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Florida cities to hold simultaneous demonstrations this week.
Fort Myers will be joining various cities from Pensacola to Miami this
week as the “Awake the State” campaign launches a massive coordinated
effort for the start of the new legislative year. Now in its second
year, “Awake the State” is a decentralized independent movement of
ordinary people who are working to end what they call “an attack on
the middle class”.
They will be demonstrating against the current legislature’s efforts
to balance the state budget through cuts in jobs, healthcare and
education, along with higher taxes on the middle class. They view
these “austerity measures” as an unfair way of forcing working people
to pay for the fiscal mistakes of politicians. Instead of hurting
schools and cutting jobs, they aim to balance the state budget by
cleaning up the corrupt and inefficient political system that created
the problem in the first place.
The rallies are a means to “awaken” more and more Floridians to the
dangers of the ongoing cuts to vital jobs and services, as well as the
erosion of voting rights and civil liberties. Last year’s rally in
Cape Coral saw over 900 Lee County citizens demonstrating in
solidarity with the 17,000 others at events across the state. This
year, “Awake the State”, which began as a humble Facebook page, is now
coordinating over a dozen rallies throughout Florida timed for the
start of the legislative session. They hope to have even greater
numbers in attendance this year, as they have witnessed more and more
Floridians getting fed up with the state government.
Occupy Fort Myers will join “Awake the State” in hosting a
demonstration at the district office of state representative Matt
Caldwell, on Tues. Jan 10th, the first day of Florida’s legislative
year. Representatives from both groups will be available to speak with
the media at 5pm, before the official start of the rally at 5:30pm.
There will be a series of free talks by speakers including teachers,
firefighters and other public employees, as well as the educational
union (TALC/SPALC) and local politicians. Anyone who is not happy with
the current state budget is welcome to attend! This will be a
family-friendly event, feel free to bring friends and family, as well
as signs and flags to 2120 Main St. in downtown Fort Myers from 5:30pm
to 7:30pm this Tues.
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Occupy Fort Myers
P.O. Box 1910
Fort Myers, FL 33902
(239) 691- 8841 (Info/Hotline)
www.occupyfortmyers.org
Occupy Fort Myers (OFM) is dedicated to removing financial influence
from our government and abolishing corporate personhood. We ask people
to set aside differences in opinions and ideologies and come together
to work towards a society that is of, by, and for the people. OFM
stands in solidarity with Occupy Wall Street, is non-violent,
non-partisan, and welcomes anyone who is willing to work together
respectfully and peacefully to oppose corruption and achieve social
justice.