St Petersburg Pride a roaring success, but everyone caught a real break.
The trans march was a powerful statement from a community under siege, and the overall event was massive. It may have simply been the obstacle-strewn nature of the Bayside Drive area, but the size of the crowd and the massive traffic jams made this look like one of the big NE Prides like DC’s Capitol Pride. On the other hand the much shorter march route may have concentrated the crowd.
Everyone except DeSantis and his Nazi friends caught a real break: a month ago with Fascist attacks escalating and the drag ban scheduled to go into effect days later, St Pete lookd like a major flashpoint. Instead, there were only a few Christo-fash, no militia fash and no attacks. An injunction was issued by a Federal court against the drag ban the previous day, so planned police enforcement to limit spiciness of drag performances cancelled. Police attacks on drag performers had been a real risk and had this taken place another Stonewall could have resulted. With the drag ban struck down, a proposed and possibly illegal enforcement campaign against a law that was not to go into effect for another week appeared to have been called off.
Another Stonewall could have resulted in escalation with unknown results. Any serious Fascist attack would have guaranteed swift retaliation, again leading to escalation, again with unknown results. None of this took place, a half dozen religious extremists yelling were no threat to the huge crowd.
Pro-choice march in Lakeland, FL remembers anniversary of SCOTUS Dobbs decision
On the 24th of June, a pro-choice march and ballot initiaitive signature collection was held in the area of Munn Park in Lakeland, FL. An existing street festival provided a plentiful audience. I was in front of SCOTUS the moment the decision was announced. It set off three days of nationwide chaos, and that night in DC a black bloc marched against the Supreme Court.
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In the weeks therafter, as protests continued at places like the homes of antichoice Supreme Court “justices,” underground abortion pill and transportation networks were hurredly set up, and the GOP is whining that these networks have castrated abortion bans in many states. None the less, many are unaware these networks exist or simply lack sufficient resources to turn to the Underground, and both involuntary birthrates and suicide rates have spiked.
We’ve cut one ball off of abortion bans, time to go back and get the other one! Ballot initiatives to protect abortion rights have been passing even in GOP states, and passing them in strategic states like FL will destroy the effectiveness of bans in neighboring states for hundreds of miles.
The drag goes on at Polk Pride
Many cities and counties have cancelled Pride events in FL due to Gov DeSantis’s blustering threats and the drag ban he rammed through Tallahassee (effective July 1). Not Polk Pride in Lakeland: Polk County’s LGBTQ community stood their ground (as other FL law calls for…) and defied the Governor’s threats with a full featured outdoor drag show. The only interference came from Christian fascists who did not arrive until after the drag show was over.
Same Christian Fascists who assaulted a child at Pasco Pride show up at Polk Pride
On the 17th of June, a Pride festival was held at Munn Park in Lakeland, FL. The same street preachers from a Christian/Fascist cult who assaulted a child at Pasco Pride back on Feb 4 were back, and again attempted to disrupt the event.
The Fascist train did NOT run on time, they arrived after all the drag performers had finished! That’s right DeSantis, we had a drag show outdoors in public at Polk Pride and there’s nothing you can do about it! Fl is a “stand your ground” state-and that’s exactly what Polk County LGBTQ+ folks did on June 17.
Catholic extremists, random fascists harass prayer vigil for Ajike Shantrell
On the 14th of June, prayer vigil was held in the central square in Ocala, FL for Ajike Shantrell, shot and murdered by a racist neighbor on the 2nd of June.
A known extreme Catholic hate group decided to harass the vigil, getting as close as possible and holding their own different prayers and playing loud bagpipes. On top of all else a motorcycle gang rode past on three of the four possible streets around the square and random fascists were spotted nearby including two in black and gold T-shirts. Black and gold is Proud Boys colors.
The Catholic groups calls themselves Christians while disrupting events held by other churches in a exercise of hypocrisy at the highest level.
Fascists outnumbered by pro-LGBTQ speakers at Polk County School Board Meeting
The arraignment of Donald Trump in Miami disrupted a major Fascist offensive to block a Pride proclaimation and ban more books in the Polk County Schools. They had hoped to dominate and dazzle the School Board. Much of Moms4Liberty and all of the Proud Boys seemed to have diverted to Miami however, and those left were outmaneuvered by LGBTQ speakers and their allies
One of the main far-right groups mobilizing against LGBTQ students was so-called “County Citizens Defending Freedom,” an odd name for a book burning/sexual “morality” enforcement advocacy group. They were mocked as “County Citizens Defending Fascism” and in any event few of their T-shirts were seen at the School Board meeting.
The very last speaker was one of the most extreme, possibly frustrated by listening to so many LGBTQ speakers warn we are not going away. He droned on about “filthy books” and both looked and sounded like he forgot his white sheet and hood. The KKK long had an outfit called the Council of Concerned Citizens (CCC) as a front group, this extremist sounded like he would fit right in.
There was also a physical confrontation, where someone no doubt disapproving of Bonnie’s alleged panty toss that supposedly hit a Polk County Sheriff’s deputy at a fake clinic threw panties back at Bonnie. Since a throw by an enemy was unexpected, video missed this by seconds.
Chaos in Miami, protester charges motorcade after Trump’s arraignment on 37 Federal felonies
The scene in Miami was quite the zoo, with someone reminding everyone that “Trump threw the J6’ers under the bus” and DC’s own Nadine with a “Trump indicted” banner calling for locking him up forever.
There were fights and showy scenes like someone with a fake pig’s head with a US flag in it, but the star of the show was a heroic warrior who burst forth from the crowd as Trump’s motorcade was leaving and blocked the road.By his own reports about 20 cops tackled him but his point was made. He was in 1930’s style jail stripes and even a mock ball and chain.
Miami and the world got a break though: with Trump indeed having thrown the J6’ers under the bus, not enough Proud Boys and 3%’ers showed in in Miami to do anything about the indictment much less launch another coup attempt. Although one counterprotester had to threaten to draw a gun to deter a group beating, no serious physical violence occurred.
Just enough Proud Boys and Moms4Liberty goons went to Miami to permit pro-LGBTQ speakers to control the floor at the Polk County School Board’s meeting that night, which was supposed to be a major Fascist target.
Dept of Energy blockaded with mock pipeline installation
On the 12th of June, climate activists continued their ongoing offensive in DC with a blockade and mock pipeline installation at the Dept of Energy’s headquarters.
Protesters directly called out Secretary of Energy Granholm. Demands included a ban on LNG pipelines/export/etc, and end to DOE subsidies for fossil fuel production,and removal of pro-fossil fuel propaganda from DOE’s website.
Roads near Dept of Energy were also blockaded, though drivers were allowed to pass after a short “why we are here” interaction. One driver responded by threatening to ram through the banner and anyone in their way, but unlike Florida etc, this remains considered assault in DC.
DC activists celebrate as Trump gets indicted on 37 Federal charges
On the 10th of June, some DC activists celebrated the news that former “Not My President” Donald Trump has been indicted on 37 Federal charges.
Even this may not be enough to put him in the “Big House,” but it will complicate his path back to the White House. It’s not a legal disqualification but being charged or especially convicted essentially as a spy against the US could cost him a lot of votes.
Even this may not be enough to put him in the “Big House,” but it will complicate his path back to the White House. It’s not a legal disqualification but being charged or especially convicted essentially as a spy against the US could cost him a lot of votes.