Tampa, FL – On Friday afternoon, January 9, the Tampa Immigrants’ Rights Committee held a second emergency rally in front of Tampa City Hall in as many days to protest yet another ICE shooting, this time in Portland, Oregon. About 30 people attended the event.

Two Venezuelan immigrants, Luis David Nino-Moncada and Yorlenys Betzabeth Zambrano-Contreras, were shot and injured when a Customs and Border Patrol agent fired into the car during a traffic stop. The activists demanded justice for those murdered by ICE and federal agents, as well as getting ICE out of their community.

As part of the demand for ICE to get out of their communities, those gathered demanded that the Tampa city government cancel the 287(g) agreement with ICE that allows Tampa Police Department officers to act as immigration police.

Customs and Border Patrol claimed the agent was acting in “self-defense,” much as they claimed they were acting in self-defense when ICE agent Johnathan Ross murdered observer Renee Good in Minneapolis. That was shown to be a lie by the multiple videos of the event. Federal agents have a long history of making bogus claims of “self-defense,” such as in the case of Marimar Martinez, a Chicago woman, who was shot five times by a CBP agent who claimed self-defense, but the prosecutors had to drop the charges against her because they were lies.

The rally featured speakers from Tampa Immigrants Rights Committee, Freedom Road Socialist Organization, and Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society. Speakers were united in the demand to arrest and charge killer ICE agent Jonathan Ross and to get ICE off our streets.

Victoria Hinkley, with Tampa Bay SDS, stated: “We must continue to organize, no matter what violence agents show towards us. These racist feds in our communities won’t back down unless we make them and show them that ICE is not welcome in our streets.”

Gia Davila, of FRSO, explained, “These tragic losses of life are just the tip of the iceberg of what ICE has been doing for decades, and what they will continue to do if we do not stand up to demand ICE out of our cities. ICE continues to harass Chicanos and immigrants every day, murdering, racially profiling, harassing, and kidnapping and deporting our brothers and sisters. The capitalists blame and criticize people when it’s their system that’s unlivable.”

The attendees vowed to continue to make Tampa Mayor Jane Castor’s life uncomfortable and expose her collaboration with ICE until she cancels the 287(g) agreement with ICE and gets these murderous thugs out of our communities, and to build toward an anti-Trump rally on January 20 to mark one year of his administration.

#TampaFL #ImmigrantRights #ReneeGood #TampaBaySDS #TampaIRC #FRSO

Tampa, FL – On Thursday, January 9, over 100 Tampa community members rallied in solidarity and protest against the murder of Renee Nicole Good by ICE agent Jonathan Ross in Minneapolis. The event was held at Tampa City Hall.

The event was organized by Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society and the Tampa Immigrants’ Rights Committee. The protest called for ICE out of everywhere, stop the deportations, justice for all murdered by ICE, and justice for Renee Good. The crowd chanted “ICE off our streets,” “Say her name! Renee Nicole Good!” and “No troops on the ground, no ICE in our streets, end 287(g)!” Several drivers passing by the event honked and cheered in support.

Speakers highlighted the false narrative put out by the Trump administration on the ICE shooting of Renee Good. Vicky Tong from Tampa Bay SDS said that the people see the administration's lies “for what it is: yet another instance of ICE thugs abusing their power and authority to create violence and fear within our community.”

Harrison Lundy from Voices of Florida said, “Every single ICE agent that has had a hand in state-sponsored violence needs to be held accountable.” Laura Rodriguez from the Tampa Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression also spoke on the need for accountability saying, “We will not stop until Jonathan Ross is not only arrested but also convicted.”

Yunqing Zheng, a member of the TampaIRC, connected the murder of Renee Good to the violence from ICE in Tampa, “We’re here to say that we’re not going to wait for another Renee Good or Kieth Porter. What we are going to do is demand that our local officials do their damn jobs. We demand that the local officials of Tampa take an active stance in protecting their immigrant communities.”

Zheng continued, “We’re here to demand that Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, Tampa city council, and Tampa Police Chief Bercaw end Tampa’s 287(g) agreement.”

