I [Rebecca Tarlau] am writing to encourage you all to attend a solidarity action on Sunday, March 10 from 1:30pm to 4:00pm organized in partnership with the United Teachers of Dade as well as faculty and students from a diversity of Florida higher education institutions. We are meeting at 1:30pm at Miami Circle (401 Brickell Ave) and will be marching to Torch of Friendship (300 Biscayne Blvd) for a rally at 2:00pm. The rally will have a range of local speakers—including students, parents, teachers, and faculty—who will share with us their stories about the attacks they are facing. We will also hear from national and international speakers expressing their solidarity with Florida educators and students.

Public education has been under assault for several decades. These attacks have nowhere been more virulent than in the state of Florida, where lawmakers have written and passed a litany of bills that undermine the academic freedom and the professional and bodily autonomy of educators and students. As educator-activists working at the intersection of communities, academia, and schools, we are interested in using our collective presence in Miami to raise global awareness about what is happening in Florida, and most importantly, uplift the local struggles of groups facing the daily repercussions of these attacks. The United Teachers of Dade in particular is facing a struggle for its survival, as conservative national groups are attempting to decertify their union.

This action is not organized or endorsed by the Comparative and International Education Society (CIES). However, the members of CIES who have organized this action in partnership with the UTD and other local educators believe it is aligned with the CIES 2024 conference theme “The Power of Protest.” We see this solidarity action as one small way of walking the talk.