Tuesday's "Awake the State" protests might draw a combined crowd of 8,000 at sites across Florida, but organizers say the turnout in Tallahassee, when the Legislature opens, will be tiny.
A permit request for the Leon County Courthouse grounds says "less than 100 people" are expected to attend the 10:30 a.m. event. It is one of 17 scheduled rallies protesting Gov. Rick Scott's proposed $5 billion in state budget cuts.
Meantime, at the Capitol, tea party groups will conduct a noon "Save Our State" rally in support of the governor. Among the confirmed speakers will be state Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island.
Inspired by the raucous public-employee protests in Wisconsin's capital, Florida's "Awake the State" campaign has been drumming up support via social-media sites for the past few weeks. March 8 was the designated rallying date, as it is opening day for the 2011 Legislature.
But Tallahassee protest organizers were caught napping when tea party groups pre-emptively reserved the old Capitol grounds, a favored location for large political gatherings of thousands of people.
The courthouse grounds, a much smaller venue two blocks away, can only accommodate about 100 persons, a county official said.
Jabari Paul, deputy director of a group called the FACE Alliance, is listed as the requester of the courthouse permit. His phone did not accept messages and he could not be reached by Sunshine State News.
FACE -- which stands for Florida African-American and Caribbean Empowerment Alliance -- describes itself as "a progressive coalition of people and organizations working together for the empowerment of African-American and Caribbean communities." FACE's Facebook page says its office is in Miami Lakes.
Damien Filer, a spokesman for Progress Florida, whose website lists 17 "Awake the State" rallies around Florida, said he had no additional information about the Tallahassee effort.
"Tallahassee is just one of many. Each event is locally produced," Filer said. "It's not like the tea party, which is busing people in from all over."
Filer would not address the 8,000 attendance figure, which has been touted and repeated on social-media postings. "I don't buy it," he said.
"Awake the State" organizers hope to mobilize teachers and other government workers who, under Scott's plan, would be required to start contributing to their retirement funds.
While government employees in the capital city appeared to be apathetic, or just disorganized, a Facebook posting on Thursday said the statewide campaign had "close to 5,000" participants lined up in 16 other cities.
Advised one poster: "There will be an effort to diminish our impact by those who oppose our voices and beliefs. This will be our first coordinated effort to be heard, it will no doubt not be our last. That said, the way we handle ourselves will determine just how fast our support will grow."
Another pleaded: "How can we watch passively what is happening in other states knowing it will come here to haunt us as well? We have to stand up or move."
Even if Tallahassee doesn't morph into Madison II for agitated public employees and angst-ridden liberals on Tuesday, Filer suggested that there's more to come in the capital city.
"We will likely have other events later in the [legislative] session," he said.
Tea party activists, who helped propel the insurgent Scott to victory in November, are equally determined to make their voices heard, beginning Tuesday.
The Florida Alliance, a coalition of more than 100 tea and patriot groups from around the state, is organizing the Tallahassee rally. For Floridians who cannot make the trip on March 8, the alliance encourages them to counter the scattered "Awake the State" protests in their communities that day.
Tuesday's tea party activities at the old Capitol are scheduled to start at 7 a.m. and will include visits to lawmakers' offices. Among the questions and talking points, organizers ask:
- Do you agree that public employees should contribute to their retirement?
- Do you agree that health care is a personal choice?
- Do you believe that a bad teacher should be fired regardless of their length of employment?
- Do you want lower taxes and more jobs for Florida?
Matt Kibbe, president and CEO of FreedomWorks, a national tea group, encouraged Floridians to "support Governor Scott's decision to turn down federal funds for foolhardy projects like high-speed rail and to offer support for the proposed budget."
Doubling down, another tea party group has reserved the old Capitol steps for a similar "Stand With Florida" rally two days later, on March 10.
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Contact Kenric Ward at kward@sunshinestatenews.com or at (772) 801-5341.
