Tallahassee, FL- On March 22, Florida State University’s Graduate Assistants United (GAU) marched to Wescott and demanded FSU change their policies around COVID-19.

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following February 3 statement from Florida State University Student for a Democratic Society (SDS).

Tallahassee, FL – On February 1 from 8 to 11 a.m., around 20 people showed up to AFSCME 3343’s informational picket line to demand Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) raise the wages of workers on campus.

Tallahassee, FL – On January 27, members of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) from across Florida gathered at the State Capitol to protest HB5, which is widely known as the “abortion ban bill.” 70 activists gathered on the steps of the building where the Florida House meets, including dozens who traveled from Tampa and Jacksonville to join Tallahassee activists in opposing this bill.

Tallahassee, FL – On November 2, Ben Grant, a member of the Tallahassee 19 and the Tallahassee Community Action Committee, was put on trial for his involvement in a protest against the officers responsible for the murder of Tony Mcdade, Wilbon Woodard and Mychael Johnson. After a trial that went from early morning to late afternoon, it took the jury no more than 20 consecutive minutes to find Ben Grant not guilty of battery on an officer and guilty of resisting arrest.

Tallahassee, FL – On October 28 the Tallahassee Community Action Committee (TCAC) gathered with other community groups to demand State Attorney Jack Campbell drop felony charges against Ben Grant and all members of the #Tally19, a group of protesters who were arrested for participating in a Black Lives Matter protest in Tallahassee.

Tallahassee, FL – First there was the $20 million regressive Blueprint sales tax money stolen from Black, brown, and poor people for tax exempt skyboxes sold to rich white people to enhance their “football experience.”

Tallahassee, FL – On September 5, the Tallahassee Community Action Committee (TCAC) held an event in remembrance and solidarity for the #Tally19, a group of Black Lives Matter activists arrested for protesting in favor of the indictment of the officers responsible for the deaths of Tony Mcdade, Wilbon Woodard and Mychael Johnson. These three men were murdered by Tallahassee’s police department and none of the police responsible have faced any real punishment for their crimes.

Tallahassee, FL – On June 18, on the Old Capitol Steps, community members and loved ones gathered to celebrate the life of Oluwatoyin “Toyin” Ruth Salau.

Tallahassee, FL – On the evening of May 27, marking the one-year anniversary of Tony McDade’s murder by still-unnamed officers with the Tallahassee Police Department (TPD), activists and community members gathered at the Florida State Capitol to grieve, commemorate McDade’s life, and to demand justice for his murder.

Tallahassee, FL – On the early morning of June 12, 2016, gunman Omar Mateen shot dozens of people at Pulse Nightclub, murdering 49 people and injuring more than 50. Five years later, on the evening of June 12, 2021, Tallahassee Community Action Committee (TCAC) along with 926, Gender Odyssey, and Students for a Democratic Society, congregated at the Florida Capitol for a vigil to commemorate the lost lives of the Pulse Nightclub Massacre.

Tallahassee, FL – On June 3, students at Florida State University gathered to demand an end to the Israeli government's attacks on Gaza. Students connected the struggles against political repression in Palestine to similar struggles facing political activists in Colombia.

Tallahassee, FL – This spring, Tallahassee Community Action Committee (TCAC) commemorated the one-year anniversaries of the police murders of Mychael Johnson, Wilbon Woodard and Tony McDade. While these police murders garnered significant attention, the deaths of two other Black men in law enforcement custody in 2020 went largely unnoticed. 43-year-old Little Daniel Owens and 66-year-old Melvin Richardson died inside the Leon County jail in November 2020. The Leon County Sheriff’s Office posted barebones announcements of their deaths on social media and released no additional information.

Tallahassee, FL – This spring, Tallahassee Community Action Committee (TCAC) commemorated the one-year anniversaries of the police murders of Mychael Johnson, Wilbon Woodard and Tony McDade. While these police murders garnered significant attention, the deaths of two other Black men in law enforcement custody in 2020 went largely unnoticed. 43-year-old Little Daniel Owens and 66-year-old Melvin Richardson died inside the Leon County jail in November 2020. The Leon County Sheriff’s Office posted barebones announcements of their deaths on social media and released no additional information.

Tallahassee, FL – On May 22, over 200 people gathered at the Old Historic Florida Capitol Building to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian resistance against the latest wave of Zionist attacks.

Tallahassee, FL – On the evening of May 8, activists with the Tallahassee Community Action Committee gathered with community members at Cascades Park to demand answers for Raheem Reeder and his family. Adorned in baby blue and pink bandanas, Raheem’s favorite colors, local activists intended to honor his life while demanding accountability for his death. This action marked one month since Tallahassee Police Department (TPD) officers fatally shot Reeder. TPD has since used Marsy’s Law as a shield to protect their officers from public accountability and has refused to release the names of the officer(s) involved in the shooting. In addition, TPD has also blamed Valerie Hatton for the murder they committed.

Tallahassee, FL – A group of transgender students and community members gathered on Florida State University’s campus to demand changes to the campus housing policy for trans students. The student organization Gender Odyssey has been leading a campaign to adopt a new student housing policy that would, among other things, create an opt-in system for trans students to stay in dorms with fellow trans students, allow for students to change their name in the electronic housing registry system, and discipline students for transphobic harassment.

Tallahassee, FL – On April 20, in less than two hours after the Derek Chauvin verdict was announced, the Tallahassee Community Action Committee gathered at Cascades Park to celebrate this win but also to reiterate the fight for Black liberation is not over. They chanted, “Indict convict, send that killer cop to jail, the whole damn system is guilty as hell.”

Tallahassee, FL – On April 17, around 50 people from the Tallahassee community gathered at the Florida State University’s HCB Building to commemorate the eight victims from the recent Atlanta shooting and speak out on Asian American oppression.

Tallahassee, FL – On April 10, the Tallahassee Community Action Committee (TCAC) held a rally at the Leon County Courthouse as part of a statewide day of action coordinated by organizations from the Florida Alliance Against Racism and Political Repression. Activists rallied to call on the Florida Senate to reject HB1/SB484, a repressive bill designed to limit protest and dissent in Florida. Dozens of activists showed up to hear organizers with TCAC, the Dream Defenders, and More Than A Name speak about how the need for continued struggle in the face of state repression.