Tallahassee, FL – On March 1, around 50 people joined Tallahassee Students of a Democratic Society (SDS) in a rally at Florida State University for a “Hands off Rafah!” national day of action called by National SDS. The event opposed ongoing Israeli attacks on Palestinians in Gaza’s southernmost city of Rafah.

Activists and community members gathered to demand Florida State University cut all economic ties and partnerships with Israel. Organizers discussed the recent attacks on civilians in Rafah by the Israeli occupation forces. These attacks are only exacerbated by FSU’s consistent support of Israeli through University President Richard McCullough’s neglect of Palestinian lives, the presence of several Zionist organizations with birthright programs on campus, and FSU’s partnership with Boeing – a military contractor that manufactures weapons for Israel.

John Ocampo, former president of FSU Students for Justice in Palestine, stated, “Just yesterday, a convoy of food and supplies reached Gaza city. After two months of exclusively eating animal feed, this aid provided Palestinians in Gaza with a moment of hope, and what did Israeli troops do when they saw Palestinians attempting to find food? They fired on a crowd of civilians: killing over 100 people and injuring nearly 1000. This brought the death toll to over 30,000, including 14,000 children.”

Thomas Speirs from the Tallahassee Community Action Committee addressed how this genocide is national oppression and class oppression, stating, “It is yet another example of class warfare. The GDP per capita in Israel is around $55,000. In Palestine it is less than $4000. That’s millions of people made to be impoverished for the sake of empire.”

In his speech, Palestinian activist Ahmad Daraldik reminded attendees of the importance of their activism at this moment, stating, “I hope you understand that every action you take is important. It is remembered, and it is necessary to get us to the point that we all aspire to be in. So please, do what you can, when you can, and how you can because action is the only path forward!”

To close the rally, Joelle Nuñez, president of Tallahassee SDS, pointed out the hypocrisy of the U.S. government, stating, “Isn’t it interesting how the United States labels any group fighting for national and economic liberation a terrorist group? While the genocidal Israeli government and U.S. Army are not terrorist groups?”

She hammered home SDS’s stance on Palestine’s fight for liberation, quoting Frank Chapman of the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, “We ain’t neutral in this! We want Palestine to win!”

The organizations represented include Tallahassee Students for a Democratic Society, Freedom Road Socialist Organization, Tallahassee Food Not Bombs, the Tallahassee Community Action Committee, and the Student/Farmworker Alliance at Florida State University.

#TallahasseeFL #AntiWarMovement #StudentMovement #International #MiddleEast #Palestine #SDS #FSUSDS #FRSO #TCAC

Tallahassee, FL – On February 24, about a dozen community organizers and students mobilized to the Florida Historic Capitol building to rally against SB 576, as well as attacks on the pro-Palestinian movement and attacks on the LGBTQ community.

The mobilization was part of a larger week of action called by National Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) and the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (NAARPR).

SB 576 seeks to limit police oversight by restricting the ability of cities to institute police review boards as a means to provide any form of accountability for local police departments.

Joelle Nunez, president of Florida State University SDS, said, “They’re only trying to pass these bills because they’re scared of the gains we’ve made fighting for police accountability. It’s the same thing with the bills trying to scare students into not supporting Palestine – they’re only trying to pass them to scare people away from fighting back against oppression. We know that’s not going to work.”

SB576 would end the Citizens Police Review Board created in Tallahassee in 2020, and make it impossible for any other Citizens Police Review Boards to exist. This is after City Commissioners Dianne William-Cox, Curtis Richardson and John Daley voted to remove Taylor Keta, a progressive member of the board, and limit the Citizens Police Review Board’s ability to make public press statements, organize in the local community, and have its own social media.

“The Citizens Police Review Board in Tallahassee might be imperfect, but it’s one of the few review boards in Florida that gives people the power to at least discuss their complaints about policing. The deaths of Tony McDade, Wilbon Woodard, Raheem Reeder and Mychael Johnson at the hands of the Tallahassee Police Department in 2020 and 2021 shouldn’t be forgotten. Police brutality won’t end until there is real community oversight of policing,” said Delilah Pierre, president of the Tallahassee Community Action Committee.

Although community members gathered primarily in opposition to SB 576, organizers and speakers also highlighted other backwards bills making their way through the legislature. Florida Republicans and Democrats are attacking activists and students standing in solidarity with Palestinian liberation against the U.S.-funded genocide, as well as limiting the freedom of LGBTQ youth and adults to live as their authentic selves.

“It is so important for us to realize and recognize that our connection here in Tallahassee is so connected to the struggle in Palestine, it’s so connected to so many other liberation movements that are just trying to fight for the most basic rights,” said Regina Joseph, a member of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization.

“We as working-class and oppressed people are the reason why this entire country exists – we are what makes this country run,” said Joseph.

