Anthony
Super Moderator
Protesters who called themselves the Dream Defenders ended a 31-day occupation of the state Capitol's ground floor on Thursday.
The group started its sit-in four days after the acquittal of George Zimmerman for the fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin in the central Florida town of Sanford.
Their goal was to force a special legislative session on Florida's "Stand Your Ground" self-defense law.
"I say to the young people here, you're ending a protest because you started a movement," Julian Bond, former chairman of the NAACP, said at a news conference.
"That movement is going to reverberate across the state of Florida and eventually to the adjoining states, until all of America knows something about the strength and the power that was demonstrated here."
Florida Governor Rick Scott rejected their demands for a special session, and efforts to get the Republican-run Legislature to convene didn’t happen.
After a legislative headcount showed at least 83 members opposed to a session and only 27 favoring, Dream Defenders executive director Phillip Agnew made an announcement the Dream Defenders were calling off the sit-in.
"Our work and our power have grown too big for these halls," Agnew said. "It's time for the movement to continue, this is the last time that I'm going to sleep on these floors."
Tyeshia, 19, a member of the group said she felt the sit-in was a big success. I’m glad I was here, I feel like we accomplished something, said Tyeshia
"This is only the beginning of Takeover Florida. We will leave from here to every college and university around the state," said Agnew. "This is not the last you will hear the question, 'Can we dream together?' After 31 days and 30 nights, we are indeed leaving the Capitol for our next phase." Agnew said.
The group started its sit-in four days after the acquittal of George Zimmerman for the fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin in the central Florida town of Sanford.
Their goal was to force a special legislative session on Florida's "Stand Your Ground" self-defense law.
"I say to the young people here, you're ending a protest because you started a movement," Julian Bond, former chairman of the NAACP, said at a news conference.
"That movement is going to reverberate across the state of Florida and eventually to the adjoining states, until all of America knows something about the strength and the power that was demonstrated here."
Florida Governor Rick Scott rejected their demands for a special session, and efforts to get the Republican-run Legislature to convene didn’t happen.
After a legislative headcount showed at least 83 members opposed to a session and only 27 favoring, Dream Defenders executive director Phillip Agnew made an announcement the Dream Defenders were calling off the sit-in.
"Our work and our power have grown too big for these halls," Agnew said. "It's time for the movement to continue, this is the last time that I'm going to sleep on these floors."
Tyeshia, 19, a member of the group said she felt the sit-in was a big success. I’m glad I was here, I feel like we accomplished something, said Tyeshia
"This is only the beginning of Takeover Florida. We will leave from here to every college and university around the state," said Agnew. "This is not the last you will hear the question, 'Can we dream together?' After 31 days and 30 nights, we are indeed leaving the Capitol for our next phase." Agnew said.