National “HANDS OFF” Protest!

Date, Location and Time

Sat, Apr 5, 10:00am-12:00pm EDT

Castillo de San Marcos National Monument

1 S Castillo Dr, St. Augustine, FL 32084

Sign-Making:

If making a sign for the event, some suggestions are below. NOTE: if you get to the event at 9:30 am, you can make some signs at the fort if you don’t have time to make signs before the event.

“Hands Off” Sign Ideas:

Hands Off Our Data!  Hands Off Public Schools! Hands Off Our Democracy!  

Hands Off Our Bodies!  Hands Off Our Wallets! Hands Off Social Security!  

Hands Off our Research! Hands Off Public Lands! Hands Off Medicaid!

Hands Off our Freedoms! Hands Off the Rule of Law! Hands Off Our Health Care!

Definitely SignalGate in the media and in the national dialogue. Some sign ideas:
Hegseth – An Unqualified Liar
Fire Walz
Gabbard Needs to GO!

Come Prepared!

It will be warm on Saturday. Please bring suncreen, a hat, plenty of water, a snack and wear comfortable shoes!

Please register for a virtual security and de-escalation training event TODAY on 4/2 at 8 pm to get ready for the April 5th Rally!
By the end of the session, you will understand how to recognize escalating behavior, respond calmly, and diffuse potential conflicts—whether with opposition groups, bystanders, or law enforcement—while staying aligned with your event goals.

If you take the training, and would like to be involved as a de-escalation at the Rally please reply to this newsletter. Thanks!

URGENT: Contact your State Reps HB 1205

HB 1205 is moving fast. It creates a slew of obstacles to essentially deny citizen led amendments from going on the ballots in FL. We need everyone to help make phone calls and email their reps and tell them to vote NO on HB 1205. If this passes, citizens in FL will no longer be able to get proposals on the ballot. You can call multiple times. Please spread the word on Social, NextDoor, anywhere you can. This affects everyone in FL.

To find your representatives in the House and Senate:
https://www.flhouse.gov/FindYourRepresentative
https://www.flsenate.gov/Senators/Find

Here’s some info about this situation.

https://floridaphoenix.com/2025/03/26/bill-that-adds-restrictions-to-citizen-led-amendments-now-headed-to-house-floor/

Call Script: Oppose HB 1205 – Attacks Citizen Ballot Access

 Hi, my name is [Your Name], and I’m a constituent from [Your City or ZIP Code].

I’m calling to urge you to oppose HB 1205. This bill would make it much harder for everyday Floridians to participate in our democracy by limiting the time to collect petitions for citizen-initiated constitutional amendments and imposing steep fines for late submissions.

Floridians have used the citizen initiative process to enact meaningful reforms when lawmakers wouldn’t act — from protecting water to raising the minimum wage. HB 1205 undermines that constitutional right and silences voters’ voices.

Please vote NO on HB 1205 and protect the people’s right to direct democracy.

Thank you for your support—together we can make a difference!