'We’re not in a battle. We’re in a war': Florida students protest attack on higher ed DEI

Under stormy skies, college students across the state of Florida outshouted the thunder.

They gathered Tuesday near Florida A&M University to protest the dismantling of diversity programs while Florida’s Board of Governors met on campus.

Students from FAMU, Florida State University, the University of South Florida, New College of Florida and more gathered near the Skateable Art Park at Railroad Square on FAMU Way at 11 a.m. before marching to campus at 2 p.m. for a sit-in at the site of the committee meetings, which took place in FAMU’s Grand Ballroom.

Among the protesters was USF alumna Laura Rodriguez, who was recently arrested along with three others March 6 while protesting House Bill 999 on USF’s campus.

HB999:What does proposed Florida bill contain and how does it affect state universities?

“Make no mistake that the student movement is strong and will only continue to grow in the face of political oppression,” said Rodriguez, 23. “We are not hiding behind closed doors and we are not sitting idle. We are standing up and fighting back.”

The students moved on to yell out the call back chant “stand up, fight back” and “the students united will never be defeated” as they spoke out against the bill and Gov. Ron DeSantis' attempts to push to remake Florida's higher education system.

If passed, HB 999 would allow the Florida Board of Governors and boards of trustees to have broad control over determining general education courses and to faculty tenure. It would also eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion-related programs and activities from the campuses of public colleges and universities that the Board of Governors itself championed less than three years earlier.

The protest came hours before one of the state's leading pastors, Rev. R.B. Holmes of Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, called for a national conference in Jacksonville of fellow faith leaders, Greek letter organizations, parents and community members to enact a "blueprint to defeat Governor DeSantis’ reactionary, regressive and racist policies to destroy diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in the state of Florida."

Walkout:Florida college students plan statewide walkout against Gov. DeSantis: 'This is our fight for freedom'

Marching against:FSU, FAMU students march against Gov. DeSantis' move to dismantle diversity programs

Students for a Democratic Society, a student-led organization with university chapters across the state, helped plan the Tuesday rally. Other participating organizations were community action committees from Tallahassee, Jacksonville and Tampa Bay and university chapters of the organization Young Democratic Socialists of America from the University of Florida, Florida International University and Florida Gulf Coast University.

Isabela Casanova, the president of the organization’s FSU chapter, explained the university’s three main demands.

“We want the protection and expansion of diversity programs and multi-cultural groups, we want an increase of Black enrollment at FSU and we want the university to take a public stance against DeSantis and his attacks,” said Casanova, a second-year graduate student at FSU pursuing a degree in education.

More:FSU sees a decrease in Black student enrollment. What is it doing to reverse the drop?

Florida Democratic Party chair Nikki Fried, who attended the protest at around 1 p.m., spoke to the student protesters ahead of their march to campus, encouraging them to continue fighting back to represent other students and equally concerned faculty members who are afraid to show up due to the possibility of getting fired.

“They want to silence your voices to prevent you all from being the type of leaders who are educated, who are diverse and who truly represent all the people,” Fried said.

"This is not just about DEI,” Fried added. “They fundamentally want to destroy our higher education system. That is their mission. This is an assault on our higher education system because they are trying to dumb down our universities and our colleges.”

As more individuals spoke, they reminded the crowd that 14 out of the 17 members who make up the Board of Governors are appointed by DeSantis.

FAMU student Chris Baker — a member of the Upsilon Psi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc., a National Pan-Hellenic Council organization — spoke during the rally as well.

“It’s very insensitive what we have going on in our state,” Baker said. “How can someone make a legislative decision when he doesn’t go outside to see what I see and feel what I feel on a daily basis? He can’t speak for a whole state when he doesn’t go through what we go through.”

More on NPHC:Florida Black sororities, frats fear future amid DEI attack. Bill sponsor sees 'zero impact'

When the students arrived at FAMU following their march, about 10 of them walked into the university’s ballroom and sat in silence with their fists held up high in solidarity as the meetings proceeded.

Board of Governors Vice Chair Eric Silagy presided over the committee meetings Tuesday ahead of the board’s full meeting Wednesday morning due to Chair Brian Lamb’s absence.

Although Silagy and the other board members did not comment on the student protesters’ actions during the meetings, Silagy shared his thoughts about the students’ attendance.

“This is an open meeting, and we welcome anybody to come,” Silagy told the Tallahassee Democrat after the Tuesday meetings. “I was happy to have them participate and was happy to have them be so respectful of the process. It’s great that people participate in these meetings since we want the public involved.”

Prior to the march to FAMU, United Faculty of Florida President Andrew Gothard spoke during the rally and expressed how proud he was that the student groups gathered to protest, telling them that “faculty are here with you.”

“We’re not in a battle. We’re in a war,” Gothard said. “This didn’t start yesterday, and it’s not going to end tomorrow.”

“What do you call attempts to silence the voices of the people? I call it fascism,” Gothard added.

Gothard said he will be at the Board of Governor’s full meeting Wednesday morning and encouraged the students that speaking truth to power makes a difference.

Contact Tarah Jean at tjean@tallahassee.com or follow her on twitter @tarahjean_.

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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida students: 'Stand up, fight back' against DeSantis DEI attack