Florida students confront white supremacists
Tallahassee, FL – Student activists gathered at the state capitol on April 18 to confront white supremacists. The Tallahassee chapter of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) called the protest. On April 9, SDS led 100 students in burning a Confederate flag in front of the Old Capitol to protest Klu Klux Klan fliers being distributed in a Tallahassee neighborhood and news that three prison guards, all KKK members, were planning to murder an African American prisoner.
“White supremacy is not some ideology that is just held by a few guys in their basement,” said Shivaani Ehsaan of SDS, “but is part and parcel ingrained in how the U.S. operates both abroad and at home. The KKK is more influential then we think, it has members in police departments and even in government.”
A small group of white nationalists with League of the South stood near the steps of the capitol holding signs that read, “Reds out of Florida.” The white supremacists also held various colorful looking flags while attempting to taunt the anti-fascist activists.
SDS responded with chants, “Fascists out of Florida!” and “Davis rose, Davis fell. Racist scum, rot in hell!” Anti-racist student protesters carried signs reading, “Klan out of Tally” and “ROF = ROFL”.
“It doesn't stop here. We must continue to organize against racism in Tallahassee whenever it arises. The youth are rising up and we will not be silent in the face of white supremacist capitalism,” said Regina Joseph with Black Liberation Action Coordinating Committee (BLACC).
Members of SDS, BLACC, the Freedom Road Socialist Organization and Trans Liberation Front gave speeches condemning the League Of The South and white supremacist activity throughout Florida.
Katherine Draken, of SDS, said, “Sometimes the white hood is a blue uniform, or sometimes it’s a suit and the person wearing it is sitting in the capitol running our government. White supremacy is everywhere because it’s a system. Sometimes it’ll be staring you right in the face but it’s not always going to be so obvious. We need to peel back the surface of society to see the filth that lies underneath it. We need to fight against racism and exploitation wherever they arise.”