JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — More than a dozen advocacy groups across Jacksonville are rallying for a common purpose: to demand change from local and state legislators.
The organizations are focusing on issues including democracy and voting rights, education rights for Black and LGBTQ+ students, gun violence prevention, health care access and affordability and affordable housing.
Representatives from Northside Coalition of Jacksonville, Beaches Activists Movement (BAM), Public School Defenders, Florida Rising, Jax NOW, Moms Demand Action, MAD DADS, Florida Voices for Health, Harriett Tubman Freedom Fighters, Indivisible Mandarin, Florida for All, Families for Strong Public Schools, Equality Florida, Sponsored by Grace and Jacksonville Tenants Union were there with a message for elected officials: there's power in numbers.
They say students have a right to truth in education and to be protected and feel safe at school.
Families for Strong Public Schools Organizer Alexander Watkins recalled the state Department of Education's controversial changes to African-American history studies this year.
"Black history is American history, and slavery did not benefit Black people," Watkins said, "and so just those basic understandings there helps us work together to show compassion and work as a team to build our society."
For Jessica Wilson with Equality Florida, rights for the LGBTQ+ community are personal.
"My son is among those fleeing the state just because he's transgender and doesn't feel safe going to the bathroom in public or going to a hospital because of the potential to be denied health care," Wilson said. "Life-saving health care."
She said the state is heading in the wrong direction.
"We want a Florida where everyone, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity can live, work, learn and visit free from discrimination," Wilson said.
Watkins said if there's no action, Florida risks raising a generation that doesn't know the truth about black history.
He said together these groups can make their voices heard to politicians making the laws they don't agree with.
"We are a community of peace, of cultures all living together in love," Watkins said, "and that is how we are able to come together to fight for the common good of us all. It's not about partisan affiliation. It's about people affiliation."
Katie Hathaway from Moms Demand Action said guns are the number one killer of children and teens.
She said legislators rolled back firearm laws last session, enacting the permit less concealed weapon carry law.
This time, they want lawmakers to strengthen gun safety legislation, starting with secure storage legislation.
She said this can prevent unintentional shootings, suicides and gun theft from vehicles, which she believes is a big problem in Duval.
In August, a nine-year-old shot and killed a six-year-old when they got access to a gun at their Jacksonville home.
Hathaway said this is a life-or-death issue that needs to be addressed.
“Gun violence is a public health crisis, and every Floridian deserves the freedom to not live in fear that they will be shot just going outside of their homes or to school, to church, to movies, a concert, the grocery store,” Hathaway said.