#TampaFL #ImmigrantRights #ReneeGood #TampaBaySDS #VoicesofFlorida #TampaIRC

Tampa, FL - On Saturday, July 27, the pro-Palestinian community of Tampa held a rally on 56th and Fowler. Around 50 members of the community were present, including the organizations Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), Tampa Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (TAARPR) and Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO).

The Palestinian community of Tampa has been vocal in their demands for the University of South Florida to disclose their investments and pull any funding that supports Israel in their ongoing attacks on Gaza.

The demands for USF to drop their suspension and expulsions against students Victoria Hinckley and Joseph Charry was also voiced at this protest as the university continues to issue conduct charges hold hearings months after the Gaza encampments.

In addition to conduct charges, USF recently proposed new, more restrictive policies surrounding protest and free speech on campus.

Victoria Hinckley, a member of SDS who was expelled after the encampment said that USF is , “banning statements being read by people who have been banned from campus, banning the use of fliers on campus, and limiting just about every function of student organizations.”

The rally included a march around the block near USF campus, halting traffic and chanting for divestment, a free Palestine, and directing calling out USF faculty members, “Dean McDonald shame on you, student voices matter too!”

McDonald is dean of students at USF and was a major witness to multiple student conduct charges as she was present on all three days of the solidarity encampments.

Simon Rowe, a member of FRSO, also called out faculty members Melissa Graham, dean of student conduct, and President Rhea Law. Rose asked the protesters, “Are you on the side of Melissa Graham, who prosecuted students for the crime of putting up pro-Palestine fliers on campus because one Zionist complained, or Rhea Law, who calls protests violent to justify police brutality and tear gassing?”

The crowd would shout back “No” in response, a sentiment that carried on through the event as people marched with the demands of divestment, conduct charges being dropped, and support for the Palestinian people.

#TampaFL #TampaBaySDS #SDS #StudentIntifada #USF #FRSO #TAARPR

Tampa, FL – On May 1, students at the University of South Florida began the third day of their Gaza solidarity encampment at the MLK Plaza. Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society started the encampment Monday after their Nakba anniversary protest. They demanded USF disclose and divest its investments in Israel, support Palestinian students and stop attacks on student movements.

On day three of the encampment, the Tampa Bay community rallied to support the student protesters and fight the anti-Palestine USF administration. The community gathered just outside of the university on the corner of 56th Street and Fowler Avenue.

The protest started with a press conference where it was announced that two Tampa Bay SDS members – Victoria Hinckley and Joseph Charry – are suspended and facing code of conduct charges for participating in the protest. Charry is an international student and now at risk of losing his visa.

“The protest showed that the community supports the students and the student movement,” said Charry. “Even though I was suspended by the university, I came off-campus to continue to rally for Palestine and to continue to call for divestment!”

Protesters marched onto campus after 5 p.m., the time students were told they could no longer protest on campus. The group chanted and marched back to the MLK plaza, the exact place that protesters were attacked and tear gassed the day before. The group, comprised of community members and students, rallied in the plaza in defiance of the university’s repression of the student encampments. On campus, Muslim protesters completed maghrib prayer. Then they marched back to 56th and Fowler.

The Tampa community will rally at USF again on Friday at 1 p.m.. Tampa Bay SDS will fight the suspensions of two of their students.

#TampaFL #SDS #FreePalestine #TampaBaySDS

Tampa, FL – On Wednesday, April 30, University of South Florida students and community members embarked on their second day of setting up a solidarity encampment for Gaza at the Martin Luther King Plaza. Their demands are to disclose the university's investments in companies that fund and prop up Israel, divest from them, publicly condemn the genocide happening in Gaza and express support for Palestinian students, and stop all attacks on pro-Palestine student protesters.

Protesters held a rally at 2 p.m. to call for charges to be dropped on the three people arrested on Tuesday, day one of the encampment, which also served as a Nakba Remembrance Day event.

On day one, students had set up two tents before police attacked the protesters and forced students to retreat. At 4:30 p.m., the USF Police Department announced a 5 p.m. curfew in a move which a Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society statement called “arbitrary.” Police were already at the scene and surrounding the protesters. They then brutalized demonstrators, including pressing them face-down to the ground with a knee on their necks and on their backs.

