March for Justice taking place in Miami Today—Sunday, March 10, 2024 1:30PM Miami Circle

Friends:

Blogging from Miami, Florida. If you're keeping up with the news on DeSantis' "Stop Woke Act," the wind is most definitely in our sails today. Take a minute and read: DeSantis faces pushback in Florida as voters tire of war on woke Conservative lawmakers rejected a host of new culture wars proposals in the legislature. Two important takeaways are that DeSantis' Stop Woke Act is unconstitutional because it “exceeds the bounds” of the First Amendment that gives us all a right to freedom of speech and expression."

Thank God for the First Amendment and that this court upheld it.

Another important, major takeaway is that the Florida legislature is increasingly disenamoured with culture war bills that DeSantis has pushed. Legislatures actually have much more important greater issues to take on than those that beat up on kids and college students and otherwise Gen Z youth that these bills tend to target.

I hope our legislature in Texas heeds these news as we're also fed up with their relentless attacks on the First Amendment, books, teachers, schools, anti-racist curriculum, and our youth.

If you're in the Neighborhood, please join us. Here is today's schedule thanks to my colleague, Dr. Mildred Boveda. Thanks to her, as well, I'll be speaking at the march.

-Angela Valenzuela

#EducatorSolidarity

REFERENCE

Rozsa, L. (2024, March 9). DeSantis faces pushback in Florida as voters tire of war on woke

Conservative lawmakers rejected a host of new culture wars proposals in the legislature, Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2024/03/09/desantis-florida-woke-culture-wars-legislature/

By Lori Rozsa

Updated March 9, 2024 at 1:52 p.m. EST|Published March 9, 2024 at 6:00 a.m. EST

Friends and family in Miami. Please plan on joining us tomorrow. (Yes, I’ll be home for a couple of days ). March for Justice! SCHEDULE – Sunday, March 10, 2024

NOON: We are organizing an ART BUILD at Noon at Miami Circle (401 Brickell Avenue). Come and make a sign for the march about why you are in solidarity with Florida educators!

1:30 PM: Gather to March at Miami Circle (401 Brickell Avenue)! We will also have a land recognition ceremony and hear from some local students.

2:00 PM: MARCH to Torch of Friendship

2:30-3:30pm: RALLY with a lineup of amazing speakers (see the flyer for a list of some names!)

Wear Red: The United Teachers of Dade is asking us to wear RED for the march to show our support for RedForEd!

Banned Books: If you are able, please bring a banned book to the rally to be donated to local schools and educators (list of suggested titles: http://tinyurl.com/RecBB (http://tinyurl.com/RecBB)).

Kids: Attending the march and rally with kids is encouraged! The United Teachers of Dade has put great thought into this being a kid-friendly action with “boom sticks” and crowns for kids participating.

Access: Keep in mind that the march will take approximately 30 minutes from the hotel to the park, followed by almost an hour at the rally. There will be a limited number of chairs provided at the rally, but there is not a great deal of shade in the park. Participants are encouraged to wear sunscreen, bring water, and wear comfortable shoes. And to wear red in solidarity with educators!

Safety: Both the march and rally will be permitted with support from United Teachers of Dade, which includes police presence along the march route. While any public action can carry risks, the action will take place in a popular tourist area that is generally understood to be safe per organizers in Miami.