Category: Student Movement

Tallahassee, FL – On April 14, Senator Joe Negron released a statement announcing he is blocking SB 1400. SB 1400 is a bill in the Florida legislature to provide in-state tuition for undocumented students who attend high school in Florida. Negron is blocking the Appropriations Committee from hearing the bill before the end of legislative session. The Appropriations Committee is the third and final committee that SB 1400 needs to pass through before a full Senate vote. However, a motion can still be made within the Senate to call a vote of the bill on the floor.

The bill has bipartisan support and great momentum behind it. The bill passed through the Florida House of Representatives as HB 851, with a vote of 81-33. Then SB 1400 passed through both the Education and Judiciary committees with votes of 5-4 and 7-2 respectively. Governor Rick Scott supports tuition equity and is prepared to sign the bill into law. The problem now is Negron.

Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) is leading a campaign, with support on every campus, to demand in-state tuition for undocumented Florida students. SDS is spearheading the national Education for All campaign, and supports the Legalization for All movement to improve the lives of Dreamers and their parents and families.

Students for a Democratic Society is organizing a call-in April 18 to Senator Jack Latvala. Please call Senator Latvala at 727-793-2797, and demand that he opts to save Senate Bill 1400 that will grant access to higher education for thousands of Florida undocumented students.

Students will also be meeting with Senator Don Gaetz, president of the senate, at the capitol on April 21 to dissuade him from attempts to block moving the bill to the Senate floor.

 

Clarksville, TN – On April 16 Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) at Austin Peay State University was awarded recognition from the university for their efforts. They received the award at a ceremony that was attended by hundreds of students, faculty, staff and community members. SDS President Julia Casteel said, “We are all very proud tonight to be recognized for the work we do. SDS is a leading force fighting racism, sexism and oppression of all kinds both here on our campus and around the country and we plan to continue to struggle and fight for a better world.

Tallahassee, FL – Around 50 people from Florida Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), along with community members and other allied organizations gathered on the steps of the Florida State Capitol, March 20, to demand “Education for All.” They called on the Florida legislature to vote on and pass HB851 and SB1400, bills would charge undocumented college students in-state tuition as opposed to out-of-state tuition.

Tuition equity, as it has come to be known, would grant the same tuition rate to any student in the state of Florida, regardless of his or her documented status. SDS has been fighting for the last year to bring local tuition equity policies to college campuses in Florida. Most recently, they have been advocating for bills in the state legislature that would be a step towards a fair and affordable education for every single student in the state.

The rally included a round of speeches from organizers of the Florida State University, University of South Florida and University of Florida SDS chapters. Other speakers included leaders of immigrant rights advocacy organizations, undocumented students, community members, statements from Florida university administrations, and Florida state senators and representatives.

After the speeches, protesters marched from the steps of the old Capitol building to the inside of the new Capitol building where they gathered between both chambers of the legislature. There students aligned themselves in rows and gave energetic speeches, told personal stories and chanted, as many state representatives, officials, media members and other bystanders watched.

“The reason this issue has come this far is because of the work SDS and our allies have put into struggling for tuition equity for undocumented students,” said Chrisley Carpio, an organizer with University of Florida SDS, in an impassioned speech. “We believe that every student in this country has the right to a higher education, and we won’t stop fighting until we make that a reality.”

HB851 and SB1400 have both received bipartisan support. Most recently, Governor Rick Scott has come out in favor of the bill giving qualified undocumented Florida students the ability to pay in-state tuition. His statement is the latest in a long list of supporters, including Florida House Speaker Will Weatherford, various Republicans and Democrats in both the House and Senate, and university administrators like University of Florida President Bernie Machen.

Despite the bipartisan support, the bills are becoming targets for political posturing, as legislators aim to make additions to the bills that would significantly water them down. Most glaringly, changes in the House bill require students to spend four consecutive years in high school to qualify for the in-state rate.

