Saturday, February 26, a small, but enthusiastic group of concerned citizens gathered at the Dolphin Fountain in front of the New Florida Capitol for Save the Dream rally in support of public employees in Wisconsin. Many of the participants were wearing badger red in a show of solidarity with the people of Wisconsin. Approximately one dozen people spoke at the rally. Folllow me over the fold for a photo diary of the Florida Save the Dream rally.
It was a beautiful and very hot day in Tallahassee for the Save the Dream rally. This is a park next to City Hall across the street from the Capitol where the rally was held. I estimated over 200 concerned citizens attended this rally even though it was not widely publicized and the day was very hot.
Dr. Ray Bellamy, MD speaking. Dr. Bellamy wrote a wonderful guest editorial about the assault on the middle class and upon state employees. Florida has the lowest cost of state employees of all fifty states and the fewest number of employees per population. State employees have not had a cost of living adjustment in six years. Despite that, Rick Scott wants to cut another 9,000 employees from the state payroll while cutting corporate taxes.
Views of the crowds which turned out in support of Wisconsin public employees. The majority of this crowd was composed of teachers, retired public employees and sympathizers. There were almost no state of Florida employees in attendance because they are very fearful of losing their jobs simply for attending this rally
City Commissioner, Andrew Gillum giving a very inspirational speech to the crowd about we cannot allow union busting because it is the only safety net left to protect public employees and the middle class. Comm. Gillum warned that Wisconsin is just the first in an organized nationwide effort of union busting and the demolition of the middle class. Comm. Gillum has a very bright political future if he ever chooses to run for higher office.
State Representative Michelle Rehwinkle Vasilinda spoke about need for forming an alliance between middle class, public employees and small businesses in order to save both the middle class and small businesses.
Karen Epple from Moveon gave a terrific speech urging us citizens to continue to fight by returning March 8 for Awake the State rally.
Barbara DeVane, former school teacher and union organizer, now a lobbyist for retirees, gave a very fiery speech in which she told everyone exactly what she thought of (f***ing) Rick Scott in an old union song.
Kim Ross of the Department of Environmental Protection was the only state employee to speak. She said that state employees are afraid to attend these rallies for fear of losing their jobs and that some have even been threatened with firing for questioning Rick Scott's policies.
There were three Tea Partiers who tried to disrupt the rally by placing signs directly next to the speakers. People in the crowd used their own signs to block the Tea party signs after the Tea Partiers refused to move or leave. The crowds at the Florida rally were very generous in their support for public employees in the state of Wisconsin and were regularly chanting "Wisconsin, Wisconsin" and "The Tea Party is Over."