Tampa, FL — Despite a thunderstorm and tornado warning, a small but passionate group of workers and community members rallied in Ybor City on May 2 to celebrate International Workers' Day. The rally was organized by the West Central Florida Future Labor Leaders, the youth branch of the West Central Florida Central Labor Council, with demands to defend workers’ and immigrants’ rights.

The speakers included workers from a wide range of unions, such as Graduate Assistants United, the American Federation of Government Employees, Service Employees International Union, Pinellas Classroom Teachers Association, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, and Polk Education Association. An immigrant rights group, the Tampa Immigrants’ Rights Committee, also spoke in honor of the 20th anniversary of the Day Without Immigrants protests.

Just one day before the rally, on May Day itself, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed the union-busting SB 1296 into law. The bill is a direct attack on public-sector unions in the state, creating additional barriers to recertification. SB 1296 comes just three years after SB 256, another bill that raised the bar for recertification and decertified more than 100 public-sector unions in the state.

Shortly after losing their union in 2023, the University of South Florida's custodial, groundskeeping and maintenance workers had their jobs privatized. This past year, the workers unionized again, this time with SEIU.

“Since we were privatized, they have taken everything away from us,” said Juan Pena, an electrician at USF and organizer with SEIU 32BJ. “We’re fighting for fair wages, fair contract and salary.”

Speaking in Spanish, Paola Gutierrez with SEIU 32BJ said, “Siempre he dicho que todos unidos somos una sola voz y por eso creo que los sindicatos están listos para defendernos,” or “I have always said all of us united are one single voice and that’s why I believe that unions are ready to defend us.”

The rally ended with a short march around Centennial Park, with attendees chanting “Get up, get down, Tampa is a union town!” The march came to a close just behind the “Immigrant Statue,” a bronze sculpture honoring the Cuban, Italian and Spanish families who immigrated to and built Ybor City.

#TampaFL #FL #MayDay #InternationalWorkersDay #ImmigrantRights #Labor

Tampa FL- On Friday, May 1, two high schools in the Tampa Bay area participated in the national call put out by the Legalization for All Network to hold May Day walkouts in remembrance of the Day Without Immigrants mega protests held in 2006.The participating high schools were Middleton and Wharton. Both events were supported by Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society and the Tampa Immigrants’ Rights Committee. The protests this year called for slogans such as “Ice out now!” and “Legalization for all!” in response to the Trump administration’s continued attacks on immigrant communities across the country.

At the Middleton walkout, two students participated and still drew attention from the high school administration. As said by ZJ Jeudy, a member of the Middleton’s Students for a Democratic Society, “I organized and participated in the walkout because to me, it’s important to not only speak up for what’s right, but to also demonstrate it even if you are the only one doing it.”

Later in the day at Wharton, high school students participated in a rally after school at the corner of the school premises.

“If you go back to the early 2000s or go back to the 70s, students coming out and protesting is a major part of the Vietnam War timeline, that kind of thing. That’s how you organize,” said Nicole Cochrin, a member of Wharton’s Students for a Democratic Society. “Even if the protest itself doesn’t really do much, it’s going to spark more protests. People are going to make more of a change instead of sitting idly hoping someone else does something for them.”

These actions were two of the many held across the country on May Day for the National Day of Action called by the Legalization for All Network and National Students for a Democratic Society.

#TampaFL #FL #StudentMovement #L4A #SDS #ImmigrantRights #Highschool #MayDay

Tampa, FL – On Tuesday, April 6, Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) held a rally near the University of South Florida (USF) to demand “No ICE on campus” in response to USF and Department of Homeland Security signing onto a 287(g) agreement and the recent pause on H-1B visas passed by the Florida Board of Governors.

The 287(g) agreement allows USF police to train and act as ICE agents on USF campuses, putting international and immigrant students and faculty in direct harm’s way of racial profiling and being detained.

“A university is supposed to be a place of growth and safety, not a place where students feel watched and targeted by their own administrators, and most definitely not a place where their education could be interrupted by their own detention,” said Jayce Solis of Tampa Bay SDS in a speech demanding USF become a sanctuary campus immediately.

As protesters held signs with slogans like, “End 287(g)” and “No ICE on campus,” cars passed by honking in support.

