Protesters are bedding down for their fourth night outside of Florida Gov. Rick Scott’s office. The group, comprising members of the Dream Defenders and others, has been given permission to stay the weekend, although they’ve been informed that the air conditioning will be turned off as usual, and anyone who leaves won’t be let back in until Monday morning. Leaders of the Dream Defenders met with Gov. Scott last night but vowed to carry on their occupation until their demand for a special legislative session on “stand your ground” legislation is met.
Scott defended the legislation, referring the protesters to a study conducted by the state’s Task Force on Citizen Safety and Protection:
The Task Force concurs with the core belief that all persons, regardless of citizenship status, have a right to feel safe and secure in our state. To that end, all persons who are conducting themselves in a lawful manner have a fundamental right to stand their ground and defend themselves from attack with proportionate force in every place they have a lawful right to be.
Also on the scene is Breitbart.com’s Lee Stranahan, who has some sobering words for fellow conservatives who are content to leave the Capitol wholly in the hands of those pushing for what they call the “Trayvon Martin Act.”
It's one thing to lose because you try your best and get beaten. It's another to lose because you don't even show up . That's a big problem.
— ??? ????????? ⏳ (@stranahan) July 19, 2013
If someone showed up, they would get on the news. Reporters would talk to them. That's a fact. That's free media. Nobody shows up.
— ??? ????????? ⏳ (@stranahan) July 19, 2013
By the reception desk #trayvonmartinact @ Florida State Capitol http://t.co/GbArzCLUyJ
— ??? ????????? ⏳ (@stranahan) July 19, 2013
This happens time and time again. Conservatives don't show up. Not even one. They send excuses and then scratch their heads when they lose.
— ??? ????????? ⏳ (@stranahan) July 19, 2013
Since Andrew died, a lot of people talk about Being Breitbart. Guess what? Half the time I talked to him, he was on an airplane or traveling
— ??? ????????? ⏳ (@stranahan) July 19, 2013
So, please don't delude yourself that you're Being Breitbart by tweeting or writing a blog post. Show up or shut up.
— ??? ????????? ⏳ (@stranahan) July 19, 2013
In contrast, the crowd demanding a repeal of stand your ground has more than doubled in size since Tuesday, with 58 protesters reportedly bedding down in the hallways Thursday night. Admittedly, “occupation” of public spaces isn’t the conservative protest of choice, but there’s no denying it captures the attention of TV news crews.
If you are content to let Gov. Rick Scott – a politician – be the sole voice showing up to defens Stand Your Ground, you deserve to lose SYG
— ??? ????????? ⏳ (@stranahan) July 19, 2013
And don't delude yourself people here protesting against at the Capitol are not grassroots or 100% committed. I'm here. They are.
— ??? ????????? ⏳ (@stranahan) July 19, 2013
And here's another thing the protesters are doing that the people who don't show up aren't ; there building relationships with reporters.
— ??? ????????? ⏳ (@stranahan) July 19, 2013
The people who show up build relationships with media, build community with like-minded people, and get clout with politicians.
— ??? ????????? ⏳ (@stranahan) July 19, 2013
The people who don't show up grumble and moan about how bad things are
— ??? ????????? ⏳ (@stranahan) July 19, 2013
Don't forfeit the game by not showing up and then explain to me with detailed play-by-play how you would've lost anyway. That's fantasy.
— ??? ????????? ⏳ (@stranahan) July 19, 2013
This also shows that there is zero Republican outreach. Zero. People would learn a lot if they actually showed up and listened.
— ??? ????????? ⏳ (@stranahan) July 19, 2013
Prayer circle panorama 1 pic.twitter.com/dFLTFKooOO
— ??? ????????? ⏳ (@stranahan) July 19, 2013
Prayer circle panorama 2 pic.twitter.com/CML3Pc8dgX
— ??? ????????? ⏳ (@stranahan) July 19, 2013
Photo op #trayvonmartinact http://t.co/paPkVqsACU
— ??? ????????? ⏳ (@stranahan) July 19, 2013
Inside the Capitol where the Dream Defenders are preparing to spend the weekend pic.twitter.com/WknC757gfv
— James Buechele (@JamesBuechele) July 19, 2013
Looks like the @Dreamdefenders R here 4 the weekend! @rolandsmartin @teamimpact #specialsession #fb #sayfie pic.twitter.com/HPXhlbJLZ2
— Alan Williams (@Alan4Florida) July 19, 2013
Gov. Scott has declared Sunday a Statewide Day of Prayer for Unity, though it hasn’t done much to appease the protesters.
"Go home and pray?!" That's @FLGovScott's gubernatorial advice given to @DreamDefenders on state property?! #SEPARATEchurchandstate
— Dr.JuNa ?? (@DrJ512) July 19, 2013
https://twitter.com/ShaylaRacquel/status/358365325995147264
https://twitter.com/StufJustGotReal/status/358296100169461761
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