Tampa, FL – Over 1000 people rallied and marched in the streets of Tampa, August 27, to demand good jobs, affordable education, healthcare, equality and peace. Although the Republicans canceled the first day of their convention due to Tropical Storm Isaac, organizers with the Coalition to March on the RNC went through with their promise to march to the site of the convention to show their opposition to the agenda of the 1%.

The rally began at Perry Harvey Sr. Park at 10:00 a.m. with speakers, followed by a march through the streets of Tampa.

Notable speakers included Carlos Montes, a leading immigrant rights leader; Joe Iosbaker, an anti-war leader; Skye Schmelzer, representative of the National Students for a Democratic Society; and Medea Benjamin, a co-founder of Code Pink.

Organizations present included Students for a Democratic Society, Veterans for Peace, Southern Christian Leadership Conference, five Florida Occupy chapters, six Fight Back Florida chapters, Dream Defenders, United National Antiwar Coalition, the Committee to Stop FBI Repression, International Action Center, Freedom Road Socialist Organization, Code Pink, four Florida AFL-CIO labor councils, and Region 3 of AFSCME Council 79.

Organizer Fernando Figueroa stated, “Today we took a stand with more than 1000 people against the Republicans and their agenda of hatred, poverty and war. Today we stand up for all the good things people need and to strike a blow against those who deprive us that.”

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