Jacksonville, FL – While heat warnings shortened celebrations of the 250th July 4, the Jacksonville Palestine Solidarity Network took to the hot Florida pavement to protest U.S. aggression both domestically and abroad, including its support for the genocide in Gaza.

The rally started at Memorial Park in the heart of Riverside, where members of organizations spoke on the injustices carried out by the U.S.

A member of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO) told the crowd, “Over the last three years, at least 75,000 Palestinians have been murdered in Israel’s genocide in Gaza, which the United States government has been bankrolling, another 1200 citizens in Syria killed in the regime change in their country, and another 3600 Iranians killed in the senseless war against their country and as if that's not bad enough, we have another 100 civilians of Venezuela killed in the kidnapping of their president, Maduro, and his wife, Cilia Flores.” The crowd yelled “Shame!” in response.

Focus was also brought to the attacks the Trump administration has made on immigrant communities. Crystal Aguilar of the Jacksonville Immigrant Rights Alliance stated, “250 years of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. But for who? Certainly not for me, or for the millions of working-class people living in America. Not for the immigrants who die crossing the border every day to enter this country, those who have died in ICE detention, and those whose labor is being exploited by greedy corporations. Is this what we choose to stand for? Is this what we are going to continue to allow in our country?” The crowd yelled back, “No!”

The rally became mobile as the participants began marching down Riverside Avenue toward the bustling arts market hosted under the Fuller Warren Bridge. Patrons of the market could hear the marchers steadily approach as the chanting and drumming grew louder. Anyone in the vicinity could hear roars of, “No boots on the ground, no bombs in the air! U.S. out of everywhere!”

The chants echoed across the market with the help of the bridge's acoustics. Ryan Delaney of the Anti-War Action Network (AWAN) and a co-organizer of the march addressed the market’s attendees: “We are out here today as part of a national day of action called by the Anti-War Action Network. We are organizing in cities around the country, saying that we reject this idea of 250 years of freedom when we continue to take the freedom away from people around the world and in our own country.”

Most of the market patrons stopped what they were doing to see what was going on. They listened intently as a call to action was issued, “Everybody who's here at the Riverside Arts Market, I want you all to know that we are going to continue to fight for this. And we want all of you to get involved. We want every single person here to wake up and rise to this occasion and get ready for the real fight ahead of us. So for every single one of y'all out here, if you're with us, we want y'all to march with us. Because we are going to continue to march, and we're going to go back to Memorial Park, where we're going to continue our program.”

The march made its way back to Memorial Park with more people than it had started with. Upon returning, the attendees cooled down in the shade. Food and water were distributed as folks socialized and built community.

#JacksonvilleFL #FL #AntiWarMovement #JPSN

Jacksonville, FL- On June 10, the Jacksonville Palestine Solidarity Network held a press conference before the dismissal of the State Attorney’s Office’s municipal charge against Leah Grady for “resisting an officer without violence.”

The Jacksonville Palestine Solidarity Network, in coalition with the Jacksonville Community Action Committee, maintained Grady’s case as a flagrant attack against freedom of speech. State Attorney Melissa Nelson was further emboldened to attempt double jeopardy, another breach of constitutional law. On May 29, the state had already charged and sentenced them for a misdemeanor of the same title.

In the eyes of the Jacksonville Palestine Solidarity Network and the people of Jacksonville, the cases of Conor Cauley and Leah Grady have represented repeat violations of constitutional rights, most prominently the right to freedom of speech and protections from double jeopardy.

The targeting of activists was made clear to the public, as Jacksonville Sheriff TK Waters had spoken to the press, demanding Grady and Cauley be made into an example. The collusion between city council officials and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office was prevalent in pushing an identical agenda. As Ryan Delaney with JPSN reported, “the Director of City Council Jason Teal demanded an example needed to be made out of him [Conor Cauley]” in order to justify the harsh sentencing.

The Jacksonville Community Action Committee asserted Leah Grady and Conor Cauley’s cases are inextricably linked, contributing to the growing trend of repressing views that oppose the Jacksonville City Council and their continued injustices in the city. When interviewed by First Coast News, Monica Gold with JCAC noted, “They [Grady and Cauley] are being targeted for their political speech, for their practice of speaking out, for their practice of going to city council, for pointing out flaws in Jacksonville and trying to make Jacksonville a better place.”