Later that night, USF sent an email to members of Tampa Bay SDS that they would be considered trespassing if they carried forward with the protest. Despite these threats, students persevered and moved forward with the event.

On day 2, students began an encampment at MLK Plaza once again, starting in the morning. The crowd swelled at 2 p.m. for a rally to call for the charges on Simon Rowe and the others arrested to be dropped.

Students then linked arms and formed a human barricade around a cluster of students who began to build tents in solidarity with the people of Gaza. Within 30 minutes, the human chain grew from 30 students to over 80, fiercely chanting and shielding the tents from police.

Over 100 riot police poured in within a few hours, carrying shields and wearing gas masks. They were joined by over 50 cops from other agencies. Campus police, state troopers, federal agents, sheriff's office police, and more were all present.

Community members gathered around the student human chain and brought them umbrellas and homemade wooden shields in anticipation of rubber bullets and tear gas.

At 5 p.m., the university and police gave a final dispersal warning. Student organizers let the crowd know that they could leave if they wanted to, and if they wanted to stay, they had to be prepared for arrests. Despite knowing that the police would attack, students stayed in the human chain to defend six tents, while the other protesters stayed gathered around them in a show of support.

At 5 p.m., the riot cops attacked the protesters, shot rubber bullets into the crowd, sprayed the crowd with tear gas and set off flares. They ran over people with their bicycles. They ripped the yarmulke off a Jewish protester's head. Administrators' voices rang overhead as they announced that they would use “chemical munitions” and that the police would use “force that could result in injury” as tear gas covered the lawn.

The tear gas canisters fired off by police then set the MLK Plaza on fire.

Ten people in total were arrested, including a photographer journalist. One protester needed to be hospitalized.

According to SDS member Joseph Charry, “Police used illegal tactics like choking people, attacking people with disabilities, arresting people who were already dispersing, and they even set off fires, endangering students.”

Despite the police terror, students and members of the community were not deterred. Statements of support and money to help with bail flooded in. People stayed late into the night at Orient Road Jail to demand the release of all protesters.

Organizers called for protests and a continued effort to build a solidarity encampment for the very next day.

By the next afternoon, all ten protesters were released.

Saba Indawala of Tampa Bay SDS said, “The student intifada and the people out there who support Palestine demand the university quit being complicit in the genocide and divest from Israel. SDS demands that USF divest now and disclose all information about investiture to the student body. We’re demanding that USF release a statement in support of Palestinian and Arab students, and lastly, stop all attacks on the student movement, especially the one for Palestine. Students and the community have been so brave against the university and administration. We need to continue to be resilient and to fight for our demands.”

#TampaFL #TampaBaySDS #SDS #USF #FreePalestine

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement from Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society (SDS).

On Monday, April 29, Tampa Bay SDS held an event at the University of South Florida (USF) to remember the Nakba which was met with admin and campus police trying to shut down the protest in an attempt to limit our free speech. At the conclusion of this protest, Tampa Bay SDS announced our immediate plan to set up a Gaza solidarity encampment at USF. Upon setting up our initial tents and tarps USF admin sent in USFPD to brutalize students and arrest protestors. We absolutely condemn the three arrests made by USFPD. Those arrested were Simon Rowe, who is a USF alumni and community member, one fellow student, and one USF staff member.

We condemn the actions of USF admin and Dean McDonald in their efforts to suppress our right to free speech and our right to protest. We received repeated threats of trespass and arrests for our Nakba Remembrance protest as well as continued threats from admin as we asserted our right to protest. Admin trying to silence our protests and encampments only show that they are scared of student power and continue to support the genocide of Palestinians. Shame on Dean McDonald and all of USF admin for this blatant attack on free speech and shame on them for calling in cops to brutalize students!

We condemn USFPD for exerting brutal force against student protestors and arresting 3 of them. Using brutal force against students including kneeling on a student’s neck is nothing short of deadly. This is part of a recurring pattern as we’ve seen the same USFPD officers that incited deadly violence on students on March 6 of 2024 to what we were put through today with the same deadly force in response to a student protest. Shame on USFPD for using deadly force on students!

We call on all students and faculty to show out for the encampment Tuesday April 30, at 10 am at MLK Plaza.