The protest also demanded the reinstatement of H-1B visas, which universities commonly use to hire skilled foreign professionals in specialized fields that require advanced knowledge and education. Universities frequently use H-1B visas to recruit professors, scientists, engineers and researchers from around the world.

During the rally, attendees chanted “We want justice, you say, how? Sanctuary campus now!” and “Money for jobs and education, not for war and deportations!”

Tampa Bay SDS will continue to organize against this 287(g) agreement and the pause on H-1B visas.

#TampaFL #FL #StudentMovement #ImmigrantRights #SDS

Tampa, FL – On March 28, over 2000 people gathered for the Tampa No Kings protest. The protest was organized by the Tampa Coalition Against the Trump Agenda. It was one of more than 3000 rallies comprising more than eight million people who came out throughout the United States in opposition to Trump's racist reactionary agenda.

Protesters raised concerns about immigration and U.S. intervention, holding anti-war signs and pro-immigrant signs such as “ICE out now!” Protesters chanted “Racist, sexist, anti-gay, Ron DeSantis go away,” “Money for jobs and education, not for war and deportation” and “When immigrants are under attack, what do we do? Stand up fight back!” Many passing cars honked in support of the event.

Dave Gonzalez said, “I’m here to show my disagreement with the present government. This pedophile bombed girls at a school in Iran. At home there are also violations of human rights. We have a right to self-determination. What we do with our bodies cannot be ordered by anyone.”

Protester and activist Bianca Melendez stressed, “Because the world is on fire, I want to be able to educate and help influence as many people as possible. I am a member of TIRC-Tampa Immigrant Rights Committee and of a group chat on Palestine. There is a horrible genocide going on there and now in Lebanon and the Zionists are still in Syria.”

The event featured speakers from Tampa Immigrant Rights Committee, Tampa Democratic Socialist of America, Tampa Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, Tampa Food Not Bombs, Voices of Florida, Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society, Florida House of Representatives member Michele Rayner, and Tampa Freedom Road Socialist Organization.

To the question “What brings you to the protest today?” Ben Taylor said, “My husband and I believe in democracy and the freedom to live by the Bill of Rights which gives us rights to protest, freedom of speech.”

Nico Baisley from the Tampa Immigrants’ Rights Committee said, “The more he [Trump] threatens us, the stronger our movements become. His threats have united us against him, and we have everything to win in this fight.” Nico also spoke about the need to end 287(g) in Tampa and condemned Tampa Mayor Jane Castor's lack of support for the immigrant community in Tampa.

The Tampa Coalition Against the Trump Agenda consists of the Tampa Immigrants’ Rights Committee, Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society, Tampa Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, Tampa Freedom Road Socialist Organization, and the Hillsborough Young Democrats.

#TampaFL #FL #ImmigrantRights #PeoplesStruggles #TIRC

Tampa. FL – On Thursday, March 26, Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) rallied in solidarity on the same day of the second New York City court hearing of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores.

Students gathered in front of the Tampa’s Sam M. Gibbons Federal Courthouse in solidarity with Nicolas Maduro and Cilia Flores who are facing bogus federal charges. Students were also there to demanding U.S. out of Latin America and hands off Venezuela.

While downtown traffic passed by, students chanted “From Venezuela to the Middle East, end the U.S. war machine!” and “Hands off Venezuela now!”

Students were passionate and determined to continue the anti-war movement and to fight back against U.S. intervention.

“For years, the United States has reached into Latin America and tried to shape what happens in countries like Venezuela,” Jayce Solis, a member of Tampa Bay SDS, said. “Today’s rally was about making it clear that we’re not going to stay silent and we’re going to keep pushing back against U.S. intervention in Venezuela and in other countries too.”

#TampaFL #FL #AntiWarMovement #Venezuela

Tampa, FL – On Tuesday, March 10, around 25 students attended a rally called by Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society against the freeze on H-1B visas and USFPD’s collaboration with ICE.

In February, the USF Police Department officially signed on to the 287(g) agreement that allows their officers to cross train as Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Earlier this month, the Florida Board of Governors, the governing body for public universities in Florida, approved a freeze on hiring new faculty through the H-1B visa program until the end of the year. The H-1B visa program allows employers nationwide to hire foreign workers for specialty occupations like professors. USF’s new President Moez Limayem was previously a recipient of the visa.