“This is just one step towards getting tuition equity for undocumented students, but it’s not enough,” said Veronica Juarez, an organizer with Tampa SDS and Raíces En Tampa. “Ultimately we will fight to have all the amendments removed because it’s not real tuition equity if there are still restrictions on the ability undocumented students have to get a higher education.”

Later in the evening after the event, HB851 passed on the House floor in a vote of 81-33. It is a huge victory, but the campaign still has a long way to go for true education equality. SDS is committed to making education accessible for every student in the U.S. and continues to work towards that goal until there is education for all.

Minneapolis, MN – On March 12, 35 students interrupted a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the University of Minnesota to protest the lack of real diversity on campus. The protest was organized by a new student group called Whose Diversity? and was supported by Students for a Democratic Society (SDS).

At the ribbon-cutting ceremony, students marched to the front of the crowd, chanted and spoke to the audience and administration before the event began. As U of M President Kaler begun speaking, protesters raised signs that read, “Support the right to self-determination,” “does my culture make you uncomfortable?” and “We reject racism” between President Kaler and the crowd. Unable to speak clearly or even see the audience, the president made a handful of remarks and then turned the microphone over to the next speaker. Non-white students are silenced every day by university administrators, but Whose Diversity? flipped the script.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony was the public unveiling of the newly-remodeled second floor of Coffman Memorial Union, the Minneapolis campus’ student center. This is where student cultural centers are located, such as the La Raza Student Cultural Center, Black Student Union, American Indian Student Cultural Center, Women’s Student Activist Collective and many more. Students revealed that the second floor remodeling – which students resisted throughout the process – was an attempt to ‘whitewash’ the previously vibrant space because a conservative white man threatened to sue the University for discrimination several years ago.

For years the administration has been tightening the largely non-white groups’ annual budgets and restricting their access to their own spaces, particularly on the second floor of Coffman. At the protest, students demanded “Where are the murals?” referring to historic cultural murals that the administration destroyed as part of the remodel of the student cultural center spaces. The murals were an important legacy of student struggle at the U of M – such as a mural depicting the historic 1969 student takeover of Morrill Hall which resulted in the establishment of the African and African-American Studies Department. Flustered by the students’ disruption of the press event, President Kaler hid in the student government office until it was his turn to speak.

While Minneapolis is 18.6% Black and 10.5% Latino, the U of M remains overwhelmingly white. The U of M’s student body is 4% Black and 2.4% Latino/a in 2014. And the Chicano Studies, American Indian Studies and African American & African Studies departments are continually underfunded, as are non-white student groups. Students demanded that these issues be addressed. After the protest, students gathered to celebrate a successful action and motivate people to keep building the student movement.

Students for a Democratic Society member Stephanie Taylor said afterwards, “The University systematically excludes poor and oppressed nationality students. UMN needs to expand access and support for departments and programs that serve these students. It’s not about diversity for the sake of diversity, it’s about justice for oppressed and exploited communities in our state.”

Tallahassee, FL – About 150 members of Dream Defenders, an organization dedicated to fighting against racism while building the power of Black and Brown youth, marched into the Florida Capitol, March 3 to confront the Florida law makers and Governor Rick Scott with chants and protest on the first day of legislative session.

The Dream Defenders started with a press conference, where speakers denounced Governor Rick Scott’s draconian policies directed against Black and Brown youth and told how racism is still alive and killing our children in Florida.

“Look around you,” said Amanda Merced, member of FSU Dream Defenders, “We’re in a war zone,” describing Florida’s political climate.

Speakers blasted racist laws like ‘Stand Your Ground,’ the school-to-prison pipeline, and the murders of black youth like Trayvon Martin and Jordan Davis.

“We’re out here with Dream Defenders from chapters all over Florida to make it known that America never loved us, Governor Scott never loved us and this criminal injustice system never loved us,” said Regina Joseph, Vice-president of the FSU Dream Defenders.

