Posted on 10/17/2002 12:45:42 PM PDT by isasis
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Sawgrass Rebellion protesters arrive in state capital
Thursday, October 17, 2002
By MICHAEL PELTIER, mpeltier1234@comcast.net
TALLAHASSEE — Property rights advocates brought their "Bucket Brigade" to the state capitol Wednesday, the latest stop in a cross-country protest that travels to Naples today or Friday.
Two weeks after leaving their homes in Klamath Falls, Ore, road-weary members of the Sawgrass Rebellion brought their message and symbols to Tallahassee to protest state and federal efforts to restore portions of the Florida Everglades by flooding lands now containing homes or used for agriculture.
They were joined by an Ohio farmer who likewise traveled a great distance to make the point: that state and federal environmental programs, including the restoration of the Everglades, are tearing hardworking people from their land with little if any environmental benefit.
The convoy is coming to South Florida at the behest of local property rights groups angered by restrictions placed on their lands by a host of environmental programs ranging from the Endangered Species Act to Everglades Restoration.
After a rally in Naples on Friday, the group and their supporters travel to Homestead for a Saturday event to support farmers whose lands east of the Everglades will be flooded as part of the Everglades restoration effort.
"Things are shaping up for a great day," said local organizer Bill Lohta, whose Property Rights Action Committee is sponsoring the event.
"We're looking forward to a great day with plenty of food, music and dignitaries from across the country," Lohta said in a prepared statement. "We couldn't be more pleased with how this has come together."
The converging convoys, highlighted by a pair of 10-foot-tall metal buckets and a 13-foot-long shovel — twin symbols of their effort — led the cadre of protesters who stopped for the night in Tallahassee before continuing their trek to Naples today.
"We're just farmers and ranchers and regular folks," said Bill Ransom, a retired Oregon farmer and logger from Klamath Falls, who, a year ago, led efforts to thwart a federal environmental program that shut off water to drought-stricken farmers in the Klamath Basin to save endangered suckerfish and salmon species in the Klamath Basin.
The diversion decimated farmers, who lost more than $200 million and forced some to lose their farms. In addition, the diversion had a series of unintended consequences that threatened other species, including the endangered Coho salmon.
Local farmers and ranchers, along with supporters, formed a "bucket brigade" to raise money for Klamath farmers. Earlier this year, the federal government turned the water back on.
"To save one species, the suckerfish, the federal government did harm to 400 other species," said Frank Wallace, a retired farmer who traveled from Klamath with his wife, Peggy. "Makes a lot of sense, doesn't it?"
Meeting with Florida Assistant Secretary of State David Mann in a hastily arranged ceremony, the group exchanged a normal-sized shovel and bucket for a Florida state flag, one of 10 the group has collected in their 3,000-mile trek that led them through 11 states.
The Naples rally will take place starting at 1 p.m. Friday at the corner of Desoto Boulevard and 18th Avenue Southeast in Golden Gate Estates. The entourage will leave for Homestead at 10 a.m. Saturday.
The group originally was asked to come to Homestead by the Dade County Farm Bureau, which later withdrew its support, in a move that Ransom said appeared to be politically motivated. The Florida Farm Bureau recently endorsed Gov. Jeb Bush in his re-election bid.
Dade farm bureau officials said in an Oct. 14 letter they were withdrawing support because of inadequate planning time.
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Sawgrass Rebellion protesters arrive in state capital ????
I talked with them on the phone to get a read on how far away they were. Turns out they were a little north of Tampa, to far to make it in time.
Just as well because TonyWojo and I went to the "rally" and there was only about 20 people and no media. Wasn't put together very well.
The convoy will be rolling into town about 9:30 tommorow. Looking very forward to meeting your brother. We'll take very good care of him.
Let's Roll !!
The RATS Are In Disarray...Eradicate The Rodents !!
Fire Democrats, Hire Republicans !!
GWB Is The Man !!
Snuff Saddam, NOW !!
Death To all Tyrant's !!
The Second Amendment...
America's Original Homeland Security !!
Freedom Is Worth Fighting For !!
Molon Labe !!
A little bias, perhaps?
That's why I was asking. Did the people involved consider it a success or not?
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