On the 29th of March, Tampa Pride again took to Ybor City streets. Allowing police participation was especially inappropriate this year. The same Hillsborough County Sheriff’s department that harasses sex workers and may be ordered to close down Gay clubs as Trumpism spreads was still welcome in Pride!
A second sour note was sounded by a few Christian nationalists who mixed with the crowd to preach lies and hate, but didn’t gain any apparent converts. Their numbers were in the single digits.
For all that the parade was big and boisterous. The crowd looked thinner than in past years, unknown if that’s due to mass LGBTQ flight out of Florida, people still here but keeping their heads down, or just where I was standing along the parade route near the finish.
(video is silent, sent to me after liberation from FB, sound may not have cooperated)
On the 29th of March, protesters showed up at the infamous Kamp Krome concentration camp in Miami, FL. The various stormtroopers protecting this hellhole were apparently very displeased to see protesters. They even brought out an armored vehicle but protesters stood their ground. Although these armored vehicles are widely referred to as tanks, this is an MRAP (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle) rather than a tank.
Kamp Krome is an ICE detention facility packed to over 4,000 people in a capacity rated for a few hundred. At least three people have died at Kamp Krome, food and even WATER are scarce for detainees there.
On the 29th of March, Tesla Takedown protester deployed to a Tesla showroom in Tampa, FL. Things got ugy: Trump supporters showed up on the other side of the street, and one presumed Trumper assaulted and punched a participant in the protest.
On the 22nd of March, TeslaTakedown activists deployed to showrooms all over the US for another round of protests aimed at starving out Elon Musk. One of these protests was in West Palm Beach, FL.
During the protest, Trump supporter Andrew Dutl attempted to ram down protesters, jumping his black SUV onto the sidewalk as the protesters were not in the street. He missed all of them as everyone including elders sucessfully jumped or scrambled to safety. He then stopped his car and got out.
Someone called the cops.When Dutil heard the sirens he got back in his SUV and fled but it was too late. Police cruisers quickly chased him down and persuaded or forced him to stop. He was arrested and a booking photo identified him. A social media search on his name identified him as a member of a pro-Trump group and also a Veteran. Many progressive and middle of the road vets are furious about this, especially given that Musk and DOGE are after their VA benefits. Someone yelled “traitor!” as he got back in his SUV and attempted to flee before being chased down.
It is also being reported that Andrew Dutil’s current job (until he gets fired that is) is working at the same Tesla showroom!
Video starts just after the failed attempt at a DAESH/ISIS style car attack, with Dutil’s SUV on the sidewalk
Arlington, VA—At about 12:30 on Saturday afternoon about 20 arrived early and circled up nearby the Arlington Tesla dealership to discuss safety and security of the ongoing weekend boycott rally which was to begin at 2 pm. The main organizers of Third Act of Virginia asked participants to agree with a thumbs up of a short list of positive behaviors that would keep the boycott action inclusive, safe, and non-confrontational towards Tesla customers. They discussed deescalation as a method of diffusing tensions during conflict.
On the 18th of March, another emergency protest for Gaza was held at Orlando’s City Hall. Furious protesters were angered at the worst week of the entire war gor Gaza’s children. In response, protesters brazenly called for outright revolution against both the occupation regime in Palestine and against Trump’s Fascist regime in the US.
Days after Netanyahu blew up the Gaza ceasefire, one of a great many US emergency protests for Gaza was held north of Orlando at a busy major intersection.
On the 18th of march, protesters descended on Trump’s White House in response to Netanyahu’s decision to blow up the ceasefire. He murdered over 400 Palestinians many of them children in just one night, using US made bombs. This was for no more reason than to duck a court hearing on corruption charges.
Emergency protests are being held worldwide in solidarity with hard-pressed Palestine. This was DC’s response and surely much more will be coming in my old home town
