Florida progressives sent an open letter to the Florida Democratic Party on upholding the right to protest, after they say a Palestinian protester was arrested at the Leadership Blue Gala, the main organizing event for the FDP convention. Progressives from around the country joined the letter as well.
“We call on the Florida Democratic Party to intercede in dropping the charges pressed on all protestors involved in the civic duty of generating change,” the open letter from various Florida progressives states.
After what they called a “peaceful demonstration,” Florida Democrats responded. The political demonstration happened during Senator John Fetterman’s keynote address at the Florida Democratic Party’s event in Orlando.
“If we are going to call for peace, let’s do it peacefully,” FDP Chair Nikki Fried said. “If we are going to disagree, let’s do it respectfully. If we are going to use our voices, let’s make sure we’re also listening – that’s what it means to be a Democrat and that is what this moment demands.”
The political divide within the Democratic Party over Israel and Palestine is another sign of possible trouble ahead of the 2024 elections.
The growing global concern over state repression of peaceful protests necessitates action at all levels to uphold and strengthen the right to dissent,” the progressive letter said. “From bans and restrictions to unjust arrests, violations of this right persist. Furthermore, advancements in technology have altered protest dynamics, posing new challenges to rights protection.”
Here is the full open letter to the Florida Democratic Party:
Upholding the Right to Protest: An Open Letter to the Florida Democratic Party
In the past few weeks, college campuses globally have witnessed a surge of demonstrations led by supporters of Palestine, including both students and faculty. These protests are denouncing Israel’s military actions in Gaza, which have resulted in the loss of over 34,000 lives. Across numerous universities, demonstrators are advocating for their institutions to cut off all forms of financial and academic association with Israel, including divestment from companies connected to the country.
The right to public protest is the heartbeat of a free society. It serves as the indispensable channel for airing grievances, challenging authority, and ensuring voices are heard. Public demonstrations have historically catalyzed change, often confronting brutal suppression. The freedom to dissent and protest is fundamental to societal health, fostering accountability and allowing citizens to influence policy. Peaceful protests are not just legitimate expressions but also crucial defenders of human rights, amplifying marginalized voices and confronting established powers.
However, despite legal protections, many face violent repression for exercising this right. Instead of stifling dissent, it’s imperative for governments to heed the calls of their citizens, particularly regarding issues like genocide and interventionism. Attempts to quell protests threaten the very essence of democracy and impede social progress.
The growing global concern over state repression of peaceful protests necessitates action at all levels to uphold and strengthen the right to dissent. From bans and restrictions to unjust arrests, violations of this right persist. Furthermore, advancements in technology have altered protest dynamics, posing new challenges to rights protection.
Multiple activists and students have been arrested in Florida over the past weeks. “If a Marine Corps Veteran can’t peacefully protest against war and genocide, then who can?” Asked Kyle Mitchell, United States Marine Corps 2014-2018 who also served in California, Afghanistan, New Jersey, and Georgia. On May 4, 2024, During Leadership Blue, the main organizing event for the Florida Democratic Party convention; a Palestinian protester was attested as well.
A free society embraces dissent, understanding its pivotal role in fostering change without resorting to extreme measures. Disruptive protests, while met with criticism, have historically driven significant social transformations. We call for protest to remain peaceful without ignoring the urgency and effectiveness of disruptive action.
We call on the Florida Democratic Party to intercede in dropping the charges pressed on all protestors involved in the civic duty of generating change.
In essence, the right to protest is non-negotiable in a democratic society. Those who seek to suppress it, jeopardize not only the democratic process, but also the lives and liberties of those they claim to protect.
Sincerely,
Carolina Ampudia; President of the Democratic Progressive Caucus of Broward County, DPCF, Democratic Socialists of America, Labor Community Alliance of South Florida, PDPR; Broward County, Florida
Kyle Mitchell; President of the Duval Progressive Caucus; Duval County, Florida
Nadia Ahmad; Elected DNC member for Florida. Chair of the Muslim Delegates and Allies Coalition; Seminole County, Florida
Ricky Ly; Orange County Board member; Orange County, Florida
Dakin Weekley; State Committeeman for Monroe County DEC; Monroe County, Florida
Michael Bonacolta. President of the Democratic Progressive Caucus of Florida. Lee County Florida
Farima Iqbal-Zubair, Chair, California Democratic Progressive Caucus
Amar Shergill, Chair Emeritus, California Democratic Progressive Caucus
Samir Kakli; President of the South Florida Muslim Federation; Broward County, Florida.
