Above Photo: Protest in solidarity for the Tampa 5 in NYC. Fight Back! News/staff.
New York, NY – 20 activists held a solidarity rally at City Hall in Manhattan to demand that charges be dropped against the Tampa 5. The Tampa 5 are campus activists arrested for protesting the attacks on education by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. The solidarity rally was part of a national day of action on July 12.
On March 6, four members of Tampa Bay’s SDS and a union worker were arrested for protesting for more diversity on their University of South Florida campus. They rallied and marched against the repressive laws that DeSantis passed in Florida, specifically around the bills that target LGBTQ people, and diversity, equity and inclusion programs in higher education. Laura Rodriguez, Lauren Pineiro, Jeanie Kida, Gia Davila and Chrisley Carpio are facing felony charges for peacefully protesting on their campus.
“Protesting is not a crime! Justice for the Tampa 5,” chanted the crowd led by a New York Community Action Project (NYCAP) speaker.
“Governor DeSantis is far from being a clown. He believes in what he’s doing. He’s a white supremacist and a bigot, and he believes in his cause. And that makes him dangerous,” said Michela Martinazzi, a member of NYCAP.
Several speakers commented that if the Tampa 5 activists are charged, then organizers throughout the country will feel the repercussions. We are seeing similarly heavy repression with Cop City in Atlanta, Georgia.
If the charges against the Tampa 5 are not dropped, and the case does go to trial, NYCAP and the other organizations in attendance committed to continue to organize more rallies and stand in solidarity with the Tampa 5 activists.
Speakers suggested the success of the Tampa 5 solidarity campaign potentially delivers a major blow to DeSantis as he runs for U.S. president over the next year. The DeSantis campaign is already stumbling. Defeating DeSantis now will prevent his repressive policies and racist and bigoted attacks from going nationwide.
Speakers from New York Boricua Resistance, BAYAN USA, Women in Struggle, Freedom Road Socialist Organization, and Workers World Party spoke to the importance of the charges being dropped.
The National Alliance Against Racism and Political Repression (NAARPR) and National Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) called for the national day of action.
Other actions:
“Now is the time to mobilize, to defend the Tampa 5 and the right to protest.” Thank you to all those who braved the inclement weather yesterday to denounce Ron DeSantis’s & @USouthFlorida‘s attacks on basic democratic rights. Protesting is not a crime! Drop the charges! #Tampa5 pic.twitter.com/mj6dkRSkhk
— The Chicago Alliance (@CAARPRNow) July 13, 2023
WCFLC President @jim_junecko calls on State Attorney @SuzyLopezSA to drop the charges on the #Tampa5.
Unionists have used peaceful protest for over a century to win weekends off, child labor laws, and minimum wage laws. The prosecution of protestors is a threat to those rights! pic.twitter.com/a5N2OmTZa4
— West Central FL Labor Council 🤝 (@WCFLC) July 12, 2023
Here’s a clip from yesterdays speakout in defense of the Tampa 5 where SDS member Paul speaks about the arrest and brutalization of the 5. #Tampa5 pic.twitter.com/4kPSy1uuER
— Students for a Democratic Society – Denver (@DenverSDS) July 13, 2023
Free the #Tampa5! Drop the charges! Defend DEI in schools!
Solidarity from Jacksonville ✊️ pic.twitter.com/vL2HbhQZuQ
— 📕 (@SwampCommunist) July 12, 2023
Our @DC_YCL comrade, Tyler, spoke today at the National Day of Action for the #Tampa5 with the @dcaarpr in front of the White House.
Drop the charges now‼️ pic.twitter.com/o8HVf7iWQj
— DC Communist Party (@DCCommunists) July 13, 2023