Dream defenders.
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.
Yeah, right. This is as ‘spontaneous’ as the protests up in Wisconsin with people being bussed in. Bet you’ll find the Socialist Workers Party and the Communist Party among the organizers.
“The organizers, most of whom are college students and young professionals”
Young professional whats? If you are a professional that implies employment, so how can you miss work and still be employed? Unless you are a professional agitator, “community organizer” like our current resident was, then someone is paying you to stir up trouble.
You earned this, Governor. You get no sympathy from me. Now solve it. Maybe you can get some help from that Bondo chick?
On November 4, 2008, a majority of voters in the United States of America said, via their votes, that they no longer wanted to live in a Constitutional Republic they wanted a Banana Republic and on November 6 2012 they affirmed that this was their choice. that is where we now are.
When you sell your soul to the devil, he collects. Scott sold his soul to the lynch Zimmerman mob. I would say that he had the blessing of the Republican Party when he did. Watch for a Democrat Governor being Sworn in 2015.
I don’t know if they can live without pot for more than a week.
professional what??? If they had real jobs doing actual productive things, they probably wouldn't be able to sit in on a protest for months on end. So they must be professional protestors aka rent a mob participants.
Excuse me, but what does a “win” look like for you morons?
While they are there put them to work.
That would make them leave.
“I don’t care who you are kid,” tok, tok (that would be a nightstick applied forcefully to a skull full of mush!) “you are leaving this building!”
I cannot believe these whimps!
A bunch of LIEberal activists camping out in and trashing the Capitol building!
They are trespassing!
Arrest their slimy asses and throw the book at them!
At least he doesn’t have to worry about getting food when he has all that fat to burn.
Dream defenders.
Obviously, I am beyond outraged at this circus!
They are trespassing!
Governor WHIMP should grow some testicles, arrest them, FRog march them to jail and tell the LIEberal media to kiss his ass!
These are paid professionals... with a few useful idiots sprinkled around...
I can’t wait for hurricane season!
Hey Scott ya worthless POS,
Grow a set of balls,
Call the state Police to come and throw this trash in jail.
Wussie punk.
Thank you.
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