The Gainesville Iguana A progressive newsletter and events calendar March, 2019 Vol. 33, Issue 3 Gainesville city elections, March 19 by Joe Courter Yes, another election, this time for the City of Gainesville Mayor (citywide), District 4 City Commissioner (which is in the south/central area) and a referen- dum on charter review (also citywide and discussed in a separate article). The mayoral race pits incumbent Mayor Lauren Poe against three challengers: Marlon Bruce, a 20-year-old Santa Fe College student with a questionable per- formance record in student government there; Jennifer Reid, a registered Repub- lican and attorney big on public safety issues; and Jenn Powell, who was and is Why should a strong Bernie Sanders supporter, a com- munity activist, and formerly a candidate for City Commission a few years ago. Being a four-way race, it is possible there will be a runoff stretching to April. The District 4 race is a two-way be- tween incumbent Adrian Hayes-Santos UF Divest? and Robert Mounts, who filed to run at the last minute. by Marcela Mulholland other social justice issues. I remember The overriding issue in these races is a World renowned civil rights activist and sitting in a Facets of Sustainability challenge to the status quo of a City Com- writer James Baldwin once said, “The par- course during the fall of my freshman mission that has talked about east/west adox of education is precisely this – that year learning about climate change and inequities for years but has not produced feeling angry that I had been alive for as one begins to become conscious, one See ELECTIONS, p. 16 begins to examine the society in which he 18 years without anyone ever telling is being educated.” Along this same vein, me that quite literally civilization as we know it is on the brink of collapse. INSIDE ... the development of my consciousness has From the Publisher ������������������������3 led me to examine the educational institu- I remember speaking to a professor after CMC Events ...... 11 tion largely responsible for this develop- class who recommended that I read “The Event Calendar ...... 12-13 ment, the University of Florida. New Jim Crow,” the book responsible for Oral History...... 18-19 awakening me to the crisis of mass in- Directory...... 21-23 When I first arrived at UF over three Editors’ Picks ...... 24 years ago I knew little to nothing about carceration. I remember feeling confused climate change, private prisons or any See DIVEST, p. 20 It’s broken: Ocasio-Cortez leads lightning round From the publisher ... Subscribe! The following is from a Congressional MEHRBANI: You could do that. The Gainesville Iguana hearing on Feb. 6. Rep. Ocasio-Cortez OCASIO-CORTEZ: So, I could do that. On saying no is Gainesville's progressive is questioning Mrs. Hobert Flynn, the I could do that now with the way our President of Common Cause; Bradley So here we are two years into the Trump administration. And pretty much every day is newsletter and events calendar current laws are set up? another statement, policy, tweet or appointment that has us shaking our heads. Today it’s Smith, Chair of the Institute for Free Individuals: $15 the appointment of a climate change (i.e., science) denier to head the White House panel Speech; Rudy Mehrbani, Senior Counsel MEHRBANI: Yes. (or more if you can) on climate change. Two days ago it was the launching (pardon the pun) of an arms race in of the Brennan Center for Justice; and Low/No income: What you can OCASIO-CORTEZ: Oh, okay. Great. space with the creation of the “Space Command.” We watch in horror as immigrants flee- Walter Shaub, Senior Adviser to Citizens Groups: $20 Okay, so, my last question is – or one of ing the turmoil in their homelands are mis-characterized and vil- for Responsibility and Ethics. my last questions, I guess I’d say, is, is ified, to the point that families are being separated, and children Gainesville Iguana OCASIO-CORTEZ: Thank you, Chair. it possible that any elements of this story are being locked up and even lost in the process. The nation is P.O. Box 14712 So, let’s play a game. Let’s play a lightning- apply to our current government and our pulled out of international climate and arms control agreements. Gainesville, FL 32604 round game. I’m gonna be the bad guy, current public servants right now? I won’t go on, you get the picture, you know it all too well. Comments, suggestions, which I’m sure half the room would agree MEHRBANI: Yes. So at what point is this turned around? Who is going to say contributions (written or financial) with anyway, and I want to get away with FLYNN: Yes. no to it? I keep thinking of a future time when we will look are welcome. To list your event or as much bad things as possible ideally to back and think “How did we let it get that far?” Getting the enrich myself and advance my interests group, contact us at: OCASIO-CORTEZ: So, we have a U.S. House of Representatives back in Democratic hands, and Joe Courter even if that means putting my interests system that is fundamentally broken. that those hands are attached to many more women and minori- 352-378-5655 ahead of the American people. We have these influences existing in this ties is good, but damage is continuing unabated with court appointments, weakening of [email protected] So, Mrs. Hobert Flynn – Oh, and by the body, which means that these influences health and safety regulations, and potentially disastrous foreign policy decisions with www.gainesvilleiguana.org way, I have enlisted all of you as my co- are here in this committee, shaping the war hawks like Bolton, Pompeo and Abrams calling the shots. facebook.com/gainesvilleiguana conspirators. So you’re gonna help me questions that are being asked of you I try and keep positive in these pieces, but it is getting harder with the rise of authoritar- The Iguana has been published legally get away with all of this. So, Mrs. all right now. Would you say that that’s ian governments around the globe. There seems to be a toxic