Despite the aggressive year-long mission to repress the Palestine movement by State Attorney Melissa Nelson’s Office, the dismissal of Leah Grady’s second charge was a result of consistent community pressure and a competent defense campaign. Today’s win shows that the people will not accept these political attacks by Melissa Nelson or the Sheriff’s Office, and JPSN will work tirelessly to find the same victory in the upcoming appeals process.

#JacksonvilleFL #FL #ConorCauley #LeahGrady #Palestine #AntiWarMovement #JPSN #JCAC

Jacksonville, FL – El 29 de mayo, Miembros de la comunidad protestaron la sentencia grave de Conor Cauley y Leah Grady, dedicándose a seguir la lucha contra sus cargos y exigiendo la liberación de Conor Cauley, que actualmente se mantiene como prisionero político en la Cárcel del Condado Duval.

A pesar de las fuertes lluvias, más de 60 miembros de la comunidad protestaron delante del juzgado y, luego, detrás de la cárcel del condado bajo carpas que se combaban y rompían con el peso del agua de la lluvia. Esto no desanimó a los asistentes, que continuaban a gritar y concentrarse contra el tratamiento injusto a los organizadores contra la guerra.

Estas manifestaciones fueron dirigidas por la Red de Solidaridad con Palestina de Jacksonville junto con organizaciones comunitarias incluyendo la Comité de Acción Comunitaria de Jacksonville, la Alianza de Derechos de Inmigrantes de Jacksonville, los Brentwood 300, los Socialistas Democráticos de América, y la Organización Camino de la Libertad.

Cauley fue sentenciado a 60 días encarcelado y tres años de aprobación. Ya está siendo ordenado a quedarse más de 1000 pies del Policia Maykel Aliaga-Ruiz, el oficial que instigó el arresto inicial el año pasado por agarrarlo por el cuello a Cauley y tirarlo por una línea de sillas. La condición tendrá el efecto, como lo ha notado el abogado de Cauley en el juzgado, de efectivamente prohibirlo de asistir a las reuniones del consejo municipal en donde Aliaga-Ruiz trabaja, atacando directamente su derecho de hablar al aire libre con sus propios políticos elegidos y de ser organizador en la ciudad.

Grady fue sentenciada con seis meses de aprobación, 50 horas de servicios comunitario, y una orden de la corte de escribirle una “carta de disculpa” a la Presidenta Republicana del Consejo Randy White.

Ambas sentencias fueron más graves aún de lo que habían recomendado los prosecutores. La prosecución recomendaron tres meses de aprobación y 25 horas de servicio comunitario para Leah Grady y recomendaron 30 días de encarcelación y un año de aprobación para Conor Cauley. En los dos casos, los jueces o doblaron o triplicaron el castigo. Esto sale tras llamadas por el Sheriff de Jacksonville T.K. Waters que los jueces hagan un ejemplo de los organizadores de RSPJ así para intimidarlos políticamente.

Todo esto ocurrió a pesar de un despliegue enorme de apoyo comunitario en apoyo a los dos organizadores. Más de 40 cartas de carácter fueron entregadas a la corte por Conor Cauley, y testigos de gran nota hablaron a favor de Cauley, incluyendo la directora ejecutiva del local 1408 de la Asociación de Estibadores Internacional (AEI), Courtnee Staples.

“¿Quién salió hoy para acá para defender a Conor?” hizo la pregunta un miembro de la Organización Camino de la Libertad durante la concentración frente al juzgado. “Los profesores, vecinos, obreros de sindicato, estudiantes y gente de todas partes de Jacksonville – para resumir, un microcosmo de la comunidad entera. La ciudad no podía hacer más que rodear unos pocos para hablar contra Conor, y a quienes escogieron? La directora del consejo y el jefe de la policía.”

La Red de Solidaridad con Palestina de Jacksonville está comprometida a luchar contra los veredictos de los dos Conor Cauley y Leah Grady, habiéndo ya desarrollado un plan para oponer sus condenas de apelar contra ellas y pedir nuevo juicio. Harán más manifestaciones para exigir la liberación de Cauley hasta que esté fuera de la cárcel.

“Es por esta cárcel que, durante los próximos 60 días, Conor no verá justicia,” dijo Ryan Delaney de la Red de Acción Contra la Guerra. “Pues eso significa que nosotros seremos la razón por la cual, durante estos próximos 60 días, esta cárcel no sabrá ninguna paz!”

