Awake the State - Carol Osno

By Franco Ripple:

Yesterday was a truly historic day for Florida, with somewhere between 12-15,000 Florida patriots standing up against this Governor and legislature. Here in Broward County, in just two weeks Kristen Pesicek and I managed to pull 1,300 people together with no budget into one of the largest rallies out of 32 statewide, but we couldn't have done it without the incredible effort of some special people.




While the tea partiers denigrated our efforts as simply a "bused-in rent-a-mob" (ironic, considering tea party groups were doing the busing up to Tallahassee yesterday), we know that a coalition of hardworking community activists, union leaders and ordinary Floridians made this happen. We will always defend our opponents' right to speak and be heard, but not the right to have their own facts.




So, a million thanks to Florida GLBT Caucus director Michael Rajner, Hollywood super-activist Andrea Schenck McKinnon, Broward Democratic area leaders Ken Evans, Tim Ross and Ron Mills, Pat Santeramo and Maggie Zalamea of the Broward Teachers Union, Nadezda Stefanovic of the AFL-CIO, Jerry Hall of the Disabled American Veterans and many, many others (my apologies if I forgot anyone). Your dedication to making our community and state better is inspiring.




None of this would have been possible without the incredible coordination at the statewide level of Susannah Randolph of Florida Watch Action, Ray Seaman of Progress Florida and others. You made it possible for us to make organizing our communities into a statewide movement.




(Of course, my most personal thanks goes to my much, much better half Ashley Ligas, without whose constant support and encouragement I'd be lost.)




While we all acknowledge that our state is facing serious fiscal challenges, yesterday we sent a strong, resonant message to Tallahassee that this Governor and legislature cannot responsibly balance our budget on the backs of teachers, firefighters, law enforcement, veterans, public employees and the working-class people of our state. Yesterday showed that those who educate our children, keep our streets safe, heal the sick, defend our country and serve our cities, counties and state will band together to form a more fair, just and perfect union. Yesterday was not the end, but just the beginning.




Again, thank you all for your efforts. Together, we won.

.Email info@awakethestate.com
Website http://www.AwakeTheState.com

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Awake the State
• Impeach Rick Scott
• Vanessa Alikhan
• Mitch Ceasar
• Broward Democrats
• Unity Dinner
• Florida
• Franco Ripple
• Kriston Pesicek
• Nadezda Stefanovic