After the press conference the Dream Defenders marched to the fourth floor of the capitol building and formed two lines in between the Senate and House chambers, as politicians gathered for the first day ceremonial legislative services. Dream Defenders sang, “Mama, can’t you see, what the system’s done to me,” to the chagrin of Capitol Police and the Senate Sergeant at Arms, who rushed to shut down the chants.

“You can’t sing or chant in here or you’ll get kicked out and arrested,” said the Sergeant at Arms of the Florida Senate.

However, Dream Defenders organizer Michael Sampson kept singing and chanting as Capitol police approached him and the other protesters.

“They thought they could intimidate and scare us from using our voice,” said Sampson. “However we kept chanting and we kept disturbing business as usual because that’s what it takes for these corrupt politicians to understand that we’re serious.”

Jacques Jean-Pierre, of FSU Dream Defenders, spoke of his first direct action, “Mike [Michael Sampson] was the first to be told to shut up to his face by an angry security guard. But he stood his ground and gave us all strength to persevere. They had no choice but to let us be.”

Phillip Agnew , executive director of Dream Defenders addressed the crowd after the Capitol Police scare tactics: “They want us to be quiet or leave. You know what we’re gonna do? We ain’t going nowhere. We ain’t going nowhere. Turn up! Turn up! Turn up!”

Dream Defender Elijah Armstrong led chants of, “We fired! We can’t take it no more!” Regional organizer Sherika Shaw led chants of “Who are we? Good kids! Who are we? Good kids! Where are we? Mad cities! Where are we? Mad cities!”

Members of the Florida legislature were even tweeting during the session that they could hear the Dream Defender chants inside the Senate and House chambers.

Governor Scott was slated to give his State of the State address at noon in the House Chambers. The Dream Defenders positioned themselves in front of the House Chambers to directly confront him before he entered. Unlike most past governors delivering State of the State addresses, Scott avoided the protesters and found a way in the House Chambers through back way passages.

“He was cowardly,” said Tallahassee Dream Defender activist Delance Burnsides. “If you look at it from a political image standpoint, he conceded power to us because he feared us.”

The Dream Defenders is the same organization that held the historic Florida Capitol occupation for 30 days last summer, demanding Justice for Trayvon Martin, after the not guilty verdict of George Zimmerman.

Governor Scott and the Republican-dominated legislature passed legislation earlier this week, inspired by the last year’s Dream Defenders occupation of the Capitol that bars protesters from staying overnight in the capitol.

“He’s doing everything to close us out and close the people out,” said Dream Defender Brian Marshall, President of the FSU chapter of Dream Defenders. “They can try to keep us out all they want but best believe we’re ready and we’re coming.”

Currently Dream Defenders is involved with numerous campaigns addressing racial injustice including pushing legislation to repeal Stand Your Ground law, the school-to-prison pipeline, along with campus campaigns, including university divestment from private prisons at the University of Central Florida, Justice for Reefa Hernandez (a young latino male killed by police brutality) in Miami, fighting for Black and Brown studies, and against racist hate speech at FSU.

To learn more visit dreamdefenders.org.

Albany, NY – Students from campuses across New York rallied against education cuts in Albany on March 6. The students protested Governor Cuomo’s proposal to cut $1 million from the City University of New York (CUNY) and $2 million from the State University of New York (SUNY) budgets. The bill comes on the heels of Governor Cuomo, a Democrat, proposing $2 billion in tax cuts to benefit the wealthiest New Yorkers.

Students held teach-ins, a summit and a press conference condemning the assault on education. Students chanted, “Education is a right! Fight, fight, fight!” and held signs that read, “Liberate public education!” Student leaders spoke about the need to defeat the 1% agenda of austerity and pointed out the hypocrisy of raising the cost of education while cutting taxes for rich capitalists.

The students, including activists from Students for Educational Rights at City College of New York, New York Students Rising at New Paltz and Albany’s Students Revolutionary Coalition, demanded an immediate freeze on tuition and restoration of $1.5 billion cut from the SUNY and CUNY’s budgets.

