Page 9 - Florida Sentinel 8-19-22

Feature
Florida Rising To Lead Housing March On Saturday
BY MONIQUE STAMPS Sentinel Staff Writer
Florida Rising is hosting a Housing March to fight the unjust treatment that people are receiving from landlords, developers, and elected offi- cials. The march will end at the polls, where participants can participate in early vot- ing.
Several prominent social groups, including TOBA, the CDC, ETBCA, and the COACH Foundation, are supporting the march.
The march will be Satur- day, August 20, 2022. The starting point will be Cyrus Green Park. The park opens at 11:00 a.m., and walkers will be lining up at 12:30 p.m. At 1:00 p.m., the walk will begin.
The march ends at the C.
ROBIN LOCKETT Blythe Andrews Jr., Li-
brary, where walkers can early vote. Participants can either drop off their mail-in ballots or early vote in per- son. Early voting ends on Sunday, August 21, 2022.
“This is an opportunity for us, as a community, to
REVEREND WILLIE DIXON
speak with one voice. Our voice is our vote, and we need to ensure that our voices are heard. Voting in elections is very important” stated Robin Lockett, Di- rector for the Tampa Bay re- gion for Florida Rising.
Lockett emphasized that
despite her organization get- ting policy changes approved by the Tampa City Council, the rental and housing mar- ket is still hurting Tampa residents.
To register for the march, people are asked to visit https://flori- darising.org/events.
Rev. Willie Dixon, founder of the COACH Foundation, says that even convicted felons can partici- pate in the march.
“Returning citizens can absolutely participate. Even though they can’t vote, they can bring friends and family to vote and support the
march for fair and reason- able housing,” stated Rev. Dixon.
For people that cannot walk for any reasons, there will be vans that will follow the march and take them to the library where they too can enjoy the festivities and vote.
“There will be a celebra- tion as we vote. We have speakers, food, and enter- tainment planned. It will be a family event,” says Lock- ett.
“And if you have already voted, please come anyway and support the community with your presence.”
PAGE 8-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY FRIDAY, AUGUST 19, 2022