1. Executive Director
phillip@dreamdefenders.org
Legal and Policy Director
aabuznaid@dreamdefenders.org
Political Director
ciara@dreamdefenders.or
g
Field Director
curtis@dreamdefenders.org
Communications Director
pargett@dreamdefenders.org
North Florida Regional
Organizer
jonel@dreamdefenders.org
South Florida Regional
Organizer
sherika@dreamdefenders.org
2. OriginsOrigins
• Born from the outrage of the shooting death
of teen Trayvon Martin
• Three long-time friends with a background in
politics at Florida State University and Florida
A&M University began to plan and create a
Facebook invitation for a conference call to
act on behalf of Martin
• This marked the beginning of the Dream
Defenders with 150 participants bouncing
ideas on how best to protest Martin’s death
3. Action PlanAction Plan
• Start a civil rights movement that was similar
to those of the past that was for “our”
generation. This sparked the name “You all
are defending the dream. You should call
yourselves the dream defenders”(Abuznaid)
• This resulted in a 40 mile, three-day protest
march from Daytona Beach to Sanford
• The movement grew and organized
themselves for the rest of the year by August
of 2012 they were a formal organization.
4. Branding & FundingBranding & Funding
• Logo
• T-Shirts
• Website http://dreamdefenders.org
• Social Media Presence
• The organization was funded through
$42,000 in donations obtained during the sit
in at the Capitol which paid for T-shirts and
some expenses. The group’s signature
POWER hats came through a partnership with
a maker in Washington D.C.
5. ResultsResults
• In July 2013 George Zimmerman in the
Martin case was acquitted, however, the
group who is mostly college age 20
something’s and even younger didn’t stop.
• They came across the state to Tallahassee
Capitol building in July demanding a
review of the “stand your ground” law by
imposing a 31 day sit-in of Gov. Rick
Scott’s office.
• They offered their version called the
Trayvon’s Law which would repeal it
seeking an end to racial profiling.
6. Bringing Awareness to Stand YourBringing Awareness to Stand Your
GroundGround
In an effort to campaign through Election
Day they have launched “The Dream Vest”.
This is to help encourage voting. “You need
to vote, or you need to come to the
realization that your child may soon need to
wear a vest just to be safe in their own
community”.
Stand Your Ground Law-There is a huge
disparity in the way sentencing is imposed on
Blacks than Whites with the use of this law.
7. Because “liberty and justice for all” is still a dream, not a reality. Because people of color are
disproportionately imprisoned in the United States, and our country makes up 25% of the world’s
imprisoned population. Because our children and brothers and sisters are forced to attend inadequate
schools. Because a college education has become a privilege for the wealthy. Because our LGBTQ
citizens still face discrimination in the street and the workplace. Because women still face unequal
pay. Because the American Dream is just a dream deferred. For too long, those who don’t wish to
see us succeed have kept us divided. They break us down into simple categories – women, LGBTQ,
the black vote, the Latino vote, people of color, the poor, the sick. This year, we merge into one
voting bloc and reclaim our power. Join us by pledging to vote in 2014 STAND.
8. Bringing AwarenessBringing Awareness
The #VestOrVote campaign features a billboard of a child wearing a
bulletproof vest. The ad says the "Dream Vest" can be purchased by calling a
toll-free number or visiting DreamDefenders.org. The vest isn't really for sale.
Callers and web visitors are given more information about the Dream
Defenders.
Credit DreamDefenders.org
9. STAND YOUR GROUND GIVES AN INDIVIDUAL THE RIGHT TO USE
DEADLY FORCE WITHOUT BEING SERIOUSLY THREATENED. IT IS A
PIECE OF AMERICAN LEGISLATIVE EXCHANGE COUNCIL (ALEC)
MODEL LEGISLATION THAT EXISTS IN SOME FORM IN 31 STATES.
AS LONG AS STAND YOUR GROUND LEGISLATION IS IN PLACE, OUR
COMMUNITIES REMAIN UNSAFE.
DREAM DEFENDERS HAS MAINTAINED FROM THE START THAT A TRUE
REPEAL OF STAND YOUR GROUND IS NEEDED TO MAKE OUR
COMMUNITIES SAFER. IF A FULL REPEAL IS NOT POSSIBLE, WE
SUPPORT THE BEST REFORM POSSIBLE. WE WILL EXAMINE AND
RECOMMEND CHANGES TO REFORM LEGISLATION WITH RESPECT TO
LEGITIMATE CONCERNS.