All faculty out to protect students!

Disclose! Divest! We will not stop we will not rest!

#TampaFL #FL #StudentMovement #SDS #AntiWarMovement #International #MiddleEast #Palestine #USF #Statement #TampaBaySDS #Occupy4Gaza

Tampa, FL – On Tuesday, February 27, a group of around 15 students joined together in front of the Marshall Student Center at the University of South Florida to demand that the university defend diversity.

The event was organized by Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society as part of their campaign titled “Defend Diversity.” The student protesters demanded USF take action to protect Women’s and Gender Studies, expand Africana Studies, and fund multicultural organizations. Students chanted “DEI is welcome here” and “Ron DeSantis go away.”

The rally was a cry for USF to take action to protect DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) programs from being restricted. This student group blames higher administration officials for the lack of protections for diversity. Tampa Bay SDS member Allie Enriquez states, “USF presidents like Rhea Law continue to ignore the demands of students and follow DeSantis’ agenda.”

In Florida, this backward legislation has mainly been pushed through by Governor Ron DeSantis. The most dire and far reaching of these bills is HB 999/SB 266 which prohibits funding to any DEI-related office or program, including student groups.

Tampa Bay SDS continues to fight for diversity on their campus by building up their campaign to Defend Diversity and having direct actions against their administration’s complacency on this issue.

#TampaFL #StudentMovement #DEI #DeSantis #SDS #TampaBaySDS

Tampa, FL – On Monday, February 19, around 15 students gathered in front of the University of South Florida Library to participate in an emergency protest in response to the recent Israeli ground assault in Rafah.

This action, organized by Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society, consisted of a march from the university’s library to the Marshall Student Center. Protesters demanded an end to U.S. aid to Israel, stop attacks on Rafah, and that the University of South Florida divest from genocide. Other student and community organizations were present, including members from the United Faculty of Florida. During the march, students chanted “Rhea Law, shame on you, Palestinians matter too!” to target the University of South Florida’s president, Rhea Law, who has only come out in support of Israeli students.

In a speech given about the University of South Florida’s involvement in funding genocide in Palestine, Tampa Bay SDS member Carlyn Turnage stated “USF seems intent on bringing a whole new generation into the killing industry.” Turnage then explained how the university is involved in this genocide, ending the speech by demanding that the University of South Florida end its complicity in mass murder of Palestinians and divest from genocide.

About half the population of Gaza, 1.4 million, has been displaced into its southernmost city, Rafah. After declaring the city as a safe space for refugees, on February 11, Israel bombed it, continuing the ongoing genocide of Palestinians.

Despite this, the Palestinian resistance continues to fight against the Israeli apartheid government. SDS has always and will continue to support the resistance and stand by them.

#TampaFL #AntiWarMovement #StudentMovement #International #MiddleEast #Palestine #SDS #TampaBaySDS

Tampa, FL – At least 40 people gathered November 21 on a busy intersection off Hillsborough Avenue in East Tampa Florida to demand justice for the victims of right-wing vigilante Kyle Rittenhouse. Only days before, in a sham trial, Rittenhouse was found not guilty on all charges stemming from his rampage in Kenosha in August of 2020. The crowd chanted “How do you spell racist? K-Y-L-E” and “No justice, no peace, vigilantes get off our streets.”

Uniting around the demand to throw Rittenhouse in jail, the event was organized by the Tampa Bay Community Action Committee and Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society. The Tampa Bay chapter of the Party for Socialism and Liberation and the Central Florida district of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization also attended and spoke.

Speaker Caleb Ochsner of SDS said, “Many students are engaged in left-wing activism of all sorts. It's important for students to mobilize because the BLM movement is under attack and it's the biggest movement in recent memory. This is an issue of interest to people fighting for a whole range of issues because it gives the right the thumbs up on harassing and attacking us.”

The demonstration joined with a national call to action on the part of the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression.

