![[Series] On The Ground: Organize Florida](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59a9a78ee9bfdf3556aba41d/1641261782310-4A7AABI0R29DGHELNGZA/Untitled+design+%2830%29.png)
Profile by Lorrie Goldin
Florida, with its treasure trove of 29 Electoral College votes, is a key swing state. After Barack Obama won there twice, Donald Trump beat Hillary Clinton by just 1.2% in 2016; right now Joe Biden is ahead by 3%. In the 2018 mid-terms, Democrats lost heartbreakingly close races for governor and the U.S. Senate. At the same time, though, they made huge gains across the state: The Democrats flipped from red to blue two U.S. House seats, seven State House seats, dozens of municipal and county offices throughout Florida (including deep red and rural areas), and a statewide Commissioner’s office. Amendment 4, which restores voting rights to former felons, was approved by almost 65% of voters.
Organize Florida, a vital player in those victories, is now gearing up for more electoral success in 2020. According to their website, Organize Florida is a community-based, nonprofit member organization of low and moderate income people dedicated to the principles of social, racial, and economic justice and the promotion of an equal and fair Florida for all. They bring communities together to fight for safe neighborhoods, healthy families, quality education, good jobs, justice, equality and a more representative democracy. With a focus on leadership development and community education and engagement, their growing movement has been a forceful and effective advocate for progressive change. Campaign priorities include voting rights, affordable housing, health care, electoral organizing, and Hispanic and Puerto Rican engagement. Organize Florida has been in the vanguard with “Fight for $15” minimum wage protests (“Winning $15” will be on the November ballot); lobbying Orange County officials to impose sick leave benefits for restaurant employees and other private sector workers; and “Que Vote Mi Gente,” a political effort aimed at “turning out the most Latinos ever in a national election.”
Florida is a difficult organizing environment under ordinary circumstances. The state has long been dominated by powerful right-wing interests, with a patchwork of confusing and arcane laws that vary widely between and among counties. After Amendment 4 was passed by a nearly 2-1 margin, the Republican Legislature quickly passed a law thwarting the peoples’ will by requiring repayment of all fees and fines—essentially imposing an unconstitutional poll tax. It is now tied up in the courts, and only a fraction of those eligible to regain their franchise have been able to register. Organize Florida has been working tirelessly to overcome this Republican-induced voter suppression.
The COVID-19 crisis has further complicated organizing, particularly among communities of color and poor people. Organize Florida, after pivoting to remote work, launched a needs assessment survey to understand the impact of the virus on their communities. Responses as of May 1 revealed that almost half were experiencing issues related to employment; 10% faced loss of housing; 23% had health insurance but their families did not; 9% lacked health insurance themselves along with their families; and 15% showed symptoms of COVID-19 but had not been tested. Stories collected in the course of the survey were invaluable in creating awareness among the media and public, and the organization has been instrumental in mutual aid efforts.
Connecting the hardships of everyday life to the political process remains key. Organize Florida continues to push a recalcitrant Republican power structure for Medicaid expansion. Governor DeSantis, known as “mini-Trump,” has flouted public health guidelines and common decency. Florida’s unemployment system, purposely designed by Republicans to make it hard to file, has made national news in the pandemic’s wake. DeSantis responded by saying, “some Floridians waiting on unemployment checks have themselves to blame for not filling out their applications properly.”
Economic devastation and threats to housing are widespread. Organize Florida member Roberto Rodriguez, an Orlando resident and immunocompromised cancer survivor, exemplifies those caught in the economic and health crosshairs of this crisis. He can no longer risk his health driving for Uber, and his wife was laid off from her job as a school bus driver. Nonetheless, Rodriguez is a fierce advocate for what’s needed, calling eloquently in the Orlando Sentinel for intervention only the government can provide for him and the tens of thousands of Floridians facing a similar plight: “I am left with an impossible choice: put my life at risk by returning to work, or leave my bills unpaid. Individuals like me shouldn’t be forced into this situation. We need our government officials to step in and extend and create policies that will ensure our safety, health, and economic security.”
Organize Florida, along with a consortium of over 100 other grassroots organizations, is meeting the moment. Thanks to their efforts, DeSantis was forced to declare and then extend a moratorium on evictions; public utilities have agreed not to cut off electricity to those unable to pay due to the coronavirus. The group is keeping up the pressure to cancel mortgage, rent, and small business lease payments.
Organize Florida has also helped start the Florida Housing Justice Coalition; joined lawsuits to ensure safe and fair elections; called for the release of ICE detainees; and successfully pushed the St. Petersburg City Council to pass a resolution in support of abortion access and reproductive health care. They have just launched the lobbying group, Florida for All, as well as a new leadership training program, Path to Power, for organizing new and low-frequency voters. One silver lining of remote organizing is that Path to Power can now reach thousands of people across the state who want to be part of progressive electoral change.
Right now Organize Florida has been active in the peaceful public outcry against police brutality and the murder of George Floyd and so many other black people. It is also gearing up for the August primaries and November general election. Their earlier survey resulted in recruiting 150 community captains, each of whom will lead teams committed to multiple deep conversations and education with potential voters in their precincts. Of course it’s a challenge to transition from door-to-door canvassing to remote organizing, but the deeply committed and skilled staff and volunteers have what it takes.
All they need is your support to keep going—not only for victory in the fall, but for a more just Florida for all.
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