Tallahassee, FL – On March 28, over 5000 people gathered at the Florida Capitol for the third No Kings protest to stand against Trump. Under the Tallahassee Coalition Against Trump banner, local organizations led the protest against Trump’s racist and reactionary agenda before taking to the streets and marching around the capitol. In addition to speaking out against Trump, those in attendance demanded an end to attacks on immigrants, police violence and the war on Iran.

Speakers connected to local issues like 287(g), an agreement allowing Florida law enforcement officers to act as immigration police and detain immigrants, while rally attendees held signs like “Immigrants are welcome here” and “ICE out now.” Four law enforcement departments signed 287(g) agreements even though they were not required to do so: Florida State University Police Department, Tallahassee State College Police Department, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University Police Department and Tallahassee Police Department. The Tallahassee Immigrant Rights Alliance (TIRA) has been attending city commission meetings in recent months to demand that the city rescind its 287(g) agreement between ICE and TPD.

Speaking for TIRA on why policies like 287(g) must be eliminated, Sara Millan said, “What nation are you keeping safe? What community are you possibly keeping safe that requires you to seize innocents in their jobs, in their schools, in their homes, and eliminate them like animals?”

Regina Joseph from the Freedom Road Socialist Organization told the crowd, “The United States uses our tax dollars to kill innocent people all around the world. Just last month, the U.S. bombed an all-girls school in Iran, killing over 180 children. So far, the United States has spent over $20 billion to wage war on Iran. We cannot stand by while lives are destroyed for profit and power.”

After the first set of speeches, organizers gathered the crowd to march around the capitol complex. Immediately, the march was disrupted by violent officers with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE).

Along Pensacola Street near the capitol, where there is no sidewalk to march on, the marchers stepped onto the street, which was already closed to cars by police for the Springtime Tallahassee festival earlier in the day. Despite the road being entirely empty, FDLE officers swooped in and arrested head marshal Sadie Carlson for “obstructing a highway” and “resisting without violence.”

March attendees swarmed FDLE, shouting “Shame!” and “Let her go!” As protesters demanded her release, FDLE officers escorted Carlson into the Florida Capitol building. The protesters were not deterred and continued to demand Carlson’s freedom. Organizers and attendees immediately sprang into action, flooding the lines of the Leon County Detention Facility. Quickly after, the Tallahassee Coalition Against Trump called on attendees to mobilize outside the jail.

At the detention facility, more than 50 people began chanting “Free Sadie!” and “Protesting is not a crime!”

Speaking to the crowd, Delilah Pierre, president of the Tallahassee Community Action Committee, said, “The officers are lying when they say they can’t release her faster! They are lying about the charges! They are lying that she can’t have a lawyer! We’re going to stay here until Sadie is released, and we’re going to fight to get these made-up charges dropped!” Her words were proven true when, after less than four hours, Carlson was released thanks to the community rallying behind her.

Speaking on the mistreatment she faced and the absurdity of her arrest, Carlson, a transgender woman, said, “They didn’t get me any food. They groped my [breasts] and put me in the men’s facility. I think it’s crazy I got arrested today and Donald Trump, with all the crimes he’s committed, where is he? He’s killed innocent people in Iran and in Palestine, immigrants here. He’s a rapist, all of his buddies are rapists, and he’s not in jail!”

Carlson and TIRA will continue the fight to get her charges dropped and to end the 287(g) agreement. Stay connected by following @tlh_ira and @tallyagainsttrump as local organizers fight back against political repression.

#TallahasseeFL #FL #PeoplesStruggles #NoKings #TLHIRA #ImmigrantRights

Quincy, FL – On Tuesday, April 29, about a dozen community members gathered in front of the Gadsden County Courthouse to rally against increased ICE activity in their neighborhoods. The rally was hosted by United Voices of Gadsden (UVG), a new local group advocating for immigrants’ rights.

Facing the main road, attendees chanted “Say it once, say it twice! We will not put up with ICE!” and “Money for jobs and education, not for mass deportation!” Many passersby honked their horns and waved out their car windows in support of the demonstration.

Aracely Cruz, one of the founders of UVG, led the event. Cruz stated, “We’re here to say that immigrants are welcome in our community. The city is trying to get a grant for $1 million to build an ICE processing center in Gretna. This is not who we are – we need to stand against the racial profiling and attacks on our community.”

Gary Russ-Sills, mayor of Gretna, stated in January that ICE was welcome to use a former elementary school building as a processing center. Mayor Russ-Sills claimed that the city needed at least $1 million to renovate the space. Gretna is a rural town about 25 minutes away from Quincy with a population of about 1300 people, meaning this processing center would impact the surrounding towns and cities as well.

Members of the Tallahassee Immigrant Rights Alliance (TIRA) drove over to Quincy to offer their support. Aedan Bennett, a member of TIRA, drew connections between the two groups: “Trump and DeSantis’s racist agenda is impacting all of us – in Tallahassee the police have voluntarily signed into a 287(g) agreement with ICE to target immigrants. They want to spread terror and fear, but it won’t stop us from demanding justice. ¡Aquí estamos, y no nos vamos! [We’re here, and we’re not leaving]”

Anthony Diaz, who is also a member of UVG, stated “Before this year, there hadn’t been a protest in support of Latinos in Quincy since 2006 – there was enough people marching down the block to fill the entire lawn. We’re small now, but this is a big step. Hopefully we can show locals that we are here for them and they can join us.”

Follow United Voices of Gadsden and the Tallahassee Immigrant Rights Alliance on Instagram and Facebook for information about upcoming meetings and events:

Instagram: @UnidosQuincy and @TLH_IRA

Facebook: United Voices of Gadsden  and Tallahassee Freedom Road Socialist Organization

#QuincyFL #FL #ImmigrantRights #UVG #TLHIRA #Featured