#TallahasseeFL #InJusticeSystem #CommunityControlOfPolice #SDS #NAARPR #FRSO #FSUSDS

Tallahassee, FL – On Wednesday, October 4, 25 students gathered at the steps of the Florida State University (FSU) Student Union to kick off FSU’s Pride Month and demand FSU defend the rights of transgender students. Students chanted “No hatred! No discrimination! What do we need? Trans liberation!” and “Racist, sexist, anti-gay! Ron DeSantis, go away!”

Between FSU’s cuts to diversity programs and Governor DeSantis’ transphobic rhetoric, students had ample reason to stand up and speak out for the LGBTQ community. FSU, despite claiming to be inclusive and diverse, has been silently compliant with DeSantis’ attacks on higher education. For example, FSU immediately turned over the private medical information of students seeking gender-affirming care to the governor in February and has closed several gender-neutral bathrooms across campus.

Speakers at the event talked about the importance of LGBTQ rights, particularly trans rights, and how they overlap with the struggles of oppressed nationalities and the working class. Jason Charles, vice president of the FSU Student Farmworker Alliance and Outreach Coordinator for the FSU SDS, stated in his speech, “Queer liberation doesn’t happen on its own. Every struggle is interconnected.” After his speech, Carles mentioned how “The coalition of Immokalee workers strives to protect the rights of all farmworkers in the state of Florida in the same way that the SDS fights for the rights of all students in the country.”

Delilah Pierre, president of the Tallahassee Community Action Committee, also gave a speech where she said, “We don’t just want a ‘happy Pride Month’, we want substance!” TCAC has been fighting for Tallahassee to become an LGBTQ+ Sanctuary City, which would mandate local police entities have “LGBTQ+ related crimes” as their lowest priority.

The event was hosted by FSU Students for a Democratic Society (FSUSDS). Members of the FSU Graduate Assistants United, Freedom Road Socialist Organization, and VEG FSU also attended the event in support.

Joelle Nuñez, President of FSUSDS, closed out with a powerful call to action, “FSU President McCullough has the power to make trans students feel safe on our campus; our city commissioners have the power to make trans residents of Tallahassee feel safe. The reason the people in power do nothing to help us is simply because they do not want to. But we’re gonna make them listen!”

Follow FSUSDS on Instagram/Twitter for more information and updates: @FSUSDS

#TallahasseeFL #Trans #LGBTQ #FSUSDS #SDS #TCAC

Tallahassee, FL – On Wednesday, September 13, the FSU Students for a Democratic Society held a noise demo on Florida State’s campus. The demonstration began at the Integration Statue and looped around Landis Green, two of the most populated areas of campus. Students and faculty chanted “Stand up and defy! HB 999!” “Increase Black enrollment! FSU, end your silence!” and “Down with DeSantis!”

With this noise demo, the FSU SDS aims to bring attention to one of its three core campaigns for the 2023-2024 school year: “Defend Diversity @ FSU! Increase Black Enrollment!” Governor Ron DeSantis has passed bills to cut funding from diversity services throughout Florida colleges, which serves as a threat to the future of education in the state. Diversity programs were won through hard-fought struggle in the 1960s and 70s and DeSantis and his lackeys seek to reverse them. FSU is a predominantly white institution, so diversity programs, ethnic studies and multicultural groups are essential for African American, multicultural and marginalized students and faculty.

To kick off the noise demo, Joelle Nuẽz, president of FSU SDS, shouted, “FSU has consistently ignored and disrespected queer and trans students, Black students, Hispanic/Latino students, faculty, and more by ignoring the issue of attacks on diversity. We’re not going to let them ignore us anymore!”

The event was co-sponsored by VEGFSU, the Tallahassee Community Action Committee, the FSU Graduate Assistants United, FSU’s Black Men in Medicine (BMM). BMM President Miffordens Registre commented on the alarming attacks on Black history within both the liberal arts and the sciences, stating “We wholeheartedly reject any notion that diverse, respo nsible doctors can be made in an environment that stifles and crosses out any mention of them in the history books and debates their legacies out of classrooms. We will fight to see people like us honored and respected in every facet of education, healthcare, and beyond!”

FSU SDS and other groups, such as FSU’s United Faculty of Florida, the campus faculty union, have attempted to get more information from administration on how HB 999 will affect specific programs of study such as African American Studies and social work, but admin has consistently dodged giving clear answers. As a result, students and faculty are publicly announcing their plans to leave Florida State by the end of this school year. In conversation with Dr. Walter Boot, a psychology professor featured in the Tallahassee Democrat last month, he stated “It is so disappointing that it has come to this. I have been at FSU for 15 years, and at one point imagined I'd spend my entire career here. But I don't recognize this place anymore.”

FSU SDS closed out the event by declaring their plans to mobilize students to the next Board of Trustees meeting, set for November 10.

#TallahasseeFL #SDS #FSUSDS #TallyCAC #DeSantis #BlackEnrollment #DEI