similarity to them as well; monthly or bimonthly by Hobert Flynn, I want to run. If I want to correct, Mr. Mehrbani or Mr. Shaub? attacks on the news media, repression and scapegoating of minority groups and outliers, volunteers for over 30 years. run a campaign that is entirely funded by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez SHAUB: Yes. attacks against progressive leaders through the courts or with bullets, and a rolling back Circulation for this issue is 4,500. corporate political action committees, is of women’s rights. It is likely that technological change has been aiding this in the news there anything that legally prevents me OCASIO-CORTEZ: All right. So, Publisher: got the power to draft, lobby, and shape manipulation, electoral messaging, and surveillance and tracking of dissidents. Big lies Joe Courter from doing that? the laws that govern the United States one last thing, Mr. Shaub – in relation and fear mongering seem to be a winning ticket these days. to congressional oversight that we Editors Emeritus: FLYNN: No. of America. There is a lot of talk now about the Mueller report being released soon, and it seems like have, the limits that are placed on me Jenny Brown OCASIO-CORTEZ: Okay. Fabulous. it is being treated like the silver bullet to save us from Trump. You readers in the future as a congresswoman, compared to Mark Piotrowski will know how that came out. But looking at it at this moment, there is a lot of other stuff So, there’s nothing stopping me from Now, is there any hard limit that I have, the executive branch and compared that could be being investigated, especially by the newly blue House ... follow the mon- Editorial Board: being entirely funded by corporate perhaps Mrs. Hobert Flynn – is there any to, say, the President of the United ey, look for the cover-ups. I worry that time is being squandered as some networks seem Pierce Butler PACs, say, from the fossil-fuel industry, hard limit that I have in terms of what States, would you say that Congress totally fixated on Russia Russia Russia and the threads Mueller is following. That and Joe Courter the healthcare industry, Big Pharma. legislation I’m allowed to touch? Are has the same sort of standard of the distraction factor as the run up to military confrontation in Venezuela looms. Once I’m entirely 100 percent lobbyist PAC- there any limits on the laws that I can accountability? Is there more teeth in that Beth Grobman soldiers die—that is, American soldiers—the fight becomes about their honor. That’s funded. Okay. So, let’s say I’m a really, write or influence, especially if I’m – regulation in Congress on the president, Jessica Newman really bad guy. And let’s say I have some or would you say it’s about even or more the way it’s been in the past, but I could be wrong about that now; the U.S. has lost a lot based on the special-interest funds that I of soldiers without much results since George W. Bush turned loose the dogs of war in Production work and assistance: skeletons in my closet that I need to cover accepted to finance my campaign and get so on the federal? Joye Barnes up so that I can get elected. 2003. So much death and destruction over lies. Lies the media and Congress went along me elected in the first place? SHAUB: In terms of laws that apply to with. No one in power said no. So it goes. Kaithleen Hernandez Mr. Smith, is it true that you wrote this FLYNN: There’s no limit. the president, yeah, there’s almost no Rebecca Paceley article, this opinion piece for “The laws at all that apply to the president. The New Yorker issue from Feb 18 and 25 has a feature by Jeffery Toobin about Roger Fran Ricardo Washington Post” entitled “Payments to OCASIO-CORTEZ: So, there’s none. Stone and Jerome Corsi.
L.A. teachers win big, beat back privatizers 10th Annual by Barbara Madeloni Some teachers around the city were frustrated at a process they Alachua County Teacher Unions are leading the way in showing the country felt was rushed. But members voted a resounding 81 percent yes how it’s done, LA was a huge win, but West Virginia not only on the agreement, and returned to their classrooms Jan. 23. Peace Poetry Contest 2019 won gains last year, but STAYED organized and went out again In the face of the union’s demands, the district had cried pov- The Gainesville Chapter of Veterans for Peace invites all statewide on short notice to force the withdrawal of a bill that erty—it said it was running a deficit. But that didn’t appear to be students, K-12, in Alachua County to create and submit one would have opened the state up to charter schools. This article true, since its reserves were growing each year. original poem on the subject of peace and social justice. originally appeared in LaborNotes.org on Jan. 24. A version of The teachers set out to force the district to put its stockpiled cash this article appeared in the February Labor Notes #479. into creating the “schools Los Angeles students deserve.” SUBMISSION DEADLINE: March 22 In a joyful, rain-drenched strike, 34,000 Los Angeles teachers How they did it Entries should be emailed to: won things no union has ever won. [email protected] From day one of the strike, huge majorities of teachers showed up They forced Superintendent Austin Beutner, a former invest- at their schools every morning to hold the picket lines, together with or mailed to: ment banker, to accept concessions even on topics he had previ- VFP Peace Poetry Contest parents and students. Then strikers and their supporters headed down- th ously refused even to bargain over. town for rallies that topped 50,000 the first day and kept growing. 