Hundreds March on the RNC despite threat of Isaac

By Matt Hastings on August 28, 2012

 

 

August 27th was supposed to be the opening day of the Republican National Convention in Tampa, FL. However, due to media hype surrounding Tropical Storm Isaac, the Republicans (as well as USF) decided to cancel their first day for safety reasons. This did not stop the Coalition to March on the RNC from proceeding with their planned massive march through the streets of Downtown Tampa.

Hundreds gathered at Perry Harvey Sr. Park to protest against the Republicans and to demand good jobs, healthcare, affordable education, equality, and peace. This did not live up to the thousands expected, due to the threat of Isaac scaring many away, including at least 10 buses from around Florida and New York that were not able to make it because of the hurricane. A range of speakers put together by the Coalition included members of Dream Defenders, Students for a Democratic Society, the Uhuru Movement, the International Action Center, the Poor People’s Economic Campaign, Code Pink, Freedom Road Socialist Organization, and others. Each speaker gave their testimonial as to why the Republican agenda needed to be resisted and protested in the streets. Whether it was issues of racism, women’s rights, education, or the state of the American economy, the speakers lambasted the Republican Party in no uncertain terms and gave life to the crowd that slowly grew throughout the day. The Democrat Party was not spared any words from the speakers either, both being characterized as “parties of the 1%”. Despite the looming threat of Hurricane Isaac, rain and wind were both mild and did not deter the hundreds of activists and protesters from gathering. Ponchos provided by the Coalition were handed out to all in attendance who wanted one.

At around noon, a march was led by a 30 foot banner that laid out the Coalition’s demands. Marshals with orange vests along the front, back and sides, guided the march safely downtown, through hundreds of police and National Guardsman armed head to toe. The momentum of the rally was not deterred by the rain or loss in numbers. Chants were led throughout, including by members of Students for a Democratic Society who shouted “They say cut back, we say fight back!”. A particularly striking moment of the march was when the crowd in almost perfect unison started singing the union hymn, “Solidarity Forever”.

Participants were buoyed by the energy of the protest and unity of the groups involved in the Coalition that made the protest happen. Catherine Lim of Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society commented on her impression of the march, “It was great to see all these groups come together under the 5 demands of the Coalition and show the strength of activism in Florida and across the country”. Others said that coming out in the rain and under the threat of a hurricane was important to show just how angry people were at the Republican Party.

The rally and march concluded at the “public viewing area” without incident from police or protesters.

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