#TampaFL #InJusticeSystem #PeoplesStruggles #TampaBaySDS #TampaBayCommunityActionCommitteeTBCAC #KyleRittenhouse

Tampa, FL – At least 40 people gathered November 21 on a busy intersection off Hillsborough Avenue in East Tampa Florida to demand justice for the victims of right-wing vigilante Kyle Rittenhouse. Only days before, in a sham trial, Rittenhouse was found not guilty on all charges stemming from his rampage in Kenosha in August of 2020. The crowd chanted “How do you spell racist? K-Y-L-E” and “No justice, no peace, vigilantes get off our streets.”

Uniting around the demand to throw Rittenhouse in jail, the event was organized by the Tampa Bay Community Action Committee and Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society. The Tampa Bay chapter of the Party for Socialism and Liberation and the Central Florida district of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization also attended and spoke.

Speaker Caleb Ochsner of SDS said, “Many students are engaged in left-wing activism of all sorts. It's important for students to mobilize because the BLM movement is under attack and it's the biggest movement in recent memory. This is an issue of interest to people fighting for a whole range of issues because it gives the right the thumbs up on harassing and attacking us.”

The demonstration joined with a national call to action on the part of the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression.

#TampaFL #InJusticeSystem #PeoplesStruggles #TampaBaySDS #TampaBayCommunityActionCommitteeTBCAC #KyleRittenhouse

Tampa, FL – On September 29, Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic (SDS) held a protest calling for the University of South Florida (USF) to defund its campus police force. The students pointed to the police force’s budget of about $7 million, which is higher than many colleges on campus. Last year, citing budget concerns, USF attempted to close the College of Education, which has a budget of about $6 million, until student protests and public outrage forced them to keep it open.

A speech called attention to the USF police department’s participation in the 1033 Program, which allows police departments to buy surplus military gear, and pointed to evidence that military equipment in the hands of the police increases police brutality.

Another speech exposed the USF police department’s history of racism, discussing an ongoing racial and sexual discrimination lawsuit against current Police Chief Chris Daniel and a former police officer who had “KKK member” on her Twitter profile for five years before she was fired due to public outrage.

Tampa Bay SDS member Will Santeiro said “USF does everything in their power to hide their extensive history with racism.”

Tampa Bay SDS will continue to hold protests calling for the defunding of the university police as part of their current Defund and Divest campaign.

#TampaFL #InJusticeSystem #PeoplesStruggles #PoliceBrutality #TampaBaySDS

Tampa, FL – On May 7, 80 students and community members gathered at the entrance of the University of South Florida (USF) Forest Preserve to demand that USF protect the preserve instead of selling it for development. The protest was hosted by Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) and Save USF Forest Preserve.

On April 1, USF put out a Request for Information to receive business inquiries for developments on the Preserve, the USF Golf Course, and the Riverfront Park. Speakers at the event addressed the importance of the Preserve due to its environmental impact, but also because of its educational purposes.

The Preserve is also a home to several indigenous cultural sites. Members of the American Indian Movement (AIM) and Florida Indigenous Rights and Environmental Equality (FIREE) spoke about the importance of preserving the land.

SDS spoke about their campaign to defund the university police. Last fall, USF announced $36.7 million in budget cuts that would mainly affect education and student services. The campus police department’s current budget is over $7 million.

Ben Braver, member of Tampa Bay SDS, stated, “USFPD is an inefficient, incompetent, discriminatory office that needs to be defunded. All they do is arrest protesters. Shield far-right extremists like Kaitlin Bennet, who come to this school seeking to provoke outrage, from the very students they should be protecting.”

Despite the school year being over, SDS plans to continue their campaign to defund the campus police into the summer. They also plan to continue to fight back against USF administration's attempts at cutting down and developing the Forest Preserve.

#TampaFL #PeoplesStruggles #EnvironmentalJustice #UniversityOfSouthFlorida #TampaBaySDS

Tampa, FL – On February 9 students and community organizations gathered on the University of South Florida (USF) campus to protest recent acts by the university and the government to limit the free speech of progressive voices. Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) attended to demand that the university lift their suspension and drop their charges. USF placed a suspension on Tampa Bay SDS for protesting against the university’s budget cuts.

“Administration has been constantly getting in the way of protest and then suspended SDS until the fall semester on hypocritical charges,” says Laura Rodriguez, a member of Tampa Bay SDS, “I think it is so incredibly irresponsible for USF administration to try and disband an organization that has had such a vital role in the Tampa Bay area.”

