Is Collier County, Florida attempting to crush the Sawgrass Rebellion?

Is Collier County, Florida attempting to crush the Sawgrass Rebellion? We have a problem and you folks can help!

ACTION: (Time required 90 seconds) Forward as widely as possible a Cc: to this email address

Send a short email NOW to the Collier County Commission Chairman Jim Coletta at JimColetta@colliergov.net asking him to respect and honor The Bill Of Rights granting Americans "Freedom of worship, speech, press, RIGHT OF PEACEFUL ASSEMBLY, right to petition the government." Please help us stack his email box with your opinions. Please be polite but firm. (Call Mr. Coletta at 1-239-774-8097.)

FACTS: The Collier County Fairgrounds (CCF) negotiated with Sawgrass Rebellion leaders for about 6-weeks and at the very last day, contrary to the reports of the day before, the CCF President advised us that the SGR was "TOO BIG" for the Fair Grounds. . Obviously, most people suspected foul play, but we remained open minded.

Next, we went to a successor site and obtained owner approval. However a sale contract on the site is in escrow for closing after the date of the SGR and the buyer was required to approve our use of the facility. The buyer turned the SGR use down CITING LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL CONCERNS for his current development permits. Clearly, the actions of the second site opened many eyes.

At this time, the SGR has approached the Florida Sports Park (FSP.) The manager there has agreed that they have an open date for the SGR and an agreement has been made to insure that the Sports Park can accommodate the entire SGR crowd with minimal underbrush clean up of their site. All seems to have been a thumbs up with the SGR event at the Sports Park, but on Friday the FSP owner Mike Taylor was in contact w/ the Commissioners and indications are now that on Tuesday morning WE WILL LIKELY BE TOLD THE SGR IS A NO-GO at the Florida Sports Park. Clearly, numerous eyes are now REALLY opening.

As a backup, we have arranged for an excellent site in Lee County, not far above the Collier county line. On Tuesday, if we don't have a deal w/ the FSP or some other suitable site in Collier, we have no choice but to move the SGR event to Lee County where permits are assured, as is the huge location along I-75.

Please help us by reminding Chairman Jim Coletta that The Supreme Court said the "right of the people peaceably to assemble for the purpose of petitioning Congress for a redress of grievances, or for any thing else connected with the powers and duties of the national government, is an attribute of national citizenship, and, as such, under the protection of, and guaranteed by, the United States. " United States v. Cruikshank, 92 U.S. 542 (1876)

http://www.sawgrassrebellion.org/ http://www.getnaples.com http://www.pracfl.org/

here is the latest up date from Jay Walley

Immediate Release
Contact: Jay Walley
The Paragon Foundation News Service (PFNS)
Alamogordo, New Mexico
Email: PFNS@zianet.com
Contact Paragon Foundation Offices: Toll Free 1-877-847-3443
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Article and image (if provided) granted free of copyrights.
________________________________________________________________________
661 words

Tiny Communities Struggle to Save Their Homes From Federal Bureaucrats

by Danny E. Meek, Esq.

PFNS Pembroke Pines (FL) Ten years ago, Hurricane Andrew blasted the coast of Southeast Florida with the force of a Level Five hurricane, only one of three of that magnitude to hit the United States during the twentieth century. Residents of Homestead took the brunt of Andrew, which had sustained winds in excess of 145 miles an hour. Their homes were destroyed and their lives were devastated.

They fought back and they rebuilt.

Now, those same residents are threatened with the potential loss of their homes and they are fighting back once more. Only this time their enemy is not nature. Their enemy is their own government. On August 25, hundreds of vocal South Florida residents gathered to express their anger, disappointment, and distrust of government officials at C. B. Smith Park in Pembroke Pines. The event, part of “The Sawgrass Rebellion," was sponsored by The 15,000 Coalition, Inc., The Everglades Protection Society, the Dade County Farm Bureau, and the 8.5 Square Mile Area Legal Defense Fund.

