Fearful of protesters, Florida Chamber of Commerce hires security, assigns threat levels

[seafan]

Lucy Morgan at the St. Petersburg Times has the scoop:


March 10, 2011

TALLAHASSEE — Fearful that protestors might storm their doors during the legislative session, the Florida Chamber of Commerce is on lockdown — hiring off-duty Tallahassee Police officers to stand guard in the parking lot and establishing security codes (Red, Orange and Yellow) so employees know the threat level.

.....

"We've been picketed by ACORN before,'' (Chamber President Mark) Wilson noted. "They brought people in on buses and pushed open our front door a few years ago.'' ..... The chamber felt cautious, Wilson said, because of its support for plans by Gov. Rick Scott and the Republican-led Legislature to cut benefits for public employees, lay off state workers and end tenure for teachers.

.....

Wilson said another concern of his was the presence among the protesters of Susannah Randolph, a former ACORN organizer and wife of state Rep. Scott Randolph, D-Orlando. Working with Progress Florida and America Votes, Susannah Randolph helped organize Tuesday's rallies at the courthouse and the Capitol.

.....

Wilson recently took to the airwaves with commercials accusing government union bosses of busing in protesters to picket elected leaders in Florida. PolitiFact Florida gave that claim its lowest rating of Pants on Fire, finding that local teachers peacefully protested outside the offices of three Central Florida lawmakers but none arrived by bus.

You know, Mr. Wilson, it's like this. The people of Florida despise this nationwide right wing assault on our rights by groups such as the Florida Chamber of Commerce and Associated Industries of Florida; the radical GOP legislature; the criminal posing as our governor and the associated puppetmasters hiding just offstage. But we won't take the bait of incited violence that your ilk constantly stokes and lusts for.


Just so you don't forget, there are a lot more of us than there are of you.

And we are p#**@% off.

[aquart]

1. But they have the money to buy big guns.

[muntrv]

2. You mean you're afraid they'll act like teabaggers?

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. THey are afraid of the people... they know the reaction is now for real

[Angry Dragon]

4. the bullies sure do scare easy

they are like little babies

[Webster Green]

5. That means we are winning.

It also means we need to step it up a notch.

I would so love to see a 3 day nationwide strike/boycott of damn near everything, just to fuck with the garks. }(

[Kievan Rus]

6. The Chamber of Commerce has always been paranoid

[rpannier]

7. Wish they'd hire me for security I'd show those protestors...

All the back entrances and easiest access to the meeting halls.

[The Backlash Cometh]

8. My mother had a saying when people got very defensive.

She would say, "la consciencia."