2115 NW 7 Lane Gainesville, FL 32603 L.A. will reinstate limits on class size—and for most classes, The streets were full of joy. All week, everywhere we turned reduce those limits by four students by 2022. there was singing, dancing, spoken word, brass bands, mariachis. REQUIREMENTS FOR SUBMISSION: Please Despite a pro-charter school board majority, the nation’s sec- Teachers didn’t let the drenching rain daunt them; they suited up include ond-largest school district agreed to move a board resolution to in ponchos, and laminated their song sheets and picket signs. (1) the poet’s name, grade level, school, parent/ support a statewide moratorium on new charter schools. All across the city, people were talking about the strike and guardian and/or teacher’s name, and It will hire more nurses, librarians, and counselors; reduce stan- its demands—in coffee shops, on the bus, in stores, at the (2) two preferred methods of contact (e-mail, phone dardized testing and random police searches of students; cre- airport car rental. number and/or mailing address). ate an immigrant defense fund; and hand budget control of 30 In an effort to keep schools open for 600,000 L.A. students, the Winners will receive a valuable prize and have their schools over to local communities. district brought in scab substitutes from private contractors. It poems published in the 2019 Peace Poetry Contest Book. It’s a very different vision from what Beutner had in mind. In offered current subs more than double their regular wage to work Winning poets will have the opportunity to read their November the L.A. Times and Capital & Main had leaked his during the strike. pieces aloud at the public Peace Poetry Reading in May plan to carve up the district into clusters of schools run like com- in Gainesville. All poets will be notified, whether their But in L.A., the subs are part of the union. Very few chose to poems place or not. peting stock portfolios. Any school judged to be an underper- cross the picket lines. former would be sold off like a weak stock. For additional information, email: Read more about how L.A. teachers overhauled their union and [email protected] or call Sheila Payne Teachers were weeping at the mass rally outside City Hall January got organized at every school, as they built towards this strike. 22 as United Teachers Los Angeles Secretary and Bargaining Chair at 831-334-0117. D Arlene Inouye reviewed the high points of the tentative agreement. Go on offense President Alex Caputo-Pearl told the crowd that this strike was L.A. is the biggest U.S. school district with an elected school “one of the most magnificent demonstrations of collective action board. (The biggest district, New York City, and third-biggest, that the United States has seen in decades. Chicago, are both governed by mayoral appointees.) “We did not win because of a single leader,” he said. “We did Year after year, its school board elections have broken spending re- not win because of a small group of leaders. We won because cords. Corporate education reformers spent $13 million in the last you—at 900 schools across the entire city, with parents, with election, most of it coming from the foundations of the Walton family students, with community organizations—you walked the line.” (the owners of Walmart) and Eli Broad, two of the biggest spenders nationally in support of charter schools, vouchers and privatization. Members returned to their school sites that afternoon to review the tentative agreement—which was published online in full— That money was enough to win them a majority of the seats on to discuss it with their co-workers, and vote on whether to ac- the school board. And after the previous superintendent resigned cept the deal and return to work the next morning. early last year for health reasons, that majority handpicked a su- perintendent, Beutner. But as it turned out, a bought and paid for board and superinten- dent weren’t as powerful as a good old-fashioned strike. Readers who work in education or the public sector will be famil- iar with the claim that “the money just isn’t there.” UTLA refused to buy into it, and named the privatization schemes behind it. Rather than retreat or get cautious in the face of corporate attacks, the union went on offense, demanded fully funded public schools, and did the organizing to back up its demands with action. The teachers won big—and provided us all a model for how to fight back. The victory, said Caputo-Pearl, renewed “the strike not only as the last resort, but as something you do to build a social movement.” D page 14, Iguana, March 2019 Gainesville, Florida www.GainesvilleIguana.org March 2019, Iguana page 15 From ELECTIONS, p. 1 the results many would like to see, and the rampant and rapid Vote NO on the Charter development projects in the City. The past two Iguanas have high- lighted this tendency to push for development over the concerns Review Commission and character of the existing neighborhoods. by Gary Gordon I am suspicious of government. To me, it seems that we have a well-meaning, progressive Com- mission who have brought many great and lasting benefits to the Trump is not the first to lie or to be devious. City: bike lanes, roundabouts, parks, culture and arts funding; So when a ballot measure appears without fanfare I am inclined but they also seem to be infatuated with more and more ... well, to wonder why. doing, as in the quite justifiably maligned “Department of Do- ing.” Commissioners should not be partners with developers; On March 19, Gainesville citizens will be asked to vote on whether they should be selective and yes, sometimes say no, demand or not to create a Charter Review Commission: an 11-person higher standards, and guide development to fix actual needs, citizen committee, appointed by the City Commission to review because our City has major needs that must be addressed with the Charter and make recommendations. The City Commission more than concerns and promises. can veto the recommendations, called amendments, by a 2/3 vote, otherwise the amendments become proposed changes to We support Jenn Powell as a hard worker, committed to refocus- be voted on by the public in a November election. ing the Commission to see poverty, to see actual needs, and be- cause of her life experience of living hard times in challenging Sounds harmless. And maybe we could