Patriots Day Protest coming up!

Written By Bert Sise

Good news!  Ron Saunders, was selected as Islamorada’s Village Manager. Our Councilman, Steve Friedman made the motion to select Ron Saunders as the next Village Manager, his motion was seconded and subsequently the council voted unanimously 5-0 to select Ron Saunders.  Congratulations to Ron and to the Village of Islamorada!!!
The Keys Weekly covered our April 5th Keys wide Hands Off!  Protest which you can see here.  HUNDREDS OF DEMONSTRATORS JOIN FLORIDA KEYS HANDS OFF PROTESTS
The next Keys wide protest will be this Saturday, April 19th (Patriots Day) starting at 11:00 am to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the beginning of the American Revolution. 

  • Key Largo @ Murray Nelson Government Center where they be conducting a food drive and accepting donations for the Hello Summer Period Project

  • Marathon @ Old Kmart Plaza

  • Key West @ National Weather Station

Bring another Patriot and proudly wear your red, white, and blue!  Don’t forget your American flag.  If you don’t have one, we will have some to share or you can buy one at your local Office Depot or Ace Hardware store! 

  • Make sure to stay clear of any foot traffic or bicycles. 

  • We cannot block anyone’s ability to get where they are going and please please please stay out of the street! 

  • We want to make sure that our protests are safe events for all! 

Our closing ceremony at all three locations will be to swear in solidarity to protect and defend our Constitution! 

I__________________________,
do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I
will support and defend the Constitution
of the United States of America against all
enemies, foreign and domestic;
that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same;
that I take this obligation freely, without any mental
reservation, and that I will well and faithfully discharge
the duties of a Citizen of this great nation.

 
Earth Day Opportunities include
Bahia Honda State Park’s Earth Day Celebration: Bahia Honda State Park, 36850 Overseas Highway in the Lower Keys, will stage its 27th annual Earth Day celebration Saturday, April 20, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Plant Mangroves with Plant a Million Corals and Coastlove: Plant a Million Corals’ headquarters at Summerland Farms, 23801 Overseas Highway in the Lower Keys, is now home to both coral and mangrove nurseries. Coastlove, a leader in mangrove restoration, has joined with Plant a Million Corals, focused on ensuring the survival of reefs around the globe,  from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 20

Submerge on an I.CARE Coral Restoration Dive April 20 and 21 just before Earth Day — with three participating Upper Keys dive shops. Interested divers can join the citizen science effort while exploring Keys reefs, giving back to the underwater world.
 
With just 19 days left in Florida’s 2025 legislative session we must remember that every call & email, every share, and every voice counts!
SB 7016 attempts to effectively End Citizen-Led Amendments that allow we the people to change the state constitution via statewide referendum. Florida already has some of the strictest requirements in the nation for citizen-led amendments, but this legislation imposes new and insurmountable barriers that put constitutional amendments even further out of reach and consolidate power toward politicians and away from the voters.   Senator Ana Maria Rodriguez voted in favor of this bad bill.

Voter Suppression Bill (HB 1381) This bill would make it significantly harder for eligible Floridians to register to vote and stay on the voter rolls, akin to the SAVE Act that recently passed the U.S. House of Representatives. It is the latest attempt to suppress voters in Florida under the guise of “security” and "integrity" by adding citizenship verification hurdles, increases surveillance through agencies like the DMV, and expands the state’s power to purge voters from the rolls.  We’re expecting HB 1381 to be added to the agenda of its final committee, House State Affairs, this coming Thursday, April 17th.

April Keys Dems Meetings

Upper Keys Dems will meet at 5:30 pm - Wed, April 16 – The Catch, 102041 Overseas Highway, Key Largo

Middle Keys Dems will meet at 5:30 pm Thurs - April 24 – The Marathon Public Library
 
Local Govt. meetings this week
KEY WEST  http://keywest.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx
Monday, 4-14

  • Sustainability Advisory Board will meet at 2:30 in City Hall, 1300 White St

Thursday, 4 -17

  • Planning Board will meet at 5:00 pm in City Hall, 1300 White St.

MONROE COUNTY  https://www.monroecounty-fl.gov/
Monday 4 - 14

  • Planning Commission will meet 10 am @ the Murray Nelson Government Center

Tuesday 4 - 15

  • Historic Preservation Commission will meet at 2:00 pm @ Marathon Government Center

Wednesday 4-16

  • BOCC & Land Authority Regularly Scheduled Meeting

@ 9:00 am @ Marathon Government Center
Key Colony Beach
Monday, 4-14

Thursday, 4-17

  • PUBLIC HEARING @9:30 AM Marble Hall, 600 W. Ocean Drive, Key Colony Beach

Village of Islamorada
Monday, 4-14

 
 Our work continues. Now more than ever, let’s keep raising our voices — clearly, consistently, and together. We are still here. We are persisting.


Holly Hummell-Gorman/Chair
KeysDems
 
Website – www.keysdems.com
Facebook – Florida Keys Democrats
Instagram - @keysdems

 

Bert Sise
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The past week or two have been CRAZY!