#JacksonvilleFL #FL #MoviemientoContraLaGuerra #SistemaInjusticia #RepresiónPolítica #JPSN #AWAN #Palestina #ConorCauley #Destacado

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following update from the Jacksonville Palestine Solidarity Network regarding the sentencing of pro-Palestine Jax activist, Conor Cauley.

Conor Cauley was sentenced to 60 days with time served, 3 years of probation, court fines, 150 community service hours and a stay away order from the same officer, Officer Aliaga Ruiz, who threw him over a row of chairs!

We will reiterate what our beloved member Conor Cauley has repeatedly mentioned, this fight is for every single person in the city of Jacksonville, and this sentencing will not deter us. We know Palestinians experience torturous conditions in Zionist prisons, and we also acknowledge the decrepit nature and condition of the Duval County Jail.

From Palestine to Jacksonville, Zionists and imperialists will use the system as it’s designed; to break you down and destroy your spirit. But we know the power of the people is greater than the people in power!

Please visit and donate to Conor’s Gofundme and we will see folks later to protest at the Jail! Find the Gofundme here.

SHAME ON MELISSA NELSON!

SHAME ON JSO!

FREE CONOR CAULEY NOW!

#JacksonvilleFL #FL #AntiWarMovement #Palestine #InJusticeSystem #PoliticalRepression #ConorCauley #JPSN #CSFR #AWAN

Jacksonville, FL – On May 29, Community members protested against the harsh sentencing of Conor Cauley and Leah Grady, vowing to continue the fight against their charges and demanding the release of Conor Cauley, who is currently being held in Duval County Jail as a political prisoner.

Despite heavy rainstorms, over 60 community members protested in front of the courthouse and, later, in front of the county jail under tents buckling and breaking from the weight of rainwater. This did not discourage attendees, who continued to chant and rally against the unjust treatment of anti-war organizers.

These protests were led by Jacksonville Palestine Solidarity Network alongside community organizations including Jacksonville Community Action Committee, Jacksonville Immigrant Rights Alliance, Brentwood 300, Democratic Socialists of America, and Freedom Road Socialist Organization.

Cauley was sentenced to 60 days jail and three years of probation. He is additionally being ordered to stay more than 1000 feet from Officer Maykel Aliaga-Ruiz, the arresting officer who instigated the initial arrest last year by violently grabbing Cauley by the neck and throwing him over a row of chairs. This condition will, as Cauley’s lawyer pointed out in the courtroom, effectively ban him from city council meetings where Aliaga-Ruiz works, directly attacking his right to speak openly to his own elected officials and organize in the city.

Grady was sentenced to six months’ probation, 50 hours of community service, and court-ordered to write a “letter of apology” to the Republican City Council President Randy White.

Both sentences were heavier even than what had been recommended by the prosecutors. The prosecution requested three months’ probation and 25 hours community service for Leah Grady and requested 30 days of jail and one year of probation for Conor Cauley. In both instances, the judges either doubled or tripled the sentences. This comes after public calls by Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters for judges to make an example out of the arrested JPSN organizers in order to politically intimidate them.

This was also in spite of an overwhelming display of community support for both organizers. Over 40 character letters were submitted to the court for Conor Cauley, and high profile character witnesses spoke in Cauley’s favor, including the executive director of the International Longshoreman’s Association (ILA) Local 1408, Courtnee Staples.

“Who came out to defend Conor today?” asked a member of Freedom Road Socialist Organization during the rally at the courthouse. “Teachers, neighbors, union workers, students and people from all walks of life in Jacksonville – in short, a microcosm of the entire community. The city could only wrangle up a handful of people to speak against Conor, and who did they pick? The director of city council and chief of police.”

Jacksonville Palestine Solidarity Network is committing to fight the verdicts of both Conor Cauley and Leah Grady, having developed a plan to fight their convictions through appeal for retrial. They will be rallying to demand Cauley’s release until he is out of jail.

“It’s because of this jail that, for the next 60 days, Conor will see no justice,” said Ryan Delaney of the Anti-War Action Network. “Well that means that we’re gonna be the reason that for the next 60 days, this jail will see no peace!”