In response to these actions taken by the school, Tampa Bay SDS called a rally to demand USF protect international students and faculty. Students demanded that USF be designated a sanctuary campus, and for administration and USFPD to refuse to work with ICE, including not inviting them to the career fairs on campus.

“If they truly want to live up to the values they advertise, then they must prove it. Not with marketing slogans or student clubs, but with real protections and policies,” said SDS member Jayce Solis. “Until that happens, we will continue to organize, speak out, and we will continue to fight for the safety and dignity for every student on this campus.”

#TampaFL #FL #StudentMovement #ImmigrantRights

Tampa, FL – On Sunday, March 8, over 100 people marched through downtown Tampa for International Women’s Day. The march started and ended at Tampa City Hall.

Organized by the Tampa Immigrants’ Rights Committee, the event featured an organization fair and speakers from eight different organizations. The crowd chanted “No fear, no hate, no ICE in our state,” “Money for jobs and education, not for war and deportation” and “My body my choice,” receiving enthusiastic support from passing by drivers and pedestrians.

Stephanie Yocum, president of the West Central Florida Labor Council, talked about the militant working-class women who created International Women’s Day, stating, “Today belongs to working women past and present, to those who demand dignity at work, to those who understand that justice in jobs is justice in life, and to those who continue that struggle today.”

Yocum also highlighted Florida Senate Bill 1296 which would raise the threshold for union recertification. This bill passed the Florida Senate on Friday, March 6. Like many other anti-union legislations in Florida, this one also does not apply to police, firefighters or correctional officers.

Yunqing Zheng from TampaIRC said, “we demand justice for women killed by increased border militarization, and we demand no ICE in our communities. Women and young girls in detention centers suffer from sexual assault to sterilization to medical neglect including denial of life saving care and postpartum care. We saw this happen in Tampa with Heidi Sanchez and Mabelyn Hernandez-Diaz who were detained while still nursing.” They also demanded justice for Renee Good, whose killer – Jonathan Ross – has yet to be charged and convicted.

“Building the fight against Trump and his agenda is crucial to fighting women’s oppression,” said Victoria Hinckley of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization. “We also demand no war with Iran! We refuse to believe the lies being told to us by the ruling class that the bombs the U.S. drop on Iran is somehow liberating for women.”

The event also featured speakers from Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society, Tampa Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, Tampa Democratic Socialists of America, and Hillsborough Young Democrats.

#TampaFL #FL #InternationalWomensDay #ImmigrantRights #WomensMovement

Tampa, FL – On Tuesday, March 3, 13 students rallied near the University of South Florida (USF) at a protest called by Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society (SDS). Cars honked, and pedestrians raised their fists in solidarity with the rally.

Tampa Bay SDS recently announced that the 287(g) agreement between the USF Police Department and Immigration and Customs Enforcement was made official and active on February 10. This agreement expands the duties of local police departments to act as immigration agents, posing a danger to international and immigrant students at USF.

“The new USF president, Moez Limayem, may present himself as a progressive USF president but look at what he has done!” Vicky Tong, a member of Tampa Bay SDS, declared. “Just two months into becoming USF president, Moez approved USFPD to collaborate with ICE, and approved USFPD to sign onto this 287(g) agreement.”

While students held up signs reading, “Fuck ICE” and “Sanctuary campus now,” students chanted “Money for education, not for war and deportations!”

“No student and no teacher should be afraid of being arrested or deported because of their immigration status,” Dhanvi Patel, a Tampa Bay SDS member, shouted. “We will continue to fight here on our streets, on our campus, until we have a university that truly supports and protects all students and faculty!”

#TampaFL #FL #StudentMovement #ImmigrantRights #SDS

Tampa, FL – On Thursday, February 26, Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society mobilized around 15 students to demand U.S. hands off Cuba.

As a part of their organization’s National Day of Action, Tampa Bay SDS held a rally in solidarity with Cuba, and to demand the U.S. out of Latin America and an end to the blockade against Cuba.

“The U.S. war machine infringes on sovereign nations and tries to take its natural resources,” said member Vicky Tong. “In Cuba, the U.S. enacted and is still enacting an embargo that has gone on for 60 years too long.”

