The July 8 Key West City Commission meeting was a turning point for one of the island’s social justice movements. That evening 300 local residents jammed City Hall to protest the city’s participation in Florida’s anti-immigrant purge known as the 287(g) Memo of Agreement.
Wearing teal-and-white t-shirts and buoyed by an unwavering faith that their elected commissioners could be deterred from using local cops to enforce Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deportations, they were a powerful lot. Few were the “usual suspects” who show up for pretty much every protest. Instead these were newcomers to politics, regular folks from churches, neighborhoods and local businesses. For most this was their first time exercising their rights to peaceful protest and participatory government. It was heady stuff.
In the end and after more than three hours of impassioned and compassionate protest, they lost. The commission voted 5-2 to formally enter the 287(g) agreement. As the last vote was cast, there was a split-second, heartbreaking silence as they collectively absorbed the triumph of political expediency over righteous protest.
But they did not quit.
They shifted from protest to resistance. Two months later the Key West Immigrant Support Network is growing into a powerhouse that protects due process, provides legal and survival services to island immigrants who are being rounded up for deportation and trains locals to monitor and report ICE activities. Sometimes it’s as simple as a twin bed, food and transportation or a plea for rent money.
Are protest and resistance different? Yes.
That shift, whether intentional or serendipitous, is brilliant because it demonstrates the power of resistance to do the right things as political realities change.
Joining the immigrant support network in this pragmatic turn from protest to resistance is the Key West Business Guild. Short of a miracle, Gov. Ron DeSantis will soon rip out Key West’s rainbow crosswalks at the corner of Petronia and Duval. It’s blatant government overreach, complete with threats to withhold funding and remove and replace elected officials who defy him.
DeSantis is going to do it. It’s not legal. It’s not rational. It sure isn’t for safety. It’s political theater designed to eliminate home rule, sow paralyzing fear and subject Florida residents to his consuming agenda.
The guild, which helped organize the erasure protest on July 26, has turned its attention to a simple question: How do we preserve the rainbow as Key West’s symbol of its inclusive, or at least tolerant, One Human Family? The answers likely will include painting sidewalks, adding banners or building street arches.
Interestingly (and despite some social media to the contrary), the City Commission is on board with the rainbow symbolism. In addition to voting Aug. 6 to legally fight the removal of the designs — a strong albeit futile protest vote — Mayor Dee Dee Henriquez was joined by other commissioners in a formal proclamation that reads in part: “…recognize and honor the rainbow crosswalks … and recognize the surrounding area … as a treasured cultural district that embodies the values of inclusivity, unity, diversity and pride.” There’s plenty of wiggle room in that to raise a thousand rainbows.
Next up in the resistance movement ought to be the Fantasy Fest King and Queen fundraising juggernaut. The event, which raised almost $5.5 million between 1989 and 2022 for AIDS Help, now raises money for the Florida Keys SPCA. I’ve written about this pets-over-people miscarriage of charity before, suggesting a coalition of nonprofits take over the event and fund local organizations. It’s too late for this year, but with the county and city defunding local charities, I’d champion this event to be people-first by Fantasy Fest 2026.
Civil disobedience historically follows a relatively predictable path: protest, resist, rebel.
Protest is messaging. We sign petitions, scathingly post on social media, gather with the like-minded to wave flags and signs and pose for pictures, show up for public comment time at commission meetings, perhaps re-chalk the rainbow crosswalks. All worthy endeavors — and definitely a plus for the marketing side because protests give us great photos and videos to share the message. But protest without resistance will accomplish little.
Resistance is doing. Resistance is acknowledging the overwhelming forces against us and remaining undeterred from our goals. Resistance is finding a way around. Resistance can be violent, especially when the powers arrayed against it come with government-controlled armed forces. More often, though, resistance is one person, one organization, deciding to “just do it.” Resistance is the Underground Railroad. Resistance is the American Civil Rights Movement. Resistance is the immigrant support network and the guild refusing to give up when government said no.
Rebellion is bloody. We aren’t there, though I’m not optimistic we can avoid it. For now it’s enough that we protest so we have good visuals for the message marketing, while we turn time, talents and treasure to resistance. Resistance is a slow, demanding slog toward justice. The network, the guild and, yes, even city government are showing us how.
(Editor’s Note: Thanks to Key West photographer Larry Blackburn for his coverage of the Key West Business Guild’s Town Hall on Aug. 28.)
i hope DeSantis comes down here to cut funds if the commissioner’s do not respect the Law . this is is my home and place that i lived my entire life . i wish all of you liberals leave and don’t want you or need you here
Wow! That’s not an editorial, it’s a dangerous call to action. You’re sounding like Antifa. Like you want a civil war. Horrible, horrible column. I was disgusted by it.
Stick to the news. Not encouraging violence through your own personal opinions. .
Amen! The rest of the keys have already lost their charm, character, and maybe their soul. Don’t rinse and repeat Key Weird!