Members, staff and supporters of 1199SEIU Florida turned out in force to join millions nationwide to make their voices heard on “No Kings Day.” The historic non-violent protests in cities and towns across the state and country were to stand up against anti-democratic authoritarianism and exploitation menacing communities and working families today.

 

Members of the 1199SEIU family and community took a lead role in highlighting the harmful policies and their disastrous results coming out of Washington, D.C. and Tallahassee, such as violent I.C.E. raids and widespread attacks on immigrants, unnecessary wars, impossible inflation and living costs, deep cuts to healthcare while billionaires take trillions in tax breaks, stripping of our rights and general government chaos and corruption.

 

“We’re out here to protect our freedoms,” said Joaquin Garcia, an X-ray technician and 1199SEIU member in Miami. He led a crowd chanting and waving signs to passing cars at a large No Kings turnout at Tropical Park before being interviewed by TV crews on the scene. “We have to stand up, speak out and fight back because the billionaires want to take it all from us.”

 

Tamika Jones, 1199SEIU member and a hospital unit secretary, served as her union’s spokesperson at the No Kings rally in West Palm Beach. She highlighted how wrong it is that working families are struggling to pay their skyrocketing bills and losing their healthcare while big business and billionaires are gifted massive tax cuts. “And now they’re talking about cutting essential care and programs even more to pay for Trump’s foolish Iran war.  This hurts everyone.”

 

In a large No Kings Day protest in Orlando, 1199SEIU Florida Political Director Coy Jones took the stage with community leaders and implored the audience to not let cynical politicians and opportunists divide us.

“We’re fighting for a country where our loved ones can get care, where no child goes hungry at school, where elected leaders actually serve their communities. We deserve a government that helps us achieve our dreams, not one that puts us in danger,” she called to the cheering crowd. “I’m proud of my 1199SEIU family turning out to reject kings, chaos and billionaire cronies. And to build the future we all deserve, we need to stand together every day, and especially election day.”

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