Aamir Ali; Emgage; Broward County, Florida
Maxx Fenning; Florida Youth Council, Broward County, FL
Trish Brown; Chair of Power Up People; Leon County, Florida
Khalid Mirza; Chair of the Pakistan American Cultural Society of Florida Inc; Broward County, Florida
C Whiteside-Curry, Chair of the Caring 4 Justice Cause Charity Foundation; Gadsen County, Florida
Sonya Bykofsky; Chair of the Lenox Town Democratic Committee; Berkshire County, Maryland
Matt Fleming; Brevard County, Florida
Corey Shearer; Broward DEC, Committeeman; Brevard County, Florida
David Coleman; Democratic Progressive Caucus of Hillsborough; Hillsborough County, Florida
Neng Caroline Abidin; Democratic Party; DSA; Brevard County, Florida
Sameerah Hingoo; CodePink; Broward County, Florida
Salah Giawashi; President of the TEK NET; Florida
Salaheddin Giawashi; Chair of the Gulf Coast Transport; Bay County, Florida
Rizwan Ali; Jewish Voices for Peace; Florida
Amanda Rose, Jewish Voices for Peace; Miami Dade County,Florida
Sabrina Duty; ACLU; Volusia County, Florida
Anna Khan; President of the PAMM Upper; Merion County, Pennsylvania
William H. Davis; Leon DEC, and elected Delegate 2 CD to 2020 DNC; Leon County, Florida
Semir Purisic; President of the Bosniak Political Group; Stamford County, Connecticut
Pua Alii Lum; President of the MYLEH Soulution; Kansas
Wesley Chau; South Florida AFL-CIO; Miami-Dade County, Florida
Mike Strohofer; Chair of the Democratic Socialists of America Broward; Broward County, Florida
Ahmed Bedier; President of the United Voices; Florida
Bob Horner; President of the Partners for Peace; Florida
Humaira Afzal; Precinct Captain and Precinct & Field Director (Hillsborough DEC); Board Member (Hillsborough Progressive Caucus); YIMBY Tampa; Hillsborough County, Florida
Lorenzo Canizares; Chair of the Labor-Community Alliance of South Florida; Miami-Dade County, Florida
Angel Montalvo; President of the People’s Progressive Caucus of Miami-Dade; Miami-Dade County, Florida
Liano Sharon; Elected DNC member for Michigan; Ingham County, Michigan
Saba Ali CAIR Florida; Board member; Orange County, Florida
Chris Horne; Democratic Progressive Caucus of Broward County; Board member; Broward County, Florida
Dan O’Neal; Arizona Democratic Party, Progressive Council; Arizona
Mongi Dhaouadi; USCMO-CAN; Board member; Fairfax County, Virginia
Russell Giambrone; Board member, Democratic Progressive Caucus of Florida; DPCTB Board member; Hillsborough County, Florida
Isabel Ruano; Immigrant Action Alliance; Board member; Leon County, Florida
Morgan Gianola; Progressive Caucus of Miami Dade Miami Dade Board member; Miami Dade DEC; Miami-Dade County, Florida
Jen Cousins, Orange County, Florida
Martha Schoolman; Miami-Dade DEC, UFF-FIU, Coral Gables Democratic Club; Board member, member; Miami-Dade County, Florida
Ramón Pereira Bonilla; Democratic Hispanic Caucus, Democratic Environmental Caucus; Board member; Orange County, Florida
Saba Ali; CAIR Florida; Board member; Orange County, Florida
Jennifer Barrett; Democratic Socialists of America, DPCF Board member, Orange County PCP; Orange County, Florida
Anita Carson; Rainbow Ridge LGBTQ Dems Board member; Polk County, Florida
David Wright; PDA member, PFA-CA officer, San Diego County Dem Party Metro Caucus Secretary, Indivisible and Sierra Club, Board member; San Diego, California
Christopher Bajor; Broward Democratic Socialists of America; Broward County, Florida
Jorge Rodríguez Martínez; Broward Democratic Socialists of America ; Broward County, Florida
Alex Boardman; Democratic Party; Broward County, Florida
Taarik Rahaman; Broward County, Florida
Tammy Lettieri; Democratic Party; Broward County, Florida
Linda Zito; Broward County, Florida
Sebastian Seithel; Buncombe County, North Carolina
Nader Barakat; California
Donna Ellington; Demand Universal Healthcare – DUH; Charleston County, South Carolina
Haseeb Toor; Duval County, Florida
Gin DeRoma; Native Plant Society; Duval County, Florida
Tracey Bingham; Democratic Progressive Caucus of Florida; Duval County, Florida
