Those city commissioners, who falsely cited state House Bill 601 as the reason for the end of the board, maintain a conservative majority on the commission after this year’s elections. The Tallahassee Community Action Committee (TCAC) has been vocal about this unjust shut down and the obvious lack of accountability that the Tallahassee Police Department has.

Earlier this year, after the quiet dissolution of the CPRB, Tallahassee police officers Kiersten Oliver and Margaret Mueth committed a grave act of misconduct against resident Calvin Riley, planting evidence on him and arresting him. They have not been disciplined and the city has not even issued an apology to Riley or his family.

The November 6 protest included members of the Tallahassee Community Action Committee, joined by Freedom Road Socialist Organization, Students for a Democratic Society, Florida Rising, Dream Defenders, Tally Dissenters, and Food Not Bombs.

Delilah Pierre, president of TCAC, began the rally with chants of “When killer cops are on patrol, what do we need? Community control!”

JJ Glueck from Students for a Democratic Society stated, “This review board is for all of us. We righteously demand that the city of Tallahassee restore the Civilian Police Review Board to its full powers to protect ourselves. There’s no rest for the wicked and so there’s no rest for the righteous and we righteously demand this.”

Freedom Road Socialist Organization’s Katy Kurzweil added, “During George Floyd’s rebellion, we saw the power of the people forever change the perception of the police, and we won the struggle to get a Civilian Police Review Board in Tallahassee.”

The speakers galvanized the crowd to participate in public comment section of the city commission meeting. Over 20 people spoke out in favour of the reinstatement of Tallahassee’s Civilian Police Review Board As a member of TCAC, said, “The people want a say in how their community progresses. It’s disgusting that people have deep roots in their community and this is how we’re treated. $140 million for a police headquarters but no money to address the root of the problem and no accountability for the police.”

Regardless of this year’s election results, members of the Tallahassee community will continue to fight for the restoration of the CPRB with its full powers, and for greater community control of the police in the future. Plans remain in place to attend all future city commission meetings.

#TallahasseeFL #FL #InJusticeSystem #TallyCAC

Tallahassee, FL – On March 8, at 6 p.m., the Freedom Road Socialist Organization, along with the Tallahassee Dissenters, Students for a Democratic Society, Food Not Bombs, and the Tallahassee Community Action Committee, rallied at the Florida Historic Capitol building for a protest recognizing International Women’s Day and the ongoing struggle for Palestinian liberation.

Approximately 50 people gathered for the rally. Organizers spoke about the fight for women’s liberation and the importance of mass mobilization and organization for achieving our democratic rights. “The only way we can win our rights is by fighting for them,” said Joelle Nunez, the president of Students for a Democratic Society.

Speakers criticized Joe Biden and the Democratic Party for their active role in perpetuating the genocide against Palestinians, and for their lack of action on domestic issues. “We can’t rely on Joe Biden and the Democratic Party to change things in this country. We need a mass movement and people power to win,” said Delilah Pierre, president of the Tallahassee Community Action Committee.

The event emcee, Regina Joseph of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization, talked about the connections between the movement for Palestinian liberation and Black liberation, stating, “When I went to Ferguson during the Mike Brown uprising, I was teargassed – the same teargas they use on Black Lives Matters protesters, they used for Palestine. Palestinians were telling us how to deal with being gassed. That’s real solidarity.”

The protest ended and organizers encouraged people to attend a showing of the film Gaza is Our Home held by the Tallahassee Dissenters. Organizers promised to keep rallying and organizing for Palestinian liberation, and to keep demanding an end to U.S. aid to Israel and an end to the occupation of Palestine.

#TallahasseeFL #FL #WomensMovement #AntiWarMovement #International #MiddleEast #Palestine #InternationalWomensDay #TallyCAC #FRSO #SDS #Dissenters #FoodNotBombs

Tallahassee, FL – On the afternoon of January 6, around 100 Tallahassee community members gathered at Cascades Park in support of Palestine. The rally was put on by the Tallahassee Community Action Committee (TCAC) as part of a national week of actions.

Delilah Pierre, president of TCAC, stated, “We need to keep on organizing nationwide to build the kind of public pressure that’s needed to end this genocide. It doesn’t matter what your race, nationality or ethnicity is. If you’re an American, you not only have a responsibility and a duty to stand against this genocide, but a self-interest, because it’s being paid for with your money!” She led the crowd in the chant “Not another nickel, not another dime! No more money for Israel’s crimes!”

While Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and his ilk have made their support of Israel known, the people of Tallahassee stand with Palestine. Over the past few months, TCAC, with the support of local organizations such as Florida State University SDS and Tallahassee Food Not Bombs, has led a campaign to demand Tallahassee City Commission pass a resolution supporting an end to U.S. aid to Israel, condemning the genocide of Palestinians, rejecting any future aid, partnerships, or relationships with Israel and the city of Tallahassee, and end to any training, cooperation, or investments between the Tallahassee Police Department and any Israeli policing entities or forces.

Community members made it clear that local politicians choosing to remain silent in the face of this genocide is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Ahmad Daraldik, representing Florida Palestine Network, stated potently “Whether it’s your city commissioners, representatives in Florida, or Senate: Make sure they hear you, that they see you. If they don’t, we vote ‘em out. There’s no question. We vote ‘em out.”

The rally closed out with local Palestinian families gathered front and center, their children leading chants of “Biden, Biden, you can’t hide. We charge you with genocide!” and “Free Palestine!”

The National Week of Action was called by US Palestinian Community Network (USPCN), the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (NAARPR) and National Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) to demand an end to genocide by Israel in the new year.

TCAC will be making an appearance at the next Tallahassee city commission meeting Wednesday, January 17. For more information, visit their @tallycac on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

#TallahasseeFL #International #Palestine #AntiWar #TallyCAC #USPCN

On November 8, the community again came together at City Hall. One speaker, Ravza Cayir, a member of the Tallahassee Community Action Committee, has gained traction on TikTok with her public comments. To date, her speech has been viewed over 630,800 times.

Cayir said the following, “When it comes to propaganda against Palestinian liberation, you can see the constant dehumanization, the way Israel is portraying innocent civilians as ‘barbaric animals.’ When I stand in front of the city commissioners, I want them not to be able to deny me my humanity, even if it is only for three minutes. I want them to see that I am a talking, moving, intelligent, sentient being just like the ones they are knowingly burying under the rubble in Gaza.

“Palestinians are denied food, shelter, electricity, medical attention, hygiene and, above everything else, they are denied their existence! We need to speak up, and keep pressuring the city officials until they take humane action.”

When asked her why she thought it was important to show up at the city commission meeting, Cayir said, “I was so shocked and overwhelmed and happy that so many people were in solidarity. Some Zionists in the comments said, ‘I should keep my mouth shut because I'm not even a citizen.’ Every American that has not condemned Israel is complicit. Our tax dollars directly facilitate genocide and enable countless war crimes. How can I stay silent when I don't even get to vote for these people in positions of power? They're killing my people with my money and not letting me have a say in it. Is this the American dream?”

The next city commission meeting is scheduled for December 13, at 3 p.m. to City Hall, 300 South Adams Street. However, the exact agenda time is yet to be confirmed. To stay updated, follow the Tallahassee Community Action Committee on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for exact times.

#TallahasseeFL #Palestine #AntiWar #TallyCAC

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