Of the many speeches prepared for the event only one was given before USF administration told the police to arrest the protesters for trespassing. Five people, most of whom are students, were detained and held in police vehicles for over half an hour. Many of the police officers were not wearing masks when in the cars with the detained protesters.

“This was about intimidation and suppression,” Simon Rowe, a member of Tampa Bay SDS who was arrested, says of the actions. “The police walked me past the same place on campus where they escorted Kaitlyn Bennett's security away from her event in October. Bennett's team was given water, I and four other people were put in handcuffs.” Rowe was referencing last semester in which notorious right-wing internet personality Kaitlin Bennett filmed a video on campus at USF. Despite drawing a large crowd, she was allowed to leave of her own accord.

“USF and the police demonstrated another act against the voices of students,” stated Laith Hader of the USF chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP). “I was there to give a speech about USF's record of suppressing voices of pro-Palestine activists. Many of those who speak out against the Israeli system of apartheid and genocide are being doxed, fired from their jobs, investigated or interrogated by the state, and are falsely framed as anti-Semitic, all while neo-Nazis and white supremacists are given their ‘free speech’ without any repercussions from the state or its institutions.”

Members from Tampa Bay Community Action Committee (TBCAC), Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL), and Tampa People’s Protest were also in attendance to stand in solidarity with progressive students and raise awareness about HB1/SB484, a bill proposed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to severely limit the right to protest in the state. Members of TBCAC and PSL were among those arrested.

Many of the groups in attendance will join a statewide mobilization to Tallahassee, Florida’s state capital, on March 2 to protest against the bill.

Tampa Bay SDS stated they would continue fighting the charges against the protesters, the charges and suspension against their organization, and will continue fighting USF’s budget cuts.

“SDS has always brought issues to the table which USF admin have tried to keep hidden under the rug,” said Rodriguez.

#TampaFL #PeoplesStruggles #PoliticalRepression #TampaBaySDS #TampaBayCommunityActionCommitteeTBCAC

Tampa Bay SDS wins major victory in their Increase Black Enrollment campaign

By Eithne Silva

Tampa, Fl – On August 4, the president of the University of South Florida (USF) released a statement to the public announcing changes being made to improve Black student life. Some of these changes include demands that Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) brought to USF administration through their Increase Black Enrollment campaign.

In the fall of 2019, after a string of white supremacist activity on campus as well as the lowest proportion of black students at USF in a decade, Tampa Bay SDS launched their Increase Black Enrollment campaign to put pressure on USF administration to make the university more accessible to Black students.

While the campaign was initially met with hostility from USF administration – with claims that USF did not have the funds to start recruitment programs and that it is not the university’s responsibility to deal with racism on campus – they have recently changed their tune.

After a year-long campaign, as well as increasing pressure from Tampa Bay SDS and other organizations such as the Black Student Union and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, USF administration allocated funds for programs aimed at increasing Black enrollment. The president of USF announced that they are starting an expansive recruitment program and a guaranteed admission program for local, majority-Black high schools in addition to creating more scholarships for Black students – all demands from the Tampa Bay SDS campaign.

“We hope that these changes will make the university more accessible to Black students and will increase the number of Black students at USF. Since the fall semester has not started yet, and there is still a lack of Black faculty and counselors, we will continue to hold the university accountable to eliminate racism on campus,” said a member of Tampa Bay SDS.

#TampaFL #StudentMovement #Antiracism #TampaBaySDS #IncreaseBlackEnrollment #UniversityOfNorthFloridaUSF #USFAdministration

Tampa, FL – On July 2, students gathered at the gates of the on-campus residence for the president of the University of South Florida (USF) to demand that the university take measures to increase Black enrollment. Over the past 10 years, the percentage of Black students at the university has been on a steady decline, from a high of 12% a decade ago to the most recent report of 10%. But even the highest percentage is much lower than the demographics of the Tampa Bay area, in which Black people comprise nearly a quarter of the population.

Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) led the crowd in chants calling for an increase in Black enrollment, as well as Black faculty and counselors. Tampa Bay SDS also drew attention to the fact that they have been met with pushback from administrators in the past when voicing these demands, with representatives of the university implying that an increase in Black enrollment would negatively affect the school’s graduation rates.