Manal Barakat; EP; Florida
Fawz Saf; Dem party; Florida
Summer Glenn; Florida
Joseph Nall; Polk County, Florida
Azmia Ricchuito; Code PINK South Florida, Abandon Biden, People for Palestine, End to Genocide Coalition; Palm Beach County, Florida
Jeanne Santana; Florida Democratic Party; Broward County, Florida
Islam Sidky; Florida
Nasra Elgawly; Democratic party; Hudson County, New Jersey
Fazia Abrahim; Florida Democratic Party; Florida
Hatem Abou-Senna;Orange County, Florida
Candis Roby; Medicare4all; Seminole County, Florida
Aj Khursheed; Florida
Jean Wilson; Democratic Party; Bay County, Florida
Adam Baumel; Broward County, Florida
Robinson Nunez; Broward Democratic Socialists of America; Broward County, Florida
Sean McNally; Duval County, Florida
Derek Werner; Democratic Party; Duval County, Florida
Marcus Sánchez; Florida Rising; Duval County, Florida
Arsenia Reilly-Collins; Miami-Dade County, Florida
Glee Nam; Labor Community Alliance of South Florida; Miami-Dade County, Florida
Ami Kassem; Orange County, Florida
Aasiya Hassan; Orange County, Florida
Mike Budd; United Faculty of Florida; Palm Beach County, Florida
Mohamad Khatib; Democratic party; Pasco County, Florida
Janet Smith; Democratic Women’s Club; Florida, Polk County
Jill Sheridan; Palm Beach DEC; Palm BeachFlorida, USA
Amany Hassan; CAIR; Broward County, Florida
Marcos Lodato; Broward Democratic Socialists of America; Broward County, Florida
Mahmood Hassan; Florida. Polk county
Andrew Price; Democratic Socialists of America; Duval County, Florida
Eric Wicinski; Democratic Party; Hillsborough, Florida
Sean Rowe; Democratic Socialists of America; Illinois, US
Frankie Malacaria; Action Together, NAACP, Democratic Socialists of America; Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania
Rita DiSalvo; Lee County Democratic Party; Leen County, Florida
Kevin Carpenter; Leon County DEC; Leon County, Florida
Tavish Bryan; TCAC; Leon County, Florida
Matthew Kopka; Democratic Party; Leon, Florida
Amir Mertaban; Islamic Society of Orange County; Los Angeles, California
Aliyah Khan; Loudoun County Democratic Committee; Loudoun County, Virginia
Kimiyo Nakagosh; MSF; Montgomery County, Maryland
Amy Bookbinder; Hampshire County, Massachusetts
Hebel Morales; People’s Progressive Caucus of Miami Dade; Miami-Dade County, Florida
Carla Munday; Missouri
Bennette Dibben; PeaceWorks Kansas City,Missouri
Jake MacLennan; Democratic Socialists of America; St. Louis City, Missouri
Syed Shareef; AMDC; Morris County, New Jersey
Omar Hasan; Human Being; Ohio
Loki Mole; FDP, OCDP, UCF YDemocratic Socialists of America; Orange County, Florida
Farhi S; Florida Dems; Orange County, Florida
Taj Johnson; PDA; Orange County, Florida
Corey Hill; Partners for Palestine, Orlando Allies for Palestine; Orange County, Florida
Madeline Clark; HRC Steering Committee Central Florida/Orlando; Orange County, Florida
Sallie Riley; Democratic Party; Bucks County, Pennsylvania
Elizabeth Holzman; Codepink Jewish Voices for Peace; Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
Eugene Holmes; We the people; Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
Jim Hannley; Democratic Party; Jobs With Justice; Arizonans for New Economy; National Writers Union; Salt of the Earth Labor College; Pima County, Arizona
Ken Kenegos; PDA, AZ Medicare for All Coalition; Pima County, Arizona
Joseph Sook; Democratic Party of Florida; Democratic Progressive Caucus of Florida; Pinellas County, Florida
Sohail Azeem; MedSys Health; Broward County, Florida
Arshad Syed; SJP; Sacramento County, California
Barbara Bocca; Democratic Party; San Mateo County, California
Sherry; Seminole County, Florida
Tarah Fuhrken; FREE Palestine; Shenandoah County, Virginia
Dali Sakoglu; Texas
Jeanne Wolfe; Utah County, Washington
Noma Murtuza; Virginia
Aftab; Virginia
Yasir Saleem; ADAMS; Loudoun County, Virginia
Anjum Javed; Virginia
Jerry Canterbury; Justice Dems, Our Revolution, PDA; Virginia
Lee V. Batterson; Clark County, Washington
