Dream Defenders

Dream Defenders is a human rights organization aimed at ending police and state brutality geared towards people of color, ending the school-to-prison pipeline, and shifting culture through transformational organizing.

History and founding

Dream Defenders founded after a group of individuals marched from Daytona to Sanford, Florida in order to protest Trayvon Martin's murder. Gabriel Pendas, Ahmad Abuznaid and umi selah (formally known as Phillip Agnew) knew each other from activist work in college, and came together to plan an event. They contacted Ciara Taylor and Nelini Stamp - other activists with similar interests.[1] Pendas suggested a march from Daytona to Sanford, and they all agreed. Their plan was to march to the Sanford police station and hold a sit-in. They started marching April 6, 2012, with about 40 people. Throughout their course they sang civil rights songs, while bystanders would join in and walk for a couple of miles. At night they slept in African Methodist Episcopal churches. The night before arriving in Sanford, there were rumors that the Ku Klux Klan and other white supremacist groups would be waiting at the police station. The group discussed their plan, and ultimately decided to continue.[1] The following morning, they marched to the Sanford, Florida police station and knelt outside of the doors. They had no idea what would happen, but a few of them, including Taylor, were willing to get arrested. Instead of getting arrested, they were invited into the police station to meet with local elected officials and police. They were able to speak with the attorney on the case, Angela Corey, and she informed them that George Zimmerman, the man who shot and killed Martin, would be arrested.[1] Taylor, and the fellow students and alumni who took part in this stand in, would eventually form Dream Defenders.

Ciara Taylor

Taylor, one of the founders, grew up in the suburbs in Florida and attended Florida A&M University in Tallahassee.[1] She served as both the Political Director and the Director of Political Consciousness at Dream Defenders. In high school, Taylor protested the United States 2000 presidential election, between Al Gore and George W. Bush, after Bush was named President. Taylor felt frustrated and hopeless in this process, because she felt as though she could not actively influence the decision being made about her soon-to-be president.[1][2] She continued this activism into college at Florida A&M, where she advocated for living wages for campus workers and advocated against budget cuts that defunded her major a year before she graduated

Activist work

In July 2013, the Dream Defenders demonstrated outside of the Florida State Capitol building for 31 days. This demonstration was held in response to the decision of the Trayvon Martin case, in which George Zimmerman was acquitted for Martin's death.[3] The group stayed their ground, refusing to leave unless Governor Rick Scott spoke to them about the Stand Your Ground self-defense law, which states that defendants have the right to protect and defend themselves without retreating. After 31 days, House Speaker Will Weatherford agreed to speak with them about Stand Your Ground, while Governor Rick Scott continued to decline.[4]

After this demonstration, Dream Defenders continued working on Trayvon's law, which addresses and seeks to end the issues of racial profiling and the school-to-prison pipeline. The Dream Defenders tackle issues head on, and work on issues that continue to effect minorities, people of color, LGBTQIA individuals, and women.

Rebel Threads

The Rebel Threads clothing line launched by Dream Defenders targets young activists who want to display their activism through fashion.[5] The Rebel Threads Website launched on November 21, 2016. The company is based in North Carolina, and does not use sweatshops. Their website states, "we are making a statement. We are making a statement that what is ON our clothes is just as important as what goes IN our clothes. Revolutionary messages must be connected to revolutionary practice.".[6] The work that goes into making their clothing is connected to the activist work that they stand by, a crucial part to being an intersectional activist. They are also hoping to create new economies within the South and create jobs that provide just and fair wages.[6]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Jaffe, Sarah (August 23, 2016). Necessary Trouble: Americans in Revolt. PublicAffairs. pp. 134–137. |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  2. ↑ Armstrong, Lisa (October 31, 2014). "The New Civil Rights Leaders". Essence. Retrieved March 22, 2017.
  3. ↑ Lee, Traci G. (2013-07-23). "One week later, Dream Defenders stand their ground". MSNBC. Retrieved March 20, 2017.
  4. ↑ McGrory, Kathleen (September 26, 2013). "Dream Defenders return to Florida Capitol". Miami Herald. Retrieved March 20, 2017.
  5. ↑ Davis, Rachaell (November 25, 2016). "Dream Defenders Launch New Activism Apparel Line "Rebel Threads"". Essence. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  6. 1 2 "About". Made By Rebels. Retrieved 25 April 2017.
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