This regional event was a prelude to a property rights rally to be held in Naples, Florida October 17 and 18 and in Homestead, Florida on October 19. Many participants will journey to Florida in caravans from different parts of the country as part of The Sawgrass Rebellion, which now includes more than seven hundred groups. The movement reflects the growing opposition to the unwarranted taking of property by local, state, and federal governments and agencies. The Sawgrass Rebellion is an umbrella organization founded to protect the property rights of South Florida residents through legislation, litigation, and public education.

Alamogordo, New Mexico’s Paragon Foundation sent Jay Walley, who introduced leaders and representatives of various local groups involved in the Rebellion to an enthusiastic crowd. Parents came with children and grandparents. Picnic lunches were spread out on blankets as they prepared to spend the afternoon learning and listening. Local area activist and well-known writer Alice Pena, Jan Michael Jacobson of the Everglades Institute, and Frank Denninger of the Everglades Protection Society joined other speakers, as Suzette de Armas provided Spanish and English translations.

Gerardo C. Morales, president of The 15,000 Coalition told the crowd he and his family were reliving the horrors of forty years ago. "We lost our property then to Castro and the Cuban government," said the Golden Gate Estates landowner. "I can understand how this might happen in a communist country, but not here, not in the United States."

When Dave Friedrichs of the Dade County Farm Bureau addressed the landowners, he said he was present at the rally to show everyone The Sawgrass Rebellion was alive and kicking. He said the battle must be for all farmers, ranchers, landowners, and recreational sportsmen. "I have seen farmers lose their land to flooding and drought and financial devastation," said Friedrichs. "But, I will not stand by and see anyone lose their land due to some bureaucrat." When he finished his message, Friedrichs left the stage and shook hands with each person in the crowd to solidify his pledge to each landowner that he would fight to the end of the battle with them.

G B Oliver, executive director of Paragon, flew in from New Mexico the night before to take part in the rally and explain the mission of Paragon. "Some forty years ago, the Army Corps of Engineers took approximately 92,000 acres of ranch land from my grandfather," shouted Oliver. "I am here to fight the battle with you, to see that we stop the Corps from doing the same thing to the good people of Florida."

Pena said that the meeting was a “baby step” in a long fight that would end at the October rallies.

"We have an uphill battle, but we are going to win this fight," said Pena. “We must win this fight if we are going to keep our homes and our land. We need the support of landowners everywhere. We need thousands to make the journey to Naples and Homestead."

Caption: "We lost our property then to Castro and the Cuban government. I can understand how this might happen in a communist country, but not here, not in the United States." Gerardo C. Morales

PFNS is a public service of The Paragon Foundation, Alamogordo, NM
1-877-847-3443

I've received a response from one comissioner

Subject: What are you afraid of?

Mr. Henning,

Your fear of allowing the Sawgrass Rebellion to peaceably assemble as is it's constitutional right is nothing compared to your fear of opening e-mail or even logging onto the internet or going home and opening your snail mail.

Our grievances will be well advertised. We will be placing the blame directly on the commissioners of Collier County.

Change your ways or learn how to ask "would you like fries with that". The clock is ticking and you're too weak to silence us. Embrace us or prepare for your fall.

Inform the County Fair Grounds and anyone else you may have threatened, you have no problem with us peacably assembling. Your county will loose tourism and business. Can your commerce and industry take that kind of hit in this economy?

Conservatives spend more money and control more purse strings then the leftists who would attempt to block us. You should know this is a strong conservative movement and this is only the beginning of our battle.

We could caravan through your town at minimum legal speeds 24 hours a day, with signs on our cars blaming you for the traffic snarls. The power of the internet is stronger then your seat in county government and we will use it and other tools against your county.

This is only the beginning

Sincerely Matthew B. Rogers

Deerfield Beach, FL

Mr. Rogers

Where are you getting your information from? The County Commissioners leased the fair grounds to the Fair Board years ago. The Fair Board has a fifty year lease of the property. The Commissioners have no say who the Fair Board rents to. I have questioned why the Fair Board turned down Don Lester, the answer I received is the fair grounds is to small for the amount of people expected to participate at the rally.

Sincerely Commissioner Tom Henning

Here are copies of some letters to the commissioners

Keep them coming people.

Mr. Colletta,

I respectfully request that you allow the Sawgrass Rebellion folks to peacefully assemble on County land (Collier County Fairgrounds) under your control. These are law-abiding Americans, gathering to protect the Constitutional rights of citizens of your community.