Members also denounced the multiple attempts of U.S. intervention in Latin America, including the kidnapping of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores that severed the main lifeline Cuba had to oil. Students demanded an end to all U.S. intervention, explaining that the only people who benefit from these acts is the U.S. government.

“These ruthless attempts by the U.S. to isolate Cuba will not go unnoticed,” SDS member Allie Enriquez said. “The Cuban people continue to remain resilient despite the ongoing attacks the Western world continues to send their way. Despite the attacks from the U.S. over the years, socialist Cuba has continued to build a society for and by the working people.”

#TampaFL #FL #AntiWarMovement #Cuba #StudentMovement #SDS

Tampa, FL – On Thursday, February 27, around 30 trade unionists gathered in Ybor City for a press conference and rally against SB 1296, an anti-worker bill that is currently being heard in the Florida Senate. The West Central Florida Labor Council organized the rally against the bill that targets public sector unions.

Building off of previous legislation that requires annual recertification elections for public sector unions, this new bill raises the threshold for recertification and puts limits on the types of union activities that workers can engage in during company time. Like previous legislation, the bill puts a significant burden on unions to collect information cards for recertification and gather data for yearly financial audits. After similar legislation passed two years ago, 54 public sector unions were decertified, leaving 63,000 workers without union representation.

Stephanie Yocum, president of the West Central Florida Labor Council and of the Polk Education Association, explained that all the bill does is make it harder for working Floridians to make a living.

Brian Nathan, a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, spoke to the importance of private sector workers standing in solidarity with public sector workers. Lauren Pineiro, a union flight attendant and member of Florida Future Labor Leaders, also spoke, saying that unions are necessary for securing better working conditions.

Workers across Florida, including many at the rally, are travelling to Tallahassee on Monday to speak out against the bill when it is discussed during the Fiscal Policy Committee.

#TampaFL #FL #Labor

Tampa, FL – On an unusually windy Saturday, February 14 in front of Tampa city hall, the Tampa Immigrants Rights Committee, along other groups, held a rally to shine a light on House Bill 419/Senate Bill 316, otherwise known as the Visible Act.

This weekend of action was held in coordination with other immigrant rights groups all across the state, including Tallahassee, Orlando and Jacksonville, to build support for the bill. The act, introduced in the Florida House by Representative Angie Nixon of Jacksonville, would require immigration police to show clear identification at all times, prevent them from covering their faces, and levy punishments if they violate this law.

About 50 people came out on the blustery day to show their support for this measure. The event was attended by members of the Tampa Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (TAARPR), Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), and Freedom Road Socialist Organization.

V Garcia, speaking on behalf of TAARPR stated, “The current lack of identification not only emboldens wrongdoing by officers, but makes it harder to hold them accountable, in a system where simple accountability is already an uphill battle.”

As the nation has seen masked ICE and CBP agents gun down immigrants and legal observers and random bystanders, such as Renee Good, Keith Porter Jr. and Silverio Gonzalez, among dozens of others killed on the streets and in detention centers, the demand from the people for accountability and justice has gotten too loud to ignore, leading to bills like this one.

Speaking on behalf of the student movement, Tourmaline Montarroyos with Tampa Bay SDS, stated, “That is why I believe we should advocate and fight for something radical, something which can be freeing to those who suffer the most, Legalization for all!”

Speakers from Tampa Immigrants Rights Committee pushed for attendees to call and email their state representatives in Tallahassee to demand they support the Visible Act. This weekend of action was only the first step in the coordination to support this bill. A statewide mobilization to Tallahassee is planned for when the bill is up for public comment is planned.

#TampaFL #FL #ImmigrantRights

Tampa, FL – UCF’s Students for a Democratic Society is taking steps to deepen its ties to organized labor and the working class by holding an event they dubbed “From The Classroom to The Shop Floor,” February 5, inviting representatives from local labor unions to explain their experiences organizing and labor solidarity to the students.

Representatives from Seminole Education Association, the union representing public school teachers in the Orlando area, and UNITE HERE Local 632, representing workers at Disney parks, were invited alongside members of Freedom Road Socialist Organization.