even move city elections situations, to be a leader in moving the Commission to address to Indigenous Peoples’ Day and everyone would have the day issues that persons of more comfortable lives have not known. off, but, not so fast … Plus her background as an accountant is a real plus. The City Commission created and passed the ordinance for this In the other race as much as we like Adrian Hayes-Santos as a ballot measure last summer, after a City Commission ballot person, he totally bought into the whole “Department of Doing” measure changing the Charter to move city elections to the thing, and perhaps the City needs to recalibrate its priorities, fall and lengthening Commission terms from 3 to 4 years was slow down and think more of others and of gentrification, and already scheduled to appear on the November 2018 ballot. do a little more to help those who have been left out, not just That November, the measure passed, so there goes election day giving developers a free pass. Vote Mounts, and set a new tone. on Indigenous People’s Day, and many other creative ideas as the By all means, do your own research, check the candidate web- voting schedule is now locked into the national election schedule. sites, and go to forums if you can. The Supervisor of Elections can Why didn’t the City Commission wait on changing the steer you to a lot of information. Early voting begins March 9 and election date and terms of office until a Citizen Charter Review runs through March 16. Election day is Tuesday, March 19. D Commission could be created to consider that idea along with other ideas? Why is this sequence backwards: change the Charter in 2018 then create a Review Commission afterwards? Two things gnaw: 1) there was no outcry for a Charter Review Commission. I recall no candidate in 2018 and no current city candidate calling for one; nor can I recall or know of any interest group — labor, environment, social justice — calling for this. It seems to have just emanated, as some things do, from City Hall. So, 2) what is the hidden agenda? (I told you I was suspicious.) I suspect the hidden agenda is to use this Review Commission to move to a Strong-Mayor form of government. We have what is known as a Commission-Manager form of government. The City Commission, with a “weak” Mayor, makes the policy, the City Manager implements it. Power is diffused with all Commissioners and the Mayor having equal power. Large cities like Jacksonville, Miami, L.A. and Chicago have a Strong Mayor who is also the CEO. Power is concentrated. There are forces in this town – you’ve read about them in this publication – who aspire to a New Gainesville, a Greater Gainesville. Out-of-town developer money. More high-rises. A Strong-Mayor form of government fits well with those plans. A Commission-Manager form of government, less so. On paper it sounds fine, but there is a realpolitik here. Vote NO on this ballot item. D page 16, Iguana, March 2019 Gainesville, Florida www.GainesvilleIguana.org March 2019, Iguana page 17 thought the flag was just heaven, and here I’m saying, “I amnot I’m very proud of having introduced a number of things at the History and the people who make it: Mildred A. Hill-Lubin, pt. 2 taking a picture under that flag!” He just could not get over that. University of Florida. I was one of the first women, and the first African American woman, to be a dean in graduate school. But Mildred Hill-Lubin [H], UF literature competent in African American literature, When Obama became president, I said, “Now I can begin to So, they sat-in at the door, and he called it was also a lonely kind of existence. I didn’t have another per- professor, was interviewed by James My- so people were asking me to consult with say the pledge of allegiance, and I’ll be willing to take a picture the police and had many of them arrested. son in my area to give me feedback about my research. ers [M] in June, 2009; the first part of them on teaching African American lit- Many of the Black students left. In reac- under the flag.” Obama’s presidency became another change in this interview ran in the Jan-Feb Iguana. erature. tion to that, many of them did not come my life. The major thing I like about him is his inclusiveness. I I did do research on the Black Grandmother, another area I liked, because I had a very good relationship with my grandmother. This is the 52nd in a series of transcript We would have an institute in the sum- back. Well, they couldn’t come back. would like to see a world that is inclusive of all people. We can My grandmother saved me when I was born. I was almost dead. excerpts from the UF Samuel Proctor mer, and then during the school year, it make it so. And I do go to church very much, and I give credit to They did begin the Institute of Black Cul- The midwife, my grandmother asked her whether she was going Oral History Program collection. Notes was the director’s duty to go visit schools God for everything I have received, or done, or whatever. I still ture. Two other Black professors came: to do anything. She said, “I ain’t God.” She walked off and left. in [square brackets] by SPOHP; interpo- that were desegregating. It would be such Carlton Davis, at IFAS, and Dr. Ronald do that. To God be the glory for everything. lations in {curly brackets} by Iguana. a terrible experience, seeing the Black Foreman in the English Department, and M: Is there anything else that you’d like to mention? My grandmother bounced me, and blew on me and everything, Transcript edited by Pierce Butler. children—most times, they were in the also the director of Afro-American Stud- and finally I cried; I came to life. I always say that God left me back of the room. Nobody was paying ies. In [19]72 or [19]73, Dr. Harris Shaw H: I did get married a second time. I married a professor whom I here for some purpose. I enjoy teaching, although I did have M: Your son, from what I understand, any attention to them. The classes were came. At that time, Dr. Ward Hellstrom met at an