Florida to host first statewide Occupy gathering

An Occupy Jacksonville protester (Pic by Virginia Chamlee)

A collective of 15 Occupy Wall Street-inspired groups from around the state of Florida will hold a convention next month to create a resolution that will be sent to Florida Speaker of the House Dean Cannon on the first day of the legislative session.

The People’s Convention of Florida (a collective of the state’s Occupy groups) “will host the nation’s first state-wide conference of the Occupy Movement to develop ‘The People’s Plan,’ a list of desired legislative changes to be delivered on the first day of the Florida legislative session,” a press release explains.

“Occupations from all over Florida will march on Tallahassee to deliver The People’s Plan directly to the State Capitol on January 10, 2012,” the press release says. According to the event’s website, the People’s Convention is “unaffiliated with any political or special interest groups.”

According to the press release:

Florida Occupations joining the convention have agreed by General Assembly consensus to support the convention and representatives are attending on a volunteer basis. Currently, 15 Florida Occupations have confirmed attendance: Orlando, Bradenton, Tampa, St. Petersburg, Daytona, Taveres, Tallahassee, Space Coast, Jacksonville, St. Augustine, Miami, Palm Beach, Naples, Sarasota, and Key West.

Cities all over the state have been holding protests in solidarity with the New York-based Occupy Wall Street movement since late September.

The groups will convene to draft a resolution in Orlando from Dec. 9 to 11.