A member of SDS emphasized the importance of students joining the working class out of college to use their SDS experience to employ militant, progressive mass organizing to the labor movement, what FRSO organizer Conor Munro dubbed “fusion” in his discussion on FRSO’s strategy of returning socialism to the working class through “class struggle unionism.”

SDS Vice President Vanessa Christaldi discussed the imperative for students to take their experience organizing on campus to their communities and unions if they want to effectively organize for social change.

SEA member Edmund Anglero spoke on his history as a student organizer at FSU and his transition into union organizing after he became a teacher. UNITE HERE member Victoria Burns discussed what unions do for workers, how they grow and organize, and the challenges they face in states such as Florida with notorious “right to work” laws and legislators working tirelessly for years to sabotage unions, especially public sector unions such as SEA.

An engaged audience was happy to ask the speakers what made them wish to join a union, their hopes for future activism, and how to get involved locally.

#TampaFL #FL #StudentMovement #SDS #Labor

Tampa, FL – Dozens of students from Wharton High School walked out on February 9 in protest of the Trump administration's vicious attacks on immigrants. Students chanted “No justice, no peace, no ICE in our streets” and other students cheered from buses as they left at the end of the school day.

Students were vocal about their support for immigrants. Wharton student Isabella Concepcion said, “We mean it when we say no human is illegal on stolen land, they don’t have the right to deport them.” “We need to welcome foreigners, not mistreat them,” said Angelina Jones, also a Wharton student.

The action was organized by the Students for a Democratic Society chapter at Wharton High School who plan to continue to organize against the Trump administration.

#TampaFL #FL #StudentMovement #ImmigrantRights #SDS #HighSchool

Tampa, FL – This past weekend, the Andrew Joseph foundation held a benefit gala on the 12th year angelversary of Andrew Joseph III.

Lovingly known by family and friends as “Peewee,” Andrew Joseph, III was a 14-year-old student who was attending a school district-supported fair day with friends when he was struck and killed by a motorist as he tried to cross Interstate 4 on foot after being wrongfully detained, ejected, transported and then abandoned outside of the fair by local law enforcement officials, Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, with no call to parents.

The gala’s theme was “Coming to America” which was in part inspired by an 1980s movie of the same name, but also in part by the African Diaspora all across the world over the last several centuries. Deanna Joseph, co-founder of AJF and mother to Andrew Joseph III stated, “What began as a sacred gathering through the Coming to America Gala has grown into a worldwide diaspora collective rooted in remembrance, culture and connection across oceans and generations.”

The gala was hosted by community leader Dr. Michelle N. Williams and had a number of cultural performances, sermons and featured keynote speaker Norman Harris. The speakers recounted the monumental struggles that the Joseph Family has waged and won, from civil lawsuits to statewide policy reform. As the event came to a close, the Josephs emphasized the continued and ongoing work that must be done to address systemic racism and police terror all across the United States and beyond.

“From Florida to Africa. From grieving families to global community. The work is moving onward,” said Deanna Joseph.

#TampaFL #FL #InJusticeSystem #OppressedNationalities #AfricanAmerican #KillerCops #PoliceCrimes

Tampa, FL – On February 6, over 25 high school students from Blake High School in Tampa, Florida walked out to protest Trump's attacks on immigrants around the country.

As students rallied on campus ready to walk out, school administration locked the gates surrounding the campus to stop the walkout. Days before the walkout, Hillsborough County Schools sent out an email threatening disciplinary action against students partaking in walkouts – a clear violation of students’ First Amendment rights. Nonetheless, several students jumped the gates of their school and successfully walked out. More joined the rally at the end of classes.

From off campus, members of the Tampa Immigrants Rights Committee, Tampa Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society, and community members chanted “Let the students walk,” until students were able to march off campus. Organizers helped lead the students along their march.

Chanting “No fear, no hate, no ICE in our state” and “No Trump, no KKK, no racist USA,” students marched around the block and gave speeches. Students spoke against Trump, deportations and ICE. Ashely Garcia said, “They call us illegal but eat from our hands.”

Students who attempted to march back onto campus to join with others who were unable to leave campus were confronted by police threatening to trespass them. Despite this threat, students continued their rally off campus in high spirits, receiving much support from passing drivers.

#TampaFL #FL #ImmigrantRights #ICE #TIRC #TAARPR #StudentMovement #HighSchool

Tampa, FL – On Thursday January 29 around 40 people attended a protest held by Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society near the USF campus.