The cuts proposed by Cuomo force African American, Latino and other working class students to bear the costs of keeping colleges open in a state where 67 billionaires live. In the 2011-2012 academic year, students on average graduated with $25,537 in student debt. Nationally student debt increased over 63% in the past decade.

The day of action provided a networking opportunity for students who vowed to continue organizing on their respective campuses to unite a broad movement to fight against the cuts proposed in Albany, the state capital.

Tallahassee, FL- On Feb. 28, 35 courageous students gathered at the Florida State University (FSU) Integration Statues. At the very statue that symbolized the supposed diversity that Florida State claims, Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) and a broad array of organizations – including Advocates for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, Dream Defenders and the Center for Participant Education – demanded tuition equity. This policy that would ensure undocumented students could afford the human right of obtaining an education and be granted in-state tuition like the rest of the Florida population.

The rally marked the end of Education for All Week, a series of events in support of tuition equity, which included teach-ins and classes to educate the student body on this important issue. In addition, the students petitioned to put a tuition equity referendum on the Student Government Association ballot, which passed with 72.2% of student voters.

At the start of the rally, student leaders gave several impassioned speeches. Speakers included SDS co-presidents Brianna Roman-Calderon and Andrew Arachikavitz, Advocates for Immigrant and Refugee Rights president Cassie Barragàn, Center for Participant Education public relations officer Andreina Granado and the Dream Defenders local strategist Michael Sampson.

The students marched from the Integration Statue to the university president’s office to bring their demands to the administration. The students sent a representative ahead to see if the president was available for a meeting, but the administration attempted to deceive students by claiming the president was not inside. The students saw through the administration’s lies and marched into the president’s office, chanting to demand tuition equity. “Education is a right! Fight, fight, fight, fight!”

Avinash Ramanathan, Campaign Coordinator of FSU SDS, said “The energized students stormed the ivory tower of President Barron’s office and demanded that he meet the people’s grievances of the discriminatory policy that is FSU’s – and the greater state of Florida’s – tuition rates.”

The students all crowded into the office and demanded that the president show himself. Barron finally succumbed to the students and agreed to meet their demands. He vowed to support tuition equity and allow for increased involvement for students in the process. He agreed to involve five students in the Student Affairs Committee.

Mili Chapado, Policy Chair of Advocates for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, said “Student groups at other colleges and universities are gaining momentum. We should strive to work with them to push for tuition equity state-wide.”

The campaign is in full swing and is gaining increased traction. Students for a Democratic Society plans on holding administration’s feet to the fire to ensure that they fulfill their promises with continued pressure through future student actions. In addition, the students will pressure those in power in the Florida legislature, through weekly call-ins as well as a statewide SDS action on March 20 at the Capitol.

Milwaukee, WI – Dozens of students at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee rallied on campus to protest racial injustice and racial profiling, February 26, the second anniversary of the murder of Trayvon Martin.

“What happened sixty years ago is still happening today,” said Rick Banks, president of BSU as he held a picture of Emmett Till, a 14-year old Black child brutally murdered in 1954 for allegedly speaking to a white woman.

Protesters held pictures of Trayvon Martin, Derek Williams, Corey Stingley, Marissa Alexander and Emmett Till. Protesters sang the Black national anthem and raised their fists in the air.

The rally was organized by the Black Student Union, and featured speakers from the United States Student Association, the Sankofa Squad, and AFSCME Local 82.

 

Members of the Student Commission of Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO) met to sum up the past year of struggle and discuss strategies for building the student movement in the U.S.

More students, from more areas of the country, were present at this year’s FRSO Student Commission meeting than in years past. It indicates that students are on the move and new communists are arising from the movement and joining the FRSO. From the Southwest, Midwest, South and East Coast, student comrades discussed and debated the issues facing the movements.