Tampa Bay SDS was joined by members of the Black Student Union and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) who also voiced their frustrations with the lack of equity in the demographics of the university. Jason Berry of the NAACP emphasized, “Often, when we as Black students request something, the request isn’t met or is replaced with general ‘diversity’ rather than resources specifically for Black students.”

Tampa Bay SDS will continue to fight for an increase in Black enrollment at USF until the demand is met.

#TampaFL #OppressedNationalities #PeoplesStruggles #AfricanAmerican #Antiracism #TampaBaySDS #UniversityOfSouthFloridaUSF #IncreaseBlackEnrollment

Tampa, FL – On June 20, Tampa Bay community members gathered at the Joe Chillura Courthouse Square to honor the life of Oluwatoyin “Toyin” Salau, who was sexually assaulted, abducted and murdered. Salau was a known Black Lives Matter activist in Tallahassee, Florida. Her death follows a recent wave of violence against, and murder of, Black people in the United States committed by the police, white vigilantes and others.

The vigil began at 7 p.m. and was co-hosted by the Tampa Bay Community Action Committee (TBCAC), Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), and the Intersections of Tampa Advocates (ITA).

These organizations followed the lead of the Tallahassee Community Action Committee (TCAC) and demanded that the, “Tallahassee police department release all details regarding the disappearance and murder of Oluwatoyin Salau.” TCAC member Regina Joseph added, “The Tallahassee Police Department spent more time posting about a missing dog on Instagram than spreading awareness of Toyin’s disappearance.”

The event included speeches, songs and poems given by community members, and chants such as, “Say it once, say it again, no excuse for violent men,” and “Old Jim Crow, new Jim Crow, white supremacy has got to go!”

“Toyin’s death means moving forward in life and never backing down, keeping my head held high like Toyin did,” said community member Nebula Jackson.

“The police failed Toyin by turning a blind eye during her greatest time of need. The word ‘failing’ even seems inappropriate, she was ‘forsaken’ by this injustice,” said ITA member Kay Klark

“The death of Oluwatoyin Salau highlights the reasons we continue the struggle for a Civilian Police Accountability Council. We see cops exhausting their resources to find and punish protesters but refusing to put forth the same effort in assisting the community. Tallahassee PD failed Toyin and continues to fail oppressed people. The only way we can ensure the safety of our community is through community control now,” said TBCAC member, David Jones.

#TampaFL #StudentMovement #OppressedNationalities #WomensMovement #PeoplesStruggles #AfricanAmerican #RacismInTheCriminalJusticeSystem #Antiracism #TampaBaySDS #TampaBayCommunityActionCommittee #OluwatoyinToyinSalau

Tampa, FL – On Monday, June 8, Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) and Tampa Bay Community Action Committee (TBCAC) led a crowd of around 500 on a march through the historic neighborhood of Ybor City to demand community control of the police in the Tampa Bay Area. The march ended at the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) building, where protesters demanded charges be dropped for the hundreds of protesters arrested by HCSO over recent weeks.

Elizabeth Kramer, an organizer with TBCAC, stated, “The vast majority of arrested protesters have been completely peaceful, and the manner in which HCSO and TPD have cracked down on these protests show that they are not interested in allowing peaceful protests. So, we have to demand that the charges for the many arrested protesters be dropped!”

This event comes during the huge movement around the country to demand justice for African American victims of police violence like George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. Various cities around the country have also demanded entirely new police accountability structures, such as Civilian Police Accountability Councils – a central demand of the protest. While most cities have police review boards, they are not democratically-elected and do not have disciplinary nor funding negotiating powers.

“Derek Chauvin, the police officer who murdered George Floyd, had 18 official complaints on his record,” said Eithne Silva of Tampa Bay SDS. “The fact that he did not receive any real consequences for previous instances of violence against the community shows that the police department is incapable of policing itself. This is why we need community control of the police.”

The hundreds-strong march is an indication of the continuing fight for police accountability and people’s need for justice for police crimes in Tampa Bay and across the country.

