries, such as Rasmea Odeh. Rasmea Odeh spoke at the Aug. 29 march in Chicago for community control of the police. Odeh compared the Black liberation movement with the Palestinian liberation movement.”

Students across the country are alarmed by the recent threats to African American students, both before and after their organizing victory at the University of Missouri. Dozens of campuses held solidarity rallies after the victory, when the threats turned violent in tone. This past week SDS organized opposition to calls from white supremacists to create ‘white student unions’ after the Missouri student victory.

In response to the far right intimidation attempts and shooting of Black Lives Matter protesters in Minneapolis, the University of Minnesota SDS moved quickly to help initiate a campus walk-out. Over 400 students showed up and marched together with African American and other student leaders. The unified student response to the national oppression of African Americans has student leaders looking for more fundamental answers.

“The only thing that can stand up to our national oppression is Black power!” said Jerry Evans of Tampa Bay SDS.

Jessica Schwartz of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization raised people’s spirits with calls for African American liberation and led chants, “One solution: revolution!”

There is a rising tide of African American students making demands against inequality on campus and organizing against police crimes and terror in the community. SDS and other student groups are spreading support from campus to campus and standing up against threats and intimidation with solidarity both on campus and in the streets.

Solidarity actions with the Minneapolis protests have taken place in Philadelphia, New York City, Houston and other cities.

#TampaFL #PoliceBrutality #PeoplesStruggles #Antiracism #JamarClark