Politics

Tea Party, Occupy Tallahassee Organize for Legislature's Opening Day

By: Kenric Ward | Posted: January 6, 2012 3:55 AM
Click to EnlargeLeft: Tea Party Movement, right: Occupy Tallahassee protestors | Credit: Michael Tefft - Flickr
Demonstrating their inside and outside games, a statewide tea party coalition and a host of "progressive" groups will converge on the Capitol on Tuesday as the Legislature begins its 2012 session.

Working the outside, Occupy Tallahassee has already set up a base at Gaines Street Commons. Purporting to represent the "99 percent," the group will be joined by like-minded activists from around the state.

To kick things off Tuesday, the left-wing coalition has reserved the Old Capitol Steps from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. for a daylong series of rallies and speeches.

A week later, activist academic Cornel West -- the self-described "provocative democratic intellectual" -- is scheduled to speak at an Occupy protest.

Working the inside on Tuesday, the Tea Party Network will host a morning coffee reception for lawmakers in Room 117 of the Knott Building.

TPN has also reserved the Old Capitol steps from 7-9 a.m., but doesn't plan a repeat of the large public tea party rally that was held there last year.

"We will have one individual with one sign," said TPN chairwoman Patricia Sullivan. In a rebuttal to the Occupy slogan "This is What a Democracy Looks Like," Sullivan suggested that the tea sign may read "This is What a Republic Looks Like."

The Tea Party Network -- a coalition of 70 groups across the state -- will conduct a board meeting on Monday, and Sullivan promises "a pretty packed agenda" leading into the legislative session.

Barbara DeVane, a longtime liberal activist, envisions "a very lively day" on Tuesday.

Following Gov. Rick Scott's 11 a.m. State of the State address, DeVane said progressives assembled at the Old Capitol will deliver a "Message from Main Street."

"There's energy. People are seeing what's happening," said Tabitha Frazier of the Florida Alliance for Retired Citizens.

Rallying under Progress Florida's year-old "Awake the State" campaign, scheduled participants include public- and private-sector labor unions, college students, retirees, women's-rights advocates and the NAACP.

Also on hand will be activist groups Fight Back Florida and Florida New Majority, which is bringing a busload from Jacksonville.

In addition, 13 other Awake the State rallies are scheduled in cities across Florida Tuesday, said Progress Florida Chairman Mark Ferrulo.

"Those Floridians participating in Awake the State rallies on the first day of session are doing so to send a clear message to their representatives," Ferrulo said.

"Governor 'Pink Slip' Rick and his legislative allies need to end their extremist attacks on Florida’s middle class. Stop the devastating budget cuts that threaten every Floridian's quality of life and, instead, let’s start investing in our future."

Occupy TallahasseeOccupy Tallahassee organizer setting up a dome on Thursday, Jan. 5, 2012 | Credit: Jim Turner
Occupy Tallahassee plans to remain at Gaines Street Commons for at least the first week of the legislative session. West, author of "Race Matters, Democracy Matters" and 18 other books, is scheduled to speak to the group on Jan. 18.

Occupy reportedly will dispatch protesters to sit in the legislative gallery. Though no signs or verbal outbursts are permitted there, organizers could wrangle an entry pass and introduction from one of the legislators, which could give the Occupiers an opportunity to briefly express their "99 percent" message.

Comments (6)

sam gee
5:12PM JAN 6TH 2012
What a great opportunity for 2 large groups of concerned voters to discover they share common ground! I hope the Tea Party folks and the and the Occupy folks will sit down and talk like they have in Missoula. They may find they don't differ as much as they may think.
seeChange
7:07PM JAN 6TH 2012
I agree some consensus and positive change would be great, but it will also be difficult. Reducing government regulation (e.g. allowing AIG to act irresponsibly) and spending (e.g. social insurance) tends to leave most people (middle class, working class, impoverished) disadvantaged relative to those in power who benefit directly (financiers, corporations, and their politician friends). I think the Occupy people are more interested in removing big money interests from the government so it can act independently of corporations and benefit the people. This entails retaining elements of government which protect and serve the larger population. Both sides want the government to change, it's just that one group is currently promoting change which is more likely to directly benefit the wealthy (note that even in economic boom times, the wealth of the few has skyrocketed relative to the stagnant or declining wealth of the many since the 70s), and the other side is currently promoting change which is more likely to create direct benefits for the larger population. Hopefully both sides can agree on something and make changes which will benefit the larger population.
David Lane
10:53AM JAN 6TH 2012
Do Republican Tea Party people think public demonstration is unconstitutional? Why do they think that they and only they are right? I think there is a phrase in the U.S. constitution that says a purpose of government is to "promote the general welfare" I don't find anything in the constitution that says the wealthy are entitled to be pigs and not pay taxes. Eliminating laws that protect the masses and destroy the environment and hurt common people is not what the founders had in mind and their documents prove this.
Jim B.
6:54AM JAN 6TH 2012
Sullivan said, "We're not going to engage in an argument.

Had the original founders of the Tea Party had that pathetic attitude in the 1700's we would still be sipping tea and sending our taxes to the English.

Evidently civil discourse is to barbaric for the prim and proper Ms. Sullivan and her followers. One needs only look at our current crop of candidates to see that the Tea Party has now become split between the social issues and fiscal issues it was founded upon. This is outrageous and it is hoped that true leaders step up across this country or the past three years will be but a blimp on the screen of history.

Leaders that follow the path of Ms. Sullivan will be forever remembered as those who decided to have coffee rather than TEA.
libconlib
6:38AM JAN 6TH 2012
Exciting! This is democracy at its core. Dedicated liberal and conservative activists trying to change their country.
sam gee
5:14PM JAN 6TH 2012
Exactly.