To deny them the right to use public lands for a peaceful public meeting is unthinkable! If you feel that the fairgrounds are too small for the gathering, then I request you and your staff help them find land that can accommodate them, within the County.

Please remember that the oppressive actions of the Corps of Engineers are at the behest of nationwide Environmental Organizations, who are using our government to destroy the way of life of your citizens. Your citizens, and their supporters/guests at least have the right to use land and facilities which are operated and maintained by their tax dollars for public use.

Thanks for your consideration of this matter.

Dear Chairman Coletta:
>
> Due to difficulties scheduling a location for the
> Sawgrass Rebellion rally, organizers are beginning to
> suspect - and allege - that their efforts are being
> stifled by local government in Collier County.
>
> Good heavens, sir, why? These people are going to come
> and have an event and spend lots of money. In a series
> of controversial and potentially confrontational
> events, they have conducted three entirely peaceful
> rallies.
>
> All they do is demonstrate their numbers. They show
> votes and activism to recruit more votes. They are not
> paid demonstrators, they are not zealots. They are
> generally self-supporting property owners fearful of
> being maneuvered out of what is theirs -- in some
> cases, they _have_ been.
>
> I'm sure people who would rather hold a monopoly on
> demonstrated political strength have slandered them.
> Those people notoriously slander anyone who disputes
> their word -- to avoid honest debate on merits. But
> the fact is these are, if not the richest,
> nevertheless the sorts of people Florida spends
> millions trying to attract as tourists.
>
> Let them have their day, have their say, and be on
> their way, their point made -- with an unqualified
> good word to say about Florida in general and Collier
> County in particular.
>
> You may be very surprised who shows up to praise, or
> pass a cutting remark about, the county. The
> Sawgrassers are largely farmers. I KNOW you know about
> Farm Aid, and the guy named Willie who sings at
> _their_ rallies. No guarantees, but there _are_
> rumors.

Dear Mr. Coletta

The Supreme Court said the "right of the people peaceably to assemble for the purpose of petitioning Congress for a redress of grievances, or for any thing else connected with the powers and duties of the national government, is an attribute of national citizenship, and, as such, under the protection of,
and guaranteed by, the United States. " United States v. Cruikshank, 92 U.S. 542 (1876)

The above statement has been one of our rights as Americans since the beginning. It is the right that helps keep us free from oppression of the government and allows us to redress wrongs inflicted on us. Do support the Sawgrass Rebellion and its' peaceful right of assembly.

Dear Mr. Coletta;

It has come to my attention that a group of US citizens, collectively known as Sawgrass Rebellion (SGR), have been repeatedly denied permission to assemble peacefully in Collier County.

1) Collier County Fairgrounds (CCF) negotiated with Sawgrass Rebellion leaders for about 6 weeks. However, at the 11th hour, contrary to reports of the day before, CCF's president advised SGR that it was "too big" for the fair grounds.

2) SGR then obtained owner approval to assemble at another site. However, a sale contract for the facility, in escrow for closing after the date of the SGR, requires the buyer to approve SGR use of the facility. The buyer turned SGR use down citing local government's "concerns" for his current development permits.

3) SGR then approached Florida Sports Park (FSP.) The manager agreed they have an open date for SGR. An agreement was made to insure the facility can accommodate the entire SGR gathering. But, on Friday the FSP owner, Mike Taylor, was in contact with the Collier County Commissioners and indications are now that on Tuesday morning SGR will again be denied their right to assemble in Collier County.

This series of events raises concern that the Collier County Commission itself may be selectively seeking to prevent certain US citizens from exercising their right to assemble in Collier County. If so, these questions require an answer from the Commission:

Why does the Collier County Commission seek to prevent SGR from assembling peacefully to call attention to violations of US citizens' property rights?

Does the Collier County Commission believe it has an obligation to protect Collier County residents' property rights and freedom of assembly?

Has the Collier County Commission been pressured by any individual, agency, organization or other entity to deny SGR the opportunity to assemble in Collier County, or does the Commission act alone in denying SGR's right to assemble?

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