Tampa Bay SDS held this action in accordance with a national week of action to demand a sanctuary campus now and to stand in solidarity with Minneapolis where protests are demanding justice for those killed by ICE.

The crowd of students was lively with chants of “¡Chinga la migra!” and “Sanctuary campus now!”

Speakers at the protest condemned the University Police Department signing onto a 287(g) program with ICE which allows UPD to be trained by ICE and act as ICE agents, along with inviting Customs and Border Patrol to recruit on campus.

Tampa Immigrants’ Rights Committee member Erain Boxtha told the crowd, “We are here to stand hand in hand with Minneapolis, to demand justice for Alex, justice for Renee, and justice for all the those killed by ICE.”

Tampa Bay SDS has long been at odds with the USF administration and the school’s political repression of the group.

SDS member Briana Beebe said,“They can try to kick SDS off campus, but the USF administration can’t silence the student movement!”

#TampaFL #FL #StudentMovement #ImmigrantRights #ICE #SDS

Tampa, FL – On a balmy Saturday evening at Tampa City Hall, January 24, the Tampa community came out for another emergency action after federal agents executed a Minneapolis man, Alex Pretti, for observing ICE operations.

The rally coincided with the nearby Gasparilla Children’s Parade, which meant pirate-themed floats drove by as activists demanded justice for the murder of Alex Pretti, and for ICE to be removed from Tampa and all cities across the country. The rally was called by Tampa Immigrants Rights Committee, responding to a call to action from the Legalization for All network, had a couple hundred attendees as well as heavy news coverage. The atmosphere was one of anger and defiance, not the helplessness that Trump wants.

Speakers from Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society, Tampa Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, Freedom Road Socialist Organization, and Tampa Immigrants Rights Committee, all united around the demand for legalization for all, ICE out of our cities, stop the deportations, and the end of the 287(g) agreement between Tampa Police Department and ICE. This agreement, signed in secret, allows Tampa cops to act as immigration enforcement agents, which given the string of murders already perpetrated by ICE endangers the people of Tampa.

Vicky Tong, of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization, summarized the past year of repression, “Trump has deployed ICE to enforce a racist anti-immigrant agenda targeting Chicanos, Mexicanos, Central Americans, Somalis and others. People standing in solidarity with immigrants, like Renee Nicole Good and Alex Jeffrey Pretti, acting as community observers, are apparently targets too.”

Joseph Nohava, of the Tampa Immigrants Rights Committee, speaking of the dangers of allowing Tampa police to act as immigration agents, asked the crowd, “We’ve seen what immigration police are allowed to get away with already. We’ve seen it in Chicago, Los Angeles and Minneapolis, and across the country. Do you want that in Tampa? Do you think our city’s 287(g) agreement makes our community in any way safer?” The crowd responded with a resounding, “No!”

The rally concluded with a request for all present to take part in TampaIRC’s calls and emails to Mayor Jane Castor, Tampa Police Chief Bercaw, and Tampa City Council, to demand an end to the 287(g) agreement.

As the final speech wrapped up, one last parade float honked in support of the rally, to cheers from the crowd.

#TampaFL #FL #ImmigrantRights #TampaIRC #AlexPretti

Tampa, FL – On January 20, hundreds of people gathered at Tampa City Hall to protest on the one-year anniversary of Trump's second term. The event was organized by the Tampa Immigrants’ Rights Committee as part of a national day of action called by Legalization for All and 50501 National.

Protesters held signs that read “Stop ICE murders”, “Fight Trump's agenda”, and “Stop ICE terror.” The crowd chanted, “No boots on the ground, no ICE in our streets, end 287(g),” “Money for education, not for war and deportation” and “No Trump! No KKK! No racist USA.” The event received enthusiastic support from passing drivers.

The event had speakers from a variety of local struggles including the immigrants rights and anti-war movement.

In his first year, Trump spent billions everyday while making numerous cuts to programs like SNAP and Medicaid.

Allie Enriquez from Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society said, “Trump and his lackeys scramble to start war with other countries to continue lining their own pockets with war money.”

Speakers emphasized the need to organize locally against the Trump agenda, especially around ICE and the need to end Tampa's 287(g) agreement.

