JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A bus carrying activists rallying for voting rights and education protections left Jacksonville Monday morning to start a statewide 15-city rolling protest.
Nearly 30 members from the Transformative Justice Coalition loaded the ‘John Lewis make trouble good bus’ at the kickoff event.
National and state groups, including the Florida NAACP, the Florida Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers, are supporting the tour.
Leaders at the kickoff talked about the importance of voter education and the impact of recent legislation, like Parental Rights in Education Act, and the ban of funding for diversity, equity, and inclusion programs at state public colleges and universities.
Those making the trip say it’s important now more than ever to spread education about voting.
“No matter what party they’re in, we put the right folks in office, that’s why it’s important to encourage young people, the new generation of young folks to get out there and vote. Whether it be in the state election, local election or federal election," Edward Ward, a member of the Transformative Justice Coalition, said.
Monday, the group will travel from Jacksonville to Tallahassee, and then onto Gainesville where they will end the night with a Juneteenth reception.