African Literature conference. He taught Francophone trouble with many students. I would get this feedback on my integrated schools in Augusta. awful. One time I came out of this school, was the chair of the English Department. African literature because he was from Haiti, and he worked a evaluation, “She’s not teaching American Literature. She’s H: He did, he did. That was one of the and it was such a horrible experience that They came to Illinois—all of us were great deal in Haitian Literature. He collected the first book of po- teaching women and Black literature!” [Laughter] etry of Haitian writers, and his name was Dr. Maurice A. Lubin. most unbelievable experiences. I felt I just closed the window of my car and from University of Illinois—and asked I did serve as a trustee on the Santa Fe Community Board. I also it was necessary. He was in first grade, screamed as loud as I could! [Laughter] me about coming to Florida to teach. I met him at an African Literature conference, in Boone, North worked in Washington D.C. in the American Council on Edu- and President Kennedy was assassinated My older son by that time was in col- Carolina, of all places. [Laughter] The next thing I knew, he had cation for the Advancement of Women in Administration. But just about the time he started school, in lege, going to Morehouse. I only had my come to Gainesville, and I was treating him as a colleague. We went now, I am enjoying my retirement! I just look back over it and [19]63. When Whites in the community younger son, who had just been named the next year to that African Literature Association conference, as say, “I taught forty-two years. I think that’s enough!” discovered he was going to integrate to the basketball team in middle school husband and wife. [Laughter] We lived together for almost twenty schools, they started calling me on the Search for “Hill-Lubin” at http://oral.history.ufl.edu “Quick in Augusta. So I had to convince him. I years. He was teaching at Howard University in Washington D.C., telephone telling me that they were go- Links” for the recording of this interview and another, on Afri- said, “Oh if you’re good, you’ll get to and I was teaching here. So, we commuted for one year. Then I had ing to kill him as they shot Kennedy. That can literature, in 2014. be on the team in Illinois.” So, he went sabbatical and went up there to stay with him. The next year he took was a bad feeling. I wrote a letter to my- with me, and he did play on the team in the sabbatical and came down here. And the next year I think he The Samuel Proctor Oral History Program believes that self, and I said, “If he were old enough Illinois. There were two Blacks on the retired, and then he came down to stay here. listening carefully to first-person narratives can change the to go to the Army, he would be drafted to team, and the coach couldn’t play both way we understand history, from scholarly questions to public fight for his country to give us freedom.” I haven’t said very much about my stay here in University of But, we did do a great deal with deseg- of them together. He had to play one at policy. SPOHP needs the public’s help to sustain and build I felt that enrolling him to help integrate Florida. It was a bittersweet relationship. I was very pleased to regation. We had programs on Saturday, one time, and one at another. The parents upon its research, teaching, and service missions: even small schools was equally important. So, he did be here teaching. I came in just at the time when the women and many, many teachers would come. would have had a fit, you know, if there donations can make a big difference in SPOHP’s ability to integrate the schools. at Florida were beginning to say “We need more women! And gather, preserve, and promote history for future generations. D Because everybody wanted information were two Blacks. That’s part of the expe- more Women’s Studies programs!” I was one of the first Black Two young men at Paine College, stu- about how to improve their teaching. rience at Illinois. But I really enjoyed Illi- professors, and a woman. Many men would ask, “where’s the dents, agreed to come every morning, nois. Because I was then studying African professor?” I’d say, “I’m the professor.” These women were try- walk him to the school, and every after- At the same time, when I carried my son American literature. ing to organize, and I said, “Well, I’m going to join you, because noon walk him back. I’m trying to teach at to integrate the school, I did ask one of While I was in Augusta, Martin Luther I want the Black woman’s voice heard, too.” the same time as looking out the window the professors, the dean of students there, King was killed in 1968. For me, the to see them walk across the campus to to go with me. The three of us went to That meant I was in on the starting of the Women’s Studies pro- world changed. All of my life I had be- bring him home safely. So, it was miser- this school, and we had to walk through gram. We also created what is called Association of Women Fac- lieved that if you did the right thing, and able. And, to add to it, I was selected that Whites on both sides. That was rather ulty. I started the first course in Anglophone African Literature worked hard, everything would work out year to go to Minnesota on an exchange scary. But we did do that. It was so funny at the University. I had to write it in such a way that the English all right. When he was killed, that made program. I was selected to go to Hamline that evening; everybody wanted to know Department would accept African Literature in English. Many me change my mind, and it said to me, College to teach, and also to study at Uni- what happened. Bob was so cool. “Mom- you have to start questioning. That was of the people in my department thought I was going to be teach- versity of Minnesota. I took both of my ma, I had to help those children. They the beginning of my—well, people would ing in translation. I had to tell them, “No, there are