Elizabeth Wallace; Our Revolution; Volusia County, Florida
Samar Mady; Florida
Ahmad Sidd; ISPE; Moco County, Maryland
Shahid Ahmed; LCN; Dupage County, Illinois
Karima Ali; NMCA; Florida
Carol LaFleur; St. Johns County, Florida
Fatima Khanom; Pennsylvania
Rehana Shaik; Pennsylvania
Sohail Shaik; Pennsylvania
Patrick Blocher; USF Alum; Pennsylvania
Tharackandathil Shanavas; Rotary Club of Gaithersburg, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, ACLU, Democrat Party; Montgomery County, Maryland
Noshin Zahedi; Loudoun County, Virginia
Saqib Shakil; Pennsylvania
Rachel Hart; Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
Saleh Mubarak; ICT; Hillsborough County, Florida
Yawer Nensey, M.D.; Hillsborough County, Florida
Taylor McGinnis; Democratic Party; Hillsborough County, Florida
Fannie Colindres; Port St Lucie County, Florida
Valerie Hernandez; Democratic Party of Florida; Palm Beach County, Florida
Anna Perkins; Democratic Party; Mennonite Action; Christians for a Free Palestine; Healthcare Workers for Palestine; Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
Colleen Stevenson; Allegheny, Pennsylvania
Hisham Mohammad; Broward County, Florida
Getulio Gonzalez-Mulattieri; Cornell University, HCDEC; Hillsborough County, Florida
Margaret Cox; Martin County Democratic Club; Martin County, Florida
Erin Marshall; Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
John Fetterman; Democratic Party (for now); Bergen County, New Jersey (?)
Maryam Rahimi; Bucks County, Pennsylvania
Joanne Fleming; Green Party; Washington DC
Joaquín Cesar Pedroso; Miami Dade County, Florida
Tyler Barrett; Democratic Progressive Caucus of Tampa Bay; Hillsborough County, Florida
Mariam Fazal; ICNA; Virginia
Mona Elhal; Code pink; Los Angeles, California
Fathiya Hassan; Fairfax County, Virginia
VinaMcDermott; Democratic Party; New Haven County, Connecticut
Rizwan Ali; Jewish Voices for Peace; Miami Dade County, Florida
Brenda McDonald; Democratic Party; NL county, Connecticut
Hend Elsantaricy; Democratic Party; Connecticut
Wilfredo Amr Ruiz; FL American Muslim Democratic Caucus; Broward County, Florida
Robert Riddle; Board member of the MD4BDS, GSA LGBTQI+ & Allies, Citizens Police Advisory Committee; Hyattsville County, Maryland
Pauline Case; Democratic Party; Broward County, Florida
Bonita Chambers; SCDP, PDA; Sarasota County, Florida
Aseil Parker; Fairfax County, Virginia
Douglas; CF JWJ, Organize Now, FIRE; Orange County, Florida
Tamara Johnson; Alachua County, Florida
Beau Robichaux; Hillsborough County DEC; Hillsborough County, Florida
Mohammad Karim; Democratic Party; Connecticut
Isle Brown; Broward County, Florida
Lori Mentzer; Columbia County, New York
Amaan Khan; AMP; Broward County, Florida
Nadine Seiler; Charles County, Maryland
Cameron Driggers; FDP Youth Council; Alachua County, Florida
Michael Stumpg; Democratic Party; Virginia
Zahra Sahmoud; Bucks County, Pennsylvania
Sarwat Patel; CAPJ; Connecticut
Lynn Carr; Miami Dade County, Florida
Maria Cheema; Democratic Party Connecticut
Naeem Moosa; ABC; Broward County, Florida
Ahmed Behery; Connecticut
John Smith Jr. Hazlet; Democrats; Monmouth County, New Jersey
Shahin Vohara; Doctors Against Genocide; Loudoun County, Virginia
Hoda Abu; New Haven County, Connecticut
Katherine Klima; Center City Madjid; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Jocelyn Anderson; Community member disappointed by John; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Kristen Amaya; Florida Democratic Party; Leon County, Florida
Yumna Hamid; Bucks County, Pennsylvania
Kathryn Elalouf; SPLC, WUSF, WEDU; Hillsborough County, Florida
Zain Mohammed; Democratic Party; Palm Beach County, Florida
Ahmet Taha; South Florida Muslim Federation; Broward County, Florida
Muzna Marzouq; Florida Democratic Party; Broward County, Florida
LuMarie Polivka-West; Florida Democratic; Leon County, Florida
Katy Davis; Florida Democratic Party; Alachua County, Florida
Zach Oberhausen; Escambia County, Florida
Johanna Falzone; Florida Democratic Party; Pasco County, Florida