#JacksonvilleFL #FL #AntiWarMovement #InJusticeSystem #PoliticalRepression #JPSN #AWAN #Palestine #ConorCauley #Featured

Jacksonville, FL- A broad coalition, led by Jacksonville Palestine Solidarity Network (JPSN), rallied outside Duval County Jail on May 20 to condemn the guilty verdict against local organizer Conor Cauley, who now faces up to five years in prison.

A crowd of over 50 people mobilized within an hour of the verdict. Cauley, who was originally facing ten years with two felony charges, had one felony for resisting violence dropped after a year-long grassroots campaign against the district attorney Melissa Nelson. He is now in jail awaiting sentencing.

Hundreds of people from Jacksonville and across the country called and emailed State Attorney Melissa Nelson, calling on her to drop these trumped-up charges. But, as highlighted in a statement by JPSN, “Melissa Nelson proved to the people that her allegiance is not to them, it's to a corrupt Jacksonville Sheriff's Office and city council that have publicly called for the state to make an example out of us in hopes that they can stop our movement.”

The rally called out the backward political slant of the trial, and the unjust rulings by the judge. Among them were the judge's refusal to allow the political nature of the arrest to be discussed in trial, banning the keffiyeh from the courtroom, not allowing Cauley's lawyer to question arresting Officer Aliaga's history of harassment complaints, and not allowing political repression to be described to the jury.

The judge elected to revoke Cauley's bond upon the guilty verdict, remanding him to police custody. This comes after public pressure on the judge by Sheriff T.K. Waters and multiple Trump-aligned city council members to make an example of Cauley.

“They think they are gods!” shouted Maceo George, president of the Central Labor Council as he spoke to the crowd. “We have to send a message to city council that they won't be in office if they don't support the people!”

The rally was composed of community members, labor leaders, and organizers from JPSN, Jacksonville Community Action Committee, Jacksonville Immigrant Rights Alliance, Democratic Socialists of America, Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO), AFL-CIO's Central Labor Council, and Students for a Democratic Society.

“Here are our demands: Free Conor, no jail time, protesting is not a crime! We want Conor back home with us,” declared María García-Gerardo of FRSO. JPSN and the coalition in attendance have committed to continue the campaign, shifting now from one demanding the state drop the charges to a “Free Conor Cauley” campaign. Cauley is set to appear in court on Tuesday, May 26 for the setting of the sentencing date.

#JacksonvilleFL #FL #JPSN #Palestine #PoliticalRepression #ConorCauley #InjusticeSystem

Jacksonville, FL – On Sunday, March 15, in response to the U.S. and Israel aggression on Iran and Lebanon, the Jacksonville Palestine Solidarity Network (JPSN) took to the streets, and a coalition of organizations joined them to protest the unjust war.

This mobilization of about 80 people to downtown Jacksonville came hot off the heels of the rally JPSN organized on February 28, the day of the first strike on Iran.

Shayne Tremblay, a member of JPSN, addressed the crowd, “Against the will of the American people, Donald Trump has started a war. A war that has already displaced millions of Iranians. A war that has killed thousands of people in Iran and Lebanon. A war that has killed hundreds of children.” The crowd yelled back in response, “Shame!”

Banners reading “Hands off Iran” waved in the wind beside signs reading “End aid to Israel,” as well as Palestinian flags. Many people at the rally spoke on the relationship of this war to the genocide in Palestine, and chants of “Free, free, Palestine” echoed throughout the downtown.

Organizations from a variety of movements were in attendance, including The Jacksonville Immigrant Rights Alliance, and Take Em’ Down Jax, Students for a Democratic Society, Democratic Socialists of America, the Jacksonville Community Action Committee, the Freedom Road Socialist Organization, and more.

There was some rain, but the crowd held strong. People walking past the rally stopped to listen to the speakers. A member of the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression stated, “The aggression we see from the U.S. in Iran, and from Israel in Palestine, is an extension of the aggression we face here at home.”

There was a contingent of proud union members in the crowd, and a general sentiment of the importance of the working class in opposing these wars.

Wells Todd, a veteran activist with Take Em’ Down Jax, spoke on the need to transform our unions into fighting organizations. A rank-and-file Teamster asked the crowd, “Do we, workers, want this war? Does this war benefit us?” The crowd shouted back: “No!”

A team of marshals stayed on the lookout for any counter-protesters; they also passed out water to the attendees.

#JacksonvilleFL #FL #AntiWarMovement #Iran #JPSN

Jacksonville, FL – On March 3, around 30 community members and organizers rallied in front of the Federal Courthouse that once housed the office of Florida Senator-turned Secretary of State, Marco Rubio.