writers in sons and went out there for, well, little couldn’t even write their names!” And say “militancy,” Africa who write in English.” over a year. During that period, my first their parents would have had a fit to even husband wanted us to get back together. think he was looking at them. [Laughter] I guess the worst example of it was not too So he came to Minnesota, and we drove The next year, I took him to Minnesota long ago, just about the same year I was from Minnesota back to Augusta for me in the second grade, and no Blacks were retiring. My sister did sewing, and ended to start teaching again. in that school. He did a lot of breaking up becoming the supervisor of the tailor Presents Not very much African American lit- down barriers, too. I didn’t have to go do shop at the {US} Naval Academy. They The American Black erature was in print at that time, and no- anything but just enroll him in Minnesota. were having a party for her retirement, Experience: Then & Now body knew very much about it. We felt They didn’t have any problem. and all the family were there. I looked A social and cultural criticism of it should have been a part of the curricu- to take a picture and I saw the flag, and racism in America M: You came to the University of Performances at Actors’ Warehouse. Commu- lum. I started reading and reading about I said, “Unh-uh! I’m not taking a picture Florida in 1974? under this flag!” nity conversation sessions will take place in African American literature. One of the various locations around Alachua County. directors who had started this program H: Right. In [19]71, the students had had The irony of this is that, my sister’s hus- decided to go back and get her PhD, and an uprising, requesting more Black fac- band had been a soldier, and they had she asked me to be director of the EPDA ulty, and more African American Studies traveled all over the world; children were {Educational Professional Development classes and so forth. When they went to born, some of them, in Germany, and Act} program. I also was becoming very the president, he would not receive them. the nephew had been in the Army. They page 18, Iguana, March 2019 Gainesville, Florida www.GainesvilleIguana.org March 2019, Iguana page 19 From DIVEST, p. 1 when I first saw “Boycott Wendy’s” buttons and later learning about Wendy’s exploitative labor practices. My collegiate experience is littered with moments like these that African American slowly, but surely, radically expanded my moral, environmen- tal, and global awareness. I have my professors, peers, and the Oral History Gainesville community at large to thank for this awakening. This is to say, I have UF, and the opportunities it has afforded me, to thank. But, as Baldwin predicted, the time has come when the Symposium: education I have been provided has led me to critique the very institution responsible for educating me in the first place. Here’s the problem: Though UF publicly presents itself as an March 21-23 institution solely dedicated to excellence in education, research, From Segregation to Black Lives Matter: and football, UF is a corporation; and an unethical one at that. A Symposium and Celebration of the Specifically, UF chooses to manage its $2 billion-dollar endow- ment through the University of Florida Investment Corporation, opening of the Joel Buchanan Archive a private body based out of Delaware, to avoid public interest of African American Oral History at the and transparency laws. University of Florida To make matters worse, UF invests this endowment in the fossil This three-day symposium marks the formal opening fuel and private prison industries. www.artwalkgainesville.com of the Joel Buchanan African American Oral History It’s clear that UF’s mission of “shaping a better future for Flori- Archive at the University of Florida to scholars, students GALLERY TOUR BEGINS AT 7 PM da, the nation and the world” is inherently in conflict with finan- and researchers. cially supporting prison slave labor and fossil fuel companies The event will bring together scholars, educators, and The egregious moral discrepancy between UF’s stated values community leaders to discuss the latest trends in African and UF’s actual behavior has prompted students, including my- American history from K-12 to higher education. self, to mobilize and create Divest UF. We are a loose collec- Participants will have the opportunity to view and listen tive of Gators committed to financially disentangling UF from to films, podcasts and panelists. The event will also VOTE TUESDAY, MARCH 19 any and all toxic industries and human rights violations. We are feature book-signings of noted authors. supported by the thousands of other college students across the This conference is FREE and open to the public. country who have incited the national divestment movement to make academic institutions put their money where their mission If you plan to join us at our wonderful symposium please is. Our two current campaigns are: RSVP via the link on our Eventbrite page: https://tinyurl.com/yblnpayx D (1) pushing UF to divest its endowment from all fossil fuels, and Alachua County’s (2) demanding that the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sci- “No Pressure” Realtor ences cut its prison labor contracts. UF administrators want to have it both ways: they want to brag Amnesty International UF campus chapter of about being an R1 institution on the cutting edge of the latest worldwide human rights movement; www.facebook. Iguana Directory com/ufamnesty or [email protected]. No buyer fees and scientific research, while also readily ignoring the radical impli- cations of said science by investing in fossil fuels. Call 352-378-5655 or email [email protected] with updates and additions Avian Research and Conservation Institute listing commission is (ARCI) is a non-profit research organization only 1.5% They want to brag about diversity initiatives while also perpetu- working to stimulate conservation action to save ating the prison industrial complex which disproportionately Readers: If there is inaccurate information Medicare for All and a living wage. Contact: http://laborcoalition.org/, info@laborcoalition. threatened species of birds in the southeastern harms people of color. here, please let us know. If you are connected U.S., www.arcinst.org to an organization listed here, please check and org, 352-375-2832, PO Box 12051, 502 NW Let me help you find Frankly, UF administrators care more about UF’s ranking as a update so others can be accurately informed. 