#TampaBayFL #PeoplesStruggles #PoliceBrutality #TampaBaySDS #CommunityControlOfThePolice #TampaBayCommunityActionCommittee

Tampa, FL – Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society hosted a protest May 30 to demand justice for George Floyd and community control of the police. The event corresponded with the National Alliance Against Racism and Political Repression’s national day of protest. Reporters estimate 5000 people in attendance at the height of the protest.

A crowd began to form a half-hour before the scheduled time. Hundreds marched to the Temple Terrace Police Department, chanting, “Say his name! George Floyd!” and “No justice, no peace! No racist police!” The protesters circled back to the corner of 53rd Street and Fowler Avenue, the event’s location, where the crowd kneeled at the intersection before more chants and speeches. The march continued west on Fowler for a mile. The protest officially ended at the University of South Florida’s entrance after two hours of speeches, marching and chanting, but many continued to march for the rest of the day.

The energy was high for hours after the protest’s end. Some protesters set fire to a gas station, set fireworks off in the street, or ‘shopped for free’ at the stores at the local University Mall. An estimated 40 people were arrested.

Escalations began due to police action. There was police presence from the beginning, in the form of cars, helicopters and drones. That night, after the crowd had thinned, the police teargassed and shot rubber bullets at protesters. When protesters were injured, no ambulances arrived when called. “I was extremely frustrated that there was a time where they gassed and maced, then proceeded to block support from paramedics when we literally had someone screaming in agony from the eye and skin burns,” states Jefferson Mendoza, a protester at the event.

Tampa Bay SDS’s large protest revealed a strong community desire for police accountability, one that many rallied around throughout the weekend.

#TampaFL #StudentMovement #OppressedNationalities #PeoplesStruggles #AfricanAmerican #PoliceBrutality #Antiracism #TampaBaySDS #JusticeForGeorgeFloyd #MinneapolisUprising

Tampa, FL – Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) hosted an email-in on Wednesday, May 20, fighting back against the University of South Florida’s administration. Under the panic of the COVID-19 crisis, USF administration has defunded, suspended and effectively disbanded the Video Game Club (VGC) at USF. The student organizers demanded the reinstatement of the VGC, in addition to maintaining students’ prior demands of refunds for ‘distance learning fees’ and all activity and service fees, as the mandatory off-campus learning gives the fees no reason to be charged.

The suspension of student-run Video Game Club came along with the announcement of a new electronic sports, or esports, program hosted by the school. Esports is an industry that has generated over a billion dollars in revenue. The decision to create the program while shutting down the group that has been a student video game club is no coincidence. The actions of the school’s administration highlight the intentions of the university as it focuses on adding programs and punishing student organizations, instead of providing relief and aid for students.

The event was successful in inspiring students to fight back against the administration’s disbanding of other organizations in pursuit of profit. Gareth Dawkins, a student organizer with Tampa SDS said, “This event exposed the amount of power the school has and how they use it to exploit students on both a small and large scale.” Tampa Bay SDS will continue demanding that the university provide aid to students and cancel their fees while continuing the fight to meet these demands through action.

#TampaFL #PeoplesStruggles #UniversityOfSouthFlorida #TampaBaySDS #VideoGames

Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), along with members of the community, parked outside the Sam M. Gibbons Federal Courthouse to participate in the socially-distanced protest. After the protesters were forced to leave by the building’s security, the rally continued in the form of a car caravan which circled the building.

Though Arbery was murdered in February, the culprits were not apprehended for nearly two months, despite being caught on video. Just a day before the scheduled protest, Gregory and Travis McMichael were finally arrested and charged with murder, thanks to the work of Arbery’s family as well as activists nationwide.

However, Tampa Bay SDS continues to emphasize the necessity of a conviction in order for justice to be served. David Jones of Tampa Bay SDS states, “Being in Florida we’ve seen the results of an indictment without conviction in the murder of Trayvon Martin. We must hold these racist vigilantes accountable and continue to fight for and struggle alongside Black communities if we want to see progressive change.”

#TampaFL #InJusticeSystem #PeoplesStruggles #AfricanAmerican #RacismInTheCriminalJusticeSystem #Antiracism #TampaBaySDS #carCaravan #AhmaudArbery