USA: 35,000 in Florida say "No to racism"

by Fred Gaboury

Some 35,000 protesters surged into the plaza in front of Florida's Old 
Capitol Building in Tallahassee, March 7, demanding that the Florida 
Legislature overturn Governor Jeb Bush's "One Florida" executive order and 
restore the state's affirmative action program.

The decision to hold the demonstration, organised by the Coalition of 
Conscience, came after a sit-in by two members of the state legislature in 
the governor's office in January.

As a condition for ending the sit-in, Bush agreed to postpone 
implementation of the program pending public hearings.

He later renegged when it became obvious that public opinion was solidly in 
support of the state's affirmative action programs and policies.

In remarks opening the program, Marilyn Lenard, President of the Florida 
State AFL-CIO and coalition co-chair, said thousands of union members had 
come to Tallahassee because the labour movement believes in affirmative 
action.

Lenard, who shared MC duties with Adora Obi Nweze, state President of the 
NAACP, said Bush's One Florida is as deceptive as "right-to-work".

"Our vision of one Florida is a Florida where all have equal opportunity 
and access", Lenard said. "Equal opportunity and economic justice are our 
core values."

Gerald McIntee, President of the 1.3 million-member American Federation of 
State, County and Municipal Employees, warned that the "voices of 
intolerance" were once again on the march.

"They defend the Confederate flag in South Carolina. They make campaign 
speeches at Bob Jones University. They introduce `paycheck deception' 
legislation and attempt to repeal affirmative action", he said.

Kwesi Mfume, CEO of the NAACP, criticised both major political parties: 
"One refuses to take us seriously", he said, "while the other takes us for 
granted."

Martin Luther King III drew cheers when he warned the Florida governor not 
to be like Alabama Governor George Wallace who questioned the power of the 
civil rights movement of the 1960s. "If you don't think we have power, just 
wait until we squeeze the oranges."

Other speakers included the Reverend Jesse Jackson; Clayola Brown, one of 
nine women members of the AFL-CIO Executive Council; Urban League CEO Hugh 
Price; and Bill Lucy, President of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists.

Machinist Union President Tom Buffenbarger was one of several members of 
the AFL-CIO Executive Council walking the walk in Tallahassee. "Jeb Bush is 
appealing to the prejudices of days gone by — that white men have been 
victims of affirmative action, that it only benefits minorities, that it is 
a substitute for merit and ability.

"Affirmative action is not a handout, it's part of the fight for equality", 
Buffenbarger said as he hurried by.

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People's Weekly World, paper of Communist Party, USA