Posted on 07/23/2013 6:51:42 PM PDT by Tailgunner Joe
TALLAHASSEE -- When the young activists known as the Dream Defenders marched into Gov. Rick Scott’s office last week, few observers expected the group to attract much attention.
But seven days later, the Dream Defenders have proven hard to ignore.
What began as a modest protest has morphed into a week-long occupation of the Florida Capitol. The organizers, most of whom are college students and young professionals, say they are prepared to stay for weeks or even months — as long as it takes for Scott to call a special session on racial profiling and the state’s controversial Stand Your Ground law.
Nevermind that Scott has refused, making the odds of a special session almost non-existent.
“We stay until we win,” said Gabriel Pendas, one of the group’s co-founders.
Over the past week, the Dream Defenders have emerged as a well-organized coalition with the keen ability to remain in the news cycle. On Tuesday, they announced plans to hold weekly demonstrations in the Florida Capitol, a strategy akin to the Moral Monday protests taking place in North Carolina. The Dream Defenders news conference was broadcast live on the World Wide Web.
In the end, the Dream Defenders may not be able to win a special session. But they may succeed in prompting legislative action through another route.
Sen. Chris Smith, a Fort Lauderdale Democrat, is calling for a hearing on Stand Your Ground law when the Legislature holds its next committee week in September.
Democratic leaders in the House are on board with the idea.
“The kids have the right idea taking it right to the governor,” House Minority Leader Perry Thurston said. “We’re trying to have a compromise by having a common-sense conversation addressing those issues.”
The Dream Defenders began their protest last Tuesday, three days after George Zimmerman was acquitted in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin, an unarmed black 17-year-old.
The activists, who are students and young professionals from across the state, are calling for legislation in Trayvon’s name that would repeal the existing Stand Your Ground law, address racial profiling and eliminate zero tolerance policies in schools.
The group has taken an organized approach to the occupation that they say is sustainable for the next several weeks.
Taking a cue from Occupy Wall Street — at least one of their organizers spent time in Zuccotti Park — they have formed a half-dozen committees with different responsibilities. One committee is tasked with community outreach. Another handles the meals and sleeping arrangements. A separate team makes sure everyone is exercising, resting and staying clean.
Meals are an organized affair. Group members keeps tab on when food was donated, and make an effort to eat the perishables first.
They also keep a regular count of the toothbrushes, soaps, towels, vitamins, pillows and blankets they have in stock — and frequently update the list of supplies that they need.
“We have everything we need,” Dream Defenders director Phillip Agnew said. “It’s not like we’re comfortable, but it’s not supposed to be comfortable. We could stay here easily for the next few weeks.”
The Capitol police have no plans to ask the Dream Defenders to leave, Florida Department of Law Enforcement spokeswoman Gretl Plessinger said Tuesday. So far, there have been no dust-ups with police, records show.
Bought and paid for by Obamao For Amerika
In your face America!!!
How long before the state police are called in to flush this garbage out or they loose interest and slink back into their sewers?
At least no one is missing work...
C’mon up and protest Michigan’s stand your ground law through the winter. LOL
Bought and paid for by Obamao For Amerika
Some of Vallerie Jarrett’s flying monkeys.
Here's a common sense conversation: people have the right to defend themselves against those that will attack them. That includes using "the great equalizer", as it was known centuries ago.
Of course they will. As long as they stay, they get both their welfare and holder money. /probably
Where’s that picture of the fat cop with the giant can of pepper spray?
Scott needs to call Gov Walker of Wisconsin & see how they removed protestors from the capitol building in Madison.
They’re probably getting college credit too.
Why don’t they turn off the power and water in the building?
Why aren’t they arrested for trespassing? Of course we have constitutional rights to protest and all that, but, they don’t have a right to occupy the capitol building or the governor’s office.
Are the powers that be afraid of the reaction if there were arrests made?
Then, just turn off the air conditioning and let them sweat.
Just wait till January and then spray them down with some water canons...guarantee they leave or become statues.
The protesters would go away if the media didn’t keep giving them press coverage. You know, like how the media ignore all of King Zero’s scandals. They refuse to cover and report on them (much) hoping that people will forget about them and they will fade away.
Who takes care of the bathroom arrangements? Are they using up all the toilet paper in the bathrooms? Are the bathrooms being resupplied while they are there? If so, they should cut them off.
Any girls get raped yet? I hate to shock people with such a statement, but, girls got raped at Occupy Wall Street. With the same type of parade of similar kooks and crackpots, it wouldn’t be surprising to see such things happen here.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.