Tampa, FL – Tampa Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) and anti-war activists from the community protested U.S. interference in Ukraine at Senator Marco Rubio's office, April 16. Marco Rubio supports efforts in the U.S. Senate to increase U.S. intervention and spend billions of taxpayer dollars in Ukraine. Students made three demands at Rubio’s office on the University of South Florida campus: No more U.S. intervention in Ukraine or Crimea; Stop U.S. aid to the illegitimate Ukrainian regime; and Oppose U.S. sanctions against Russia.

Students gave fiery speeches denouncing Rubio's support for U.S. intervention. Dani Leppo of Tampa SDS said, “For far too long, the imperialist aggression of the U.S. has caused bloodshed throughout the world. From Colombia to Venezuela, Iraq to Afghanistan, resources and lives are stolen in the name of spreading so-called ‘democracy.’ We must respect the people of Ukraine and Crimea.”

When they finished speaking, the protesters marched into Rubio's office to present their demands. The office was closed off and locked however, so protesters left a letter to Rubio listing their demands.

SDS pointed out that the U.S. spent trillions on wars and foreign interventions while people suffered at home. Tampa SDS member Bridget White noted, “It’s ridiculous that the U.S. is backing real life fascists in the Ukraine. Can’t they be using this money to lower tuition instead?”

SDS vows to continue the struggle against imperialism, fascism and Nazism wherever it appears.

#TampaFL #AntiwarMovement #StudentsForADemocraticSociety #Ukraine #USImperialism #UniversityOfSouthFlorida #SenatorRubio #antifascism

Tampa, FL – 25 people gathered outside of Florida Senator Marco Rubio's office on Sept. 7 to demand legalization for all and equality for undocumented immigrants. The protest included Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society, Occupy Tampa, the Farm-worker Association of Florida and Raíces en Tampa. Held at Rubio's Tampa office located on the University of South Florida's campus, activists marched and united in chants like, “Rubio! Escucha! Estamos en la lucha!”

An immigrant rights caravan using the slogan “Remember November” began their journey on Aug. 4, traveling through the 27 congressional districts in Florida. The Remember November caravan is pushing for Comprehensive Immigration Reform (CIR) to apply to all immigrants.

Blanca Moreno, one of the people in the caravan, is a Mexican immigrant. During the protest Moreno said, “Without farmworkers, no one eats. Without undocumented immigrants having a card that gives us equality, we are not a country that protects its people. We must not allow the Strengthen and Fortify Enforcement Act (SAFE Act) to take over.” Moreno then led the crowd in a chant of, “No SAFE Act in Florida. Si se puede!”

The SAFE Act would make it possible for any U.S. stat to write its own immigration bill and to intensify any harassment or targeting against its undocumented population. The SAFE Act would ensure that even if the Comprehensive Immigration Reform bill passes, any state like Florida could call for an increase in deportations, incarceration of immigrants or further expanding militarization.

Xicano activist Dave Gonzalez with Occupy Tampa said, “A few days ago there were complaints about a foul odor coming from a rural part of Tampa. Upon further investigation it was found that the odor was from pesticides sprayed in agricultural farms. People seemed more concerned about the smell than the well-being of the farmworkers who worked the fields, and no real news reported on that matter. If we left undocumented immigrants out, we cannot advocate for equality as a whole.”

Marisol Márquez with Raíces en Tampa said, “We gathered to let politicians like Senator Marco Rubio know we are not counting on them to bring the necessary change. We cannot sit around and let them decide the fate of 11 million undocumented immigrants. Legalization for all is what we need and we will continue to work towards it, not only in Tampa but in the entire U.S.”

#TampaFL #immigrantRights #undocumentedImmigrants #comprehensiveImmigrationReform #legalizationForAll #SenatorRubio #SAFEAct

Tampa, FL – Protesters gathered in front of Senator Marco Rubio’s Tampa office May 31 to criticize the Comprehensive Immigration Reform bill currently being debated in the U.S. Senate and to demand, “Legalization for all!”

Senator Rubio is one of the ‘Gang of Eight’ senators sponsoring the bill under debate. The bill has some benefits, but it falls short of providing legal status for the 11 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S. It also promises to ramp up militarization of the border by funding the military, ICE and the Secure Communities Program with $18 billion per year. Groups around the country finished this week by doing actions to demand what people need – legalization for all 11 million undocumented people.

The protest opened up with two-dozen people chanting, “What do we want? Legalization! When do we want it? Now!”

Cindy Ibarra of the Mexican American Student Association (MASA), whose parents are undocumented, spoke out against deportations and in favor of full equality, “I want everyone to have the same rights. It's not fair to see my parents struggle my whole life. My mom has been driving without a driver's license for years now. And I worry every time she drives to Tampa because of a stop point and the police. My dad has been deported for several years now, and is no longer in our lives. I want this legalization for my mom and all the other families, because this is what we need. We as a community need to get more people involved, because if we don't who will?”

As the group lined up nearer to Senator Rubio’s doors, Marisol Marquez of Dream Defenders proclaimed, “The main reason we are here is because the Gang of Eight – or should I say gang of rich Democrat and Republican men – have been drafting up what they think is the answer for all 11 million undocumented immigrants. These rich men don't want to end militarization, they don't want to make it free to become legalized, and they don't want LGBTQ families included. We are here because we want full and equal legalization for all 11 million today!”

After another round of chants, the protesters approached the locked doors of Senator Rubio’s office to leave a giant letter which read:

“To Marco Rubio,

While we understand that you and the other senators have proposed a bill that would partly help some of the 11 million undocumented, the bill stops very short of helping all 11 million. Many parts of the bill are, in fact, harmful and cannot be supported. The first being that in order to become a permanent legal resident you must wait at least 10 years. This leaves millions of people without rights for over a decade. People need equal rights, NOW! Secondly, it expands 2nd class worker programs which locks the undocumented into jobs where they will be exploited and taken advantage of, without many of the rights that others have. It would set up the E-Verify system that creates a national database for the undocumented at the workplace that keeps track of their every move. It also has no protections or inclusions of LGBT families, discriminating against a huge portion of the undocumented. Lastly, it funds the militarization of the border, ICE and the Secure Communities Program. The people don't need to be terrorized by the police or the military. They don't need more arrests, and they don't need deportations. You and Congress can do better. The undocumented need genuine immigration reform, they need full legalization for all 11 million. NOW!”

After everyone signed the letter, the protesters left vowing to continue to place demands on Senator Rubio and the other Gang of Eight until all 11 million undocumented get full legal rights and equality.

The protest at Rubio’s office was part of a series of events this week in Tampa and around the country. Members of Tampa Bay Dream Defenders, Students for a Democratic Society, Get Equal, MoveOn.org, the Mexican American Student Association and local churches joined together.

There is a petition demanding driver’s licenses for undocumented immigrants. Sign here: https://www.change.org/petitions/support-licenses-for-all-undocumented-immigrants-in-the-state-of-florida

#TampaFL #AntiwarMovement #LGBTQ #PeoplesStruggles #immigrantRights #DreamDefenders #legalizationForAll #GangOfEight #SenatorRubio