16th Ave., 2B, Gainesville, 32601 Central Florida Democratic Socialists of your next perfect fit top 10 public university than they do about coastal Florida’s very Alachua County Organization for Rural America A local chapter of Democratic Socialists Alachua Conservation Trust, Inc. Protecting of America focusing on local social and political home! existence and basic human rights. North Central Florida’s natural, scenic, Needs (ACORN) Clinic is a not-for- profit (501C3) organization that provides low-cost, activism issues to better our community. General My time at UF has taught me to value science, to relentlessly historic & recreational resources for over 25 meetings are on the 4th Monday of every month years. ACT is the 2013 national Land Trust high-quality medical and dental care, and social interrogate the status quo, and to never shy away from calling services for people with and without health at the Downtown Library in Gainesville in Sandy Malone, Realtor power into question when it is at odds with my values. It is in this Excellence award recipient. 352-373-1078. Meeting Room A. [email protected], AlachuaConservationTrust.org insurance. The clinic primarily serves residents C. 352-575-4080 spirit that Divest UF is calling on UF to cut ties with prison labor of Alachua, Bradford and Union Counties. www.fb.com/centralfldsa and completely divest its endowment from fossil fuels. Alachua County Green Party Part of The Clinic fulfills its mission with the help of Citizens Climate Lobby builds awareness and Will you join us? a worldwide movement built out of four a broad-based core of volunteer physicians, lobbies for sensible climate policies, btancig@ [email protected] interrelated social pillars that support its politics: nurses, dentists, hygienists, pharmacists and gmail.com, 352-214-1778 Stay up to date with our movement and opportunities for in- the peace, civil rights, environmental and labor counselors. Located at 23320 N. State Rd 235 www.goldenrulerealestate.com Civic Media Center Alternative reading room volvement by following: movements. gainesvillegreens.webs.com, Brooker, Florida 32622 352-485-1133 [email protected], 352-871-1995 and library of the non-corporate press, and a Facebook- @DivestUf American Civil Liberties Union Currently no resource and space for organizing. 352-373- Twitter- @DivestUF Alachua County Labor Coalition meets local chapter. For info on forming a new chapter, 0010, www.civicmediacenter.org, 433 S Main Instagram- @divest_uf D monthly and organizes to support local labor or ACLU info, contact Jax office 904-353-7600 St.,Gainesville, 32601 and advance the national campaigns for or [email protected] Continued on next page page 20, Iguana, March 2019 Gainesville, Florida www.GainesvilleIguana.org March 2019, Iguana page 21 Continued from preceding page thefineprintmag.org Goals include promoting values of humanism, national Web site to join: http://www.ncpssm.org/ check website or call for upcoming meetings, 107 political organization, [email protected] discussing issues humanists face internationally. We S. Sixth St., Palatka - For information on volunteer The Coalition for Racial Justice gnv4all@ Florida School of Traditional Midwifery A National Lawyers Guild Lawyers, law students, le- Sunday Assembly, a secular congregation strive to participate in community service and bring activities call Fran Rossano at 352-475-3012 gmail.com clearinghouse for information, activities and gal workers and jailhouse lawyers using the law to ad- which celebrates life, meets the third Sunday of a fun, dynamic group to the university! Preferred educational programs. 352-338-0766 www. vance social justice, support progressive social move- Quaker Meetinghouse Quakers have a 350- each month at 11 am at 530 W. University Ave. The Coalition of Hispanics Integrating contact info: email ufhumanistsoncampus@gmail. midwiferyschool.org ments. [email protected] or www.nlg.org year tradition of working peacefully for social (Santa Fe College campus building in downtown Spanish Speakers through Advocacy and com, alternative: [email protected], phone- 561- justice. Silent, unprogrammed worship Sundays Gainesville). There is a talk, music, sing-alongs, Service (CHISPAS) Student-run group at UF. Florida Defenders of the Environment works 374-3537 National Women’s Liberation is a feminist at 11, followed by potluck. Visitors welcome. discussion, refreshments and felllowship. See [email protected] to protect freshwater resources, conserve public group for women who want to fight back against Indivisible Gainesville* is one of 5800 local 702 NW 38th St. Facebook/GainesvilleQuakers lands, and provide quality environmental educa- male supremacy and win more freedom for http://SAGainesville.weebly.com/ Code Pink: Women for Peace Women-led chapters of the national Indivisible movement, for events or request Meetinghouse space at tion since 1969. 352-475-1119, Fladefenders.org women. Inequalities between women and men are UF College Democrats (UFCD) meets grassroots peace and social justice movement working to peacefully and systematically www.GainesvilleQuakers.org political problems requiring a collective solution. Tuesdays at 6:30 in Little Hall 121. 