Large rallies were held by different groups representing working class Floridians this weekend. Meanwhile, activists are gearing up to Awake the State with rallies all over Florida on Tuesday March 8.
Thousands of Florida's teachers rallied against state education cuts in several locations Friday.
In Collier County, the focus was on the merit pay system:
Hundreds of Collier County teachers are rallying against proposed changes to the way teachers are evaluated in the state. Just days from now, the Legislature will meet to consider whether teachers pay should be based on their students FCAT scores-- a concept causing uproar with educators across Florida.
On Friday, about 350 teachers rallied at nine different intersections within Collier County to voice fierce opposition to that legislation.
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Demonstrations in Pinellas and Pasco Counties collectively drew hundreds:
Hundreds of teachers in Pasco and Pinellas counties rallied on street corners and outside lawmakers' offices Friday, just days before the Florida Legislature meets to consider historic changes in how teachers are hired, fired, paid and evaluated.
The Tampa Bay events took place as teachers unions and other unions across the state are also ramping up outrage over legislative efforts to limit union power, require public employees to contribute to their pensions and cut education spending.
"The sharks are at the boat, and the teachers are tired of being the chum," said Pinellas teachers union president Kim Black.
Barbara Perez, 62, a third-grade teacher at Anona Elementary, was among more than 100 who gathered at Ulmerton Road and 66th Street in Largo. About 700 teachers in all rallied at three locations.
Read more: http://www.tampabay.com/...
Teachers in Polk, Palm Beach, Miami-Dade, Columbia, St. Lucie and Collier counties also had rallies in the past week.
Florida's Immokalee Workers held a triumphant 2 day homecoming Friday and Saturday. Celebrating the end of their Do The Right Thing national tour fighting for fair wages and working conditions, the Coalition of Immokalee Workers staged protests at area Publix supermarkets on Friday then held multiple marches culminating at the South Tampa Publix with a 1,500 person demonstration:
The Coalition of Immokalee Workers group wrapped up a five-city national tour Saturday. Supporters from church groups also joined coalition members for the Tampa events.
Around 30,000 workers harvest Florida's $619 million tomato crop. Protesters wore green T-shirts and hoisted large signs calling for "food justice." The coalition held three separate marches in downtown Tampa before ending at a Publix store.
Read more: http://www2.tbo.com/...
These large protests foreshadow a statewide day of action planned for Florida on Tuesday, March 8 - the legislature's first day in session.
No Floridian can afford more budget cuts.
Gov. Rick Scott and legislative leaders have launched an all-out assault on Florida workers and their families. Gov. Scott's budget, combined with devastating proposals from the legislature, would cut billions from our public schools, harm the quality of health care Floridians receive, and cut thousands of jobs.
Average Floridians are fed up with their governor and legislative leaders insisting on balancing the budget on the backs of hard-working Floridians. Enough is enough.
It's time to Awake The State with local rallies around throughout Florida urging our state legislators to reject budget cuts and invest in Floridians again.
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What is Awake the State and how did it begin?
Ever since Gov. Scott and legislative leaders announced their plans to cut thousands of jobs, raise taxes on hardworking Floridians and make the deepest cuts to education in history, people from all across the state have been looking for a way to voice their opposition.
Progress Florida, Florida Watch Action and America Votes joined together to provide a platform for everyday Floridians to make their voices heard. Awake the State started as a Facebook page that quickly grew to thousands strong who have now organized rallies in cities all across the state of Florida.
Who is behind it?
Awake the State rallies are being organized by Floridians from every walk of life including educators, healthcare workers, police and firefighters, advocates for consumers, working families and more.
I marched with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers on Saturday and I've been promoting Awake the State for a few weeks now and I can honestly say that this event has a lot of buzz. Normally apolitical people have been awakened by the attacks on the working class in Wisconsin and other states and folks who would never ever consider attending a political rally are anxious to hit the streets and have their voices heard.
Bill Van Arsdale isn’t an activist.
But about six weeks ago, Van Arsdale, a longtime Realtor in Collier County, got “radicalized.” He wasn’t pleased with the direction Republican Gov. Rick Scott was taking the state, and decided it was time to stand up and speak out for what he believes in.
Van Arsdale is among the Floridians who have organized more than two dozen Awake the State rallies. The rallies – scheduled throughout the state for Tuesday – are being held as a way to urge legislators to reject proposed budget cuts.
“We need to push back about what’s going on here with the budget cuts and a movement to a more conservative viewpoint here,” Van Arsdale said.
Don't miss out! Check Awake The State for a rally near you. Help promote the event by posting on facebook, tweeting, or whatever you're into.
Above all else, be sure to attend a rally on Tuesday. Bring your friends and family, and exercise your rights to speak out against the coordinated attack on the working class.