The Student Commission leadership opened with a summation of the work over the past year, highlighting the key campaigns that we participated in on a national level. Justice for Trayvon Martin rallies in Florida and across the country, campus protests to stop Obama’s war on Syria and demanding immigrant rights and tuition equity were the major ones. Student leaders also reflected on SDS’ March 2013 National Day of Action for Education Rights.

Michael Sampson from Florida State University Dream Defenders, organized a campus rally on the anniversary of Trayvon’s murder in February 2013. Sampson then helped to lead a midnight march of 300, mostly African American students in Tallahassee, after the Florida courts failed to convict George Zimmerman for murder. Sampson said, “Dream Defenders as an organization was born out of the murder of Trayvon Martin. We led one of the largest marches for Trayvon Martin and staged a month-long occupation of the Florida State Capitol to demand justice for Trayvon Martin. The movement for justice for those that suffer from national oppression and racism will continue to move forward.”

At the start of the school year, SDS participated in the international movement against U.S. drone warfare. Then in September, Obama threatened a new Middle East war against Syria. The Student Commission leadership responded by calling to raise the slogan, “U.S. Hands off Syria!” Student comrades participated in and led anti-intervention rallies in more than a dozen cities and on many campuses.

Campus leaders discussed their local campaigns and found greatly positive outcomes. A SDS leader described the ongoing fight against white supremacists and Nazis meeting in Dickson, Tennessee. He stressed the importance of the fight against national oppression in all its forms, especially in the South.

Comrades at the meeting talked about the January protest in Miami, Florida to close the Guantanamo U.S. torture prison. People’s Opposition to War, Imperialism, and Racism (POWIR) brought together over 100 activists, including dozens from SDS. National groups like Vets for Peace, Code Pink and the Committee to Stop FBI Repression spoke to stop U.S. torture of prisoners.

Other campuses summed up their campaigns to end rape culture. This issue brought new faces to SDS meetings, and built women’s leadership to demand college administrators take action instead of hiding the facts.

Still other campuses discussed their ongoing solidarity work with the labor, immigrant rights and anti-war and oppressed nationality movements. Comrades summed up their relationships with other organizations and sections of the people’s movements as positive and ongoing.

Comrades discussed how to contribute to both the local and national campaigns of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), Dream Defenders in Florida and the student and youth immigrant rights movement. This representation from diverse sections of the student movement contributed greatly to the analysis, debates and decisions that arose over the course of the meeting.

Members of the commission pledged to join and build the Students for a Democratic Society call for tuition equity for undocumented students. “We’re excited to work within and outside of SDS to help build the struggle for tuition equity for undocumented students,” said Chrisley Carpio. “We’re sure that this struggle will grow across the country not only for SDS but other groups struggling for education for all.”

The Student Commission debated how students could help lead the struggle for tuition equity along with the other groups working on it. The Student Commission agreed that the struggle for tuition equity can and should occur among many different groups, both multi-national and oppressed nationality student groups working together, with principled unity towards justice and equality.

The Student Commission discussed mass work with a high level political discussion about the nature of organization and fighting back against injustice. They united around the need for Marxism-Leninism as a weapon against oppression. Leaders prepared a discussion on a study that helped to consolidate the cadres to the fundamentals of the Marxist-Leninist ideology.

On the topic, Gregory Lucero from Utah said, “We’ve all made great efforts to study Marxism-Leninism as students. We can learn historical lessons from the struggle and bring them to our fight for justice today.”

In the end, Student Commission cadre pledged a lifelong commitment to the people’s movements and the foundations of Marxism-Leninism. Student Commission Chair Stephanie Taylor said, “We had an in-depth discussion on the process of transformation, in which students fuse with the working class. By joining the working class after college, students demonstrate their revolutionary commitment to fighting for the working class for the rest of their lives. This is an important part of Marxism-Leninism and an important principle of forwarding our revolutionary goals.”

The student leaders summed up the past year of struggle positively, have unity moving forward, and plan to make 2014 one of the strongest years of student struggle in recent history, because we have a world to win.