407-580- utilizing creative protest, non-violent Gainesville Area AIDS Project provides toiletries, resist the Trump agenda. We are a group of Founded 1968. Join us: www.womensliberation. Repurpose Project, a nonprofit junk shop and 4543, Facebook.com/UFcollegedems direct action and community involvement. household cleaners, hot meals, frozen food at no cost local volunteers fighting against agendas of org, P.O. Box 14017, Gainesville, 32604, 352- community center, diverts useful resources from CodePink4Peace.org, [email protected] to people living with HIV/AIDS. www.gaaponline. division, inequality, financial influence in UF Pride Student Union 575-0495, [email protected] the landfill, redirects these items to the public for LGBT+ group open The Community Weatherization Coalition is org, [email protected], 352-373-4227, Open government, and policies that neglect to benefit art and education, inspires creativity, and helps to queer folk of all sorts, including students, NCF AWIS - an advocacy organization champi- a grassroots community coalition whose mission Tuesdays 10-1 and last Friday of month 5-7. all American citizens equally. indivisiblegnv.org, us all rethink what we throw away. Let’s all help non-students, faculty and staff. www.grove.ufl. oning the interest of women in science, technol- is to improve home weatherization and energy Gainesville Citizens for Alternatives to Death [email protected] protect the planet and buy used. Open to the edu/~pride ogy, engineering and math (STEM) across all efficiency for low-income households through Penalty works to abolish the death penalty. Join Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee public. Tues-Sat: 10am-7pm, Sun noon-5. www. United Faculty of Florida, UF chapter Run education, volunteer work projects and community- disciplines and employment sectors. Meetings are vigils when Florida has an execution. Meets (IWOC), branch of IWW, GainesvilleIWOC@ repurposeproject.org by and for faculty, the University of Florica building. The CWC welcomes new volunteers to usually the first Monday of the month (except holi- 6pm first Tuesday every month at Mennonite gmail.com Chapter of United Faculty of Florida (UFF-UF) get involved in a variety of ways, from performing days) from 5:30 -7:30pm, Millhopper Branch, Ala- River Phoenix Center for Peacebuilding Meeting House, 1236 NW 18th Ave, 352-378- represents over 1600 faculty and professionals audits to PR/Graphics and more. Contact: 352-450- Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) chua County Public Library. All meetings open to provides innovative ways to resolve conflict and 1690, www.fadp.org. at UF. UFF’s origins lie in efforts by faculty to 4965 or [email protected] Gainesville General Membership Branch public. [email protected] or www.ncfawis.org provides services like mediation, communication skill building and restorative justice. www. protect academic freedom, defend civil liberties, Gainesville Interfaith Alliance for Immigrant Union for all workers, regardless of industry, Occupy Gainesville is about engaging local Conservation Burial, Inc. promotes natural centerforpeacebuilding.org. 2603 NW 13th St. and end racial discrimination at UF. www.UFF- Justice (IAIJ) organizes faith communities to trade, job, or employment status. Meets 1st people in grassroots, participatory democracy, burial practices in cemeteries that conserve land work together for immigrant justice. Meets 2nd Sunday of the month at 6 pm at CMC. Contact: #333, 352-234-6595 UF.org, 352-519-4130. and reunite people with the environment. 352- diversity and dialogue; we stand in solidarity Mondays at 6 pm at the Mennonite Meeting House, [email protected] with the Occupy Wall Street Movement and Rural Women’s Health Project is a local health United Nations Association, Gainesville 372-1095, [email protected] 1236 NW 18th Ave. [email protected], League of Women Voters of Alachua the rest of the people peacefully occupying education organization developing materials Florida Chapter Purpose is to heighten citizen www.gainesvilleiaij.blogspot.com, 352-377-6577 Conservation Trust for Florida, Inc. Non- County Nonpartisan grassroots political public space across this county and the world. promoting health justice for migrant and rural awareness and knowledge of global problems profit land trust working to protect Florida’s Gainesville NOW www.gainesvillenow.org. group of women and men which has fought www.occupygainesville.org and https://www. women. Robin or Fran 352-372-1095 and the UN efforts to deal with those issues. rural landscapes, wildlife corridors and natural [email protected] NOW meeting info since 1920 to improve our systems of facebook.com/occupygainesville www.afn.org/~una-usa/. areas. 352-466-1178, Conserveflorida.org Samuel Proctor Oral History Program focuses contact Lisa at 352-450-1912 government and impact public policies Our Revolution North-Central Florida, inspired on story-telling, social justice research, social United Way Information and Referral (fairness in districting, voting and elections, Democratic Party of Alachua County Gainesville Peer Respite A non-profit, non- by Bernie Sanders, bringing progressive voices into movement studies, oral history workshops. Human-staffed computer database for resources e.g.) through citizen education and advocacy. Meetings held the second Wednesday each clinical mental health community providing the Democratic party, [email protected] http://oral.history.ufl.edu and organizations in Alachua County. 352-332- http://www.lwvalachua.org/, info@lwv- month at 7 p.m. in the auditorium of the sanctuary and support to those experiencing 4636 or simply 211 Gainesville Police Headquarters on NW 6th St. alachua.org
Comments, suggestions, contributions (written or financial) are welcome. Established 1986 To list your event or group, contact us at: Subscribe! (352) 378-5655 [email protected] Individuals: $15 a year www.gainesvilleiguana.org facebook.com/gainesvilleiguana (or more if you can) Low/No income: what you can Articles from current and past issues since 1996, and PDFs of print Groups: $20 a year issues since 2012 are available at www.gainesvilleiguana.org page 24, Iguana, March 2019 Gainesville, Florida