“We, here in Tampa, have a mayor and a police chief who have signed on to work with ICE through what’s known as a 287g agreement. That enables police to act as immigration agents, get trained, and paid, to work shoulder to shoulder with ICE in helping them abduct people,” said Joseph Nohava from TampaIRC. “We have taken up a campaign to get that agreement revoked, and this isn’t a theoretical problem, it’s a pressing issue because TPD has already taken $430 thousand to start training its cops to be immigration agents.”

Emma Rice, from the Tampa Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression stated, “With community control of the police, Tampa Police Department would never have been allowed to sign onto the 287(g) agreement.”

Speakers talked about the growing resistance and organizing against Trump's attacks, highlighting the national response to the murder of Renee Good by ICE agent Jonathan Ross and the immediate community response from Minneapolis.

“The resistance from last month alone has shown that people are not willing to take Trump's attacks lying down,” said Lauren Piniero from the Freedom Road Socialist Organization. “Everywhere the forces of oppression go, they are met with bravery and defiance.”

TampaIRC ended the event with a call-to-action by passing out flyers directing people to call and email Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw, and Tampa city council to demand an ordinance to end Tampa's 287(g) agreement.

#TampaFL #FL #ImmigrantRights #PeoplesStruggles #AntiWarMovement #Trump #TIRC

Tampa, FL – House Bill 995 is the most recent attack on public sector unions currently going through the legislature in Florida. This bill may be the most recent anti-union bill, but it comes with a history of bills destabilizing public sector unions.

In 2023, Governor Ron DeSantis began aggressively ramping up attacks against public sector unions with Senate Bill 256. Under SB 256, all public sector unions are required to maintain at least 60% of their members to be dues-paying members each year in order to be recertified and maintain their union status. This bill has had a disastrous impact on Florida’s public unions since then, gutting the majority of public sector unions.

Florida is currently a right-to-work state, which means employees must opt into paying their dues, which has already lowered union enrollment. Now, with SB 256, a majority of unions have been unable to hold the 60% line in order to be recertified.

If passed this year, House Bill 995 will once again change the recertification process of public sector unions. Under HB 995, public sector unions would be required to certify or recertify by winning a majority of bargaining unit members, not just a majority of voting members. This means that in a recertification vote with 50% of employees voting, if the recertification was voted for by union members at 61%, it would only count as a 30.5% vote by all bargaining unit members – despite winning a clear majority amongst voting members, the union would be decertified. This bill has the power to decimate any remaining public sector unions within the next recertification cycle if passed.

Thankfully, despite union repression within Florida, the state is still home to many fighting union leaders who are proud to take up the fight for their unions to maintain their certifications. As the bill works its way through the Florida House to be voted on, many union members will fight to see that it is not passed.

#TampaFL #FL #Labor

Tampa, FL – On January 13, approximately 70 people attended a rally at the intersection of USF Palm and Fletcher to demand ICE off campus and justice in the wake of the killing of Nicole Renee Good in Minneapolis.

The protest was organized by Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society as a call to action against ICE.

The University of South Florida had reposted on their career services website recruitment effort by Customs and Border Patrol. During the past fall semester, the University of South Florida had invited CBP onto campus for a career fair and USFPD has signed onto the 287(g) agreement allowing officers to be cross trained as ICE agents.

In addition to students and Tampa Bay SDS, the event was attended by community members and members of the Tampa Immigrant Rights Committee. Student organizers spoke about standing in solidarity with Minneapolis, about legalization for all, and to demand that USF take the steps to become a sanctuary campus.

Halima Shaikh, member of SDS, said “A sanctuary campus is a responsibility, a responsibility that the USF administration has to its students, the very students that give them power and money.”

The energy of the crowd was passionate as chants like “No Trump, no KKK, no racist USA!” and “Immigrants are welcome here!” rang out from across the university. Vehicles leaving the university and driving past the intersection honked for the demonstrators or showed off signs with exclamations of solidarity.

After the murder of Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis, National Students for a Democratic Society called for a week of action against ICE, this event in Tampa being one of many actions across the nation as individuals are outraged by violence perpetuated by ICE.

#TampaFL #FL #immigrantRights #StudentMovement #SDS #ICE #SDS #ReneeGood