The action was called by the Jacksonville Palestine Solidarity Network (JPSN) to stand in solidarity with Cuba and Venezuela, as well as Iran, Lebanon and Palestine as the Trump administration rapidly escalates its wars across the globe.

“Some of you may be asking: ‘Why is a Palestine organization calling an action for Cuba?’” said JPSN organizer Ryan Delaney. “Because when the U.S. kidnaps the president of Venezuela, cuts off critical oil to the country with the longest standing recognition of a Palestinian state in the Western hemisphere, and starts redirecting that oil to Israel instead, it becomes impossible to ignore that the struggle of every nation under the thumb of imperialism is bound together.”

JPSN organizers spoke to the crowd about the developments in Iran and Lebanon, as well as the longstanding solidarity between Palestine, Cuba and Venezuela, and what the oil blockages mean for the Cuban people before tying it back to JPSN’s campaign to end collaboration between Jacksonville Port Authority (JAXPORT) and the war profiteers that have been fueling the genocide in Palestine such as Maersk, ZIM, and Mediterranean Shipping Company.

Jacksonville-based Navy ships and helicopters were photographed participating in the U.S.– Israeli attack on Iran, and the USS Iwo Jima that President Nicolás Maduro was transported on during his kidnapping was subsequently docked in Jacksonville’s Mayport. Many of the weapons and munitions used in the genocide in Palestine that are produced by war profiteering factories in the Black Belt South are in turn shipped through Jacksonville.

The crowd left with a clear call to action – JPSN is organizing to end JAXPORT’s deadliest contracts with war profiteers in order to end Jacksonville’s complicity in war and genocide. JPSN called on all people of conscience to join them in order to get involved in the Genocide Out of Jaxport campaign.

#JacksonvilleFL #FL #AntiWarMovement #Iran #JPSN

Jacksonville, FL – On Friday, December 5, almost 40 people gathered in downtown Jacksonville in front of Governor Rick Scott’s office to rally in solidarity with Venezuela. Scott has advocated for sanctions against the Venezuelan people and has accused President Nicolas Maduro of being a dictator and says the traitor Marina Corina Machado is a “true champion for freedom and democracy in Venezuela.”

Organized by Freedom Road Socialist Organization, the rally featured speeches from the Anti-War Action Network, UNF Students for a Democratic Society, the Jacksonville Palestine Solidarity Network, the Jacksonville Immigrants’ Rights Alliance and the Jacksonville Community Action Committee.

Venezuelan flags draping the backs of protesters and signs saying “No war on Venezuela” faced the downtown traffic as the rally was met with honks of support from passing cars. Participants also chanted “Hands off Venezuela!” and “No boots on the ground! No bombs in the air! U.S. out of everywhere!” for all to hear.

Ashley Mackenzie from the Jacksonville Palestine Solidarity Network noted that the Palestinian people know all too well what it's like to not be able to fish off their own coasts, because just like the Venezuelan fishermen risk being bombed by the U.S. military, fisherman in Gaza can’t fish off their own coasts without being shot at by the Israeli occupation forces. Maduro’s government has expressed solidarity with the Palestinian people time and time again while his opponent, Machado, has shown her true colors by explicitly supporting their genocide by the Zionist entity.

Despite running on a campaign as a “peacemaker” in the 2024 election, President Trump has been anything but since taking office this year. In regard to Palestine, he has escalated the genocide. Now he is wondering why he hasn't won the Nobel Peace Prize and openly acts as the warmonger he is by attempting regime change in Venezuela.

The people of Jacksonville gathered for over an hour on Bay Street to say “No more,” with not only passersby showing support from their cars but with people on foot joining to listen to the speeches as well.

A member of FRSO stated, “Time and time again, U.S. imperialism cannot withstand resistance from a people steadfast in walking their own path and determining their own destiny. I saw that the people’s militias are being armed and preparing for invasion because they understand, like I understand, that racists like Trump and US imperialism only understand one thing, and that's getting popped in the mouth and kicked in the teeth!”

This will only be the first of many actions in north Florida as Trump’s war escalates, because the people of Jacksonville stand in solidarity with the Venezuelan people and support the Bolivarian Revolution!

#JacksonvilleFL #FL #AntiWarMovement #Venezuela #JPSN