TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Hundreds of Black Floridians traveled to Tallahassee on Tuesday, April 28, rallying at the Capitol to urge lawmakers to reject what organizers described as unlawful mid-decade redistricting during a special session.
Equal Ground, a Black-led, nonpartisan nonprofit that works to build Black political power in Florida, mobilized the crowd for a Day of Action aimed at opposing Gov. Ron DeSantis’ redistricting effort. Organizers said lawmakers are being called back to Tallahassee to redraw maps behind closed doors in a way that would dilute the political power of communities across Florida, undermine fair representation and give Republicans a partisan advantage ahead of the 2026 elections.
The rally came as organizers criticized lawmakers for failing, for the second year in a row, to pass a budget on time. They also said lawmakers have done little to address issues they described as everyday challenges for Floridians, including rising housing costs, property insurance and access to health care.
Equal Ground’s partners for the day included Common Cause Florida, Florida For All, Florida Rising, the League of Women Voters of Florida, the Southern Poverty Law Center and Voices of Florida.