🧊Cracks in the Ice - Action Alert, February 2, 2026
- beachesactivistmov
- 2 hours ago
- 4 min read
"The case has its genesis in the ill-conceived and incompetently-implemented government pursuit of daily deportation quotas, apparently even if it requires traumatizing children. . . .Observing human behavior confirms that for some among us, the perfidious lust for unbridled power and the imposition of cruelty in its quest know no bounds and are bereft of human decency. And the rule of law be damned. . ."
Federal District Court Judge Fred Biery in his opinion ordering the release of
5-year-old immigrant Liam Conejo Ramos & his father
Cracks in the ICE: Keep Up the Pressure Today, Monday, February 2nd, the U.S. House is expected to vote on a two-week funding deal that ends a brief government shutdown and creates a critical window for Congressional action to rein in ICE by demanding real accountability for abuses, clear guardrails to stop raids, end profiling, and stop the occupation of our cities. Over the last few weeks, the public has made it overwhelmingly clear that they oppose ICE's reign of terror and want to see Congress fight back. Now, Republicans are retreating, and Democrats are starting to find their spines. Our organized outrage is working. We need to keep up the pressure! Call and email this week!
Mark Your Calendar! Details Coming Soon February is Black History Month To celebrate the month, we offer a few highlights of Black history and notable trailblazers at the Beach. Predating its American Beach sister to the north by three decades, Manhattan Beach may be the oldest beach resort for African Americans in the state. Believed to be located somewhere near the southern dunes of Hanna Park, the beach provided a recreation site for workers building Henry Flagler's Continental Hotel who were barred from white beaches during segregation. The Hill in Jacksonville Beach was once home to a thriving Black business and entertainment district. The Rhoda L. Martin Cultural Center, named after the founder of the first school for Black children at the Beach, is working to preserve the cultural legacy of the area. The Donner Community, first developed in a rural area off Mayport Road, remains home to many Black churches, as well as the Gail Baker Community Center. Read David Thompson's moving memories of the center's namesake and her work here. A well-known Donner landmark is the Voo Swar Restaurant and Lounge, where Lewis Washington still operates the bar started by his late father, Earnest Davis, in the 1960s as a refuge for Black sailors and neighborhood residents. The City of Atlantic Beach is hosting a Black History Month community event on Saturday, February 7th, featuring a 5:30 p.m. dedication to the late Willie Frank Dudley, a local entrepreneur and restaurant owner, at Jordan Park, followed by a 6 p.m. screening of Remember the Titans. Find out more about nearby events here and here, and celebrate with a virtual tour of notable Jacksonville sites on the Florida Black History Heritage Trail. Tell FL Legislature: Protect Voting Rights On the heels of efforts to re-draw FL Congressional districts to further advantage the GOP, the state legislature is considering bills that would effectively mimic the proposed federal SAVE ACT, creating new barriers to voter registration. The bills, HB 991/SB 1334, are opposed by voting rights groups, including the FL League of Women Voters. Meanwhile, for the third year in a row, DEMS have introduced a revised and expanded version of the Harriette V. Moore Florida Voting Rights Act for 2026 (SB 1598/ HB 1419), which is expected to languish again in the face of the GOP's supermajority. Take a few minutes this week to urge FL Senator Clay Yarborough and Rep. Kiyan Michael to oppose HB 991/SB1334, and support HB1419/SB1598 and protect voting rights in Florida. Click on the FLWV link above for talking points! RSVP Now! BAM February Membership MeetingJoin us on for the BAM's February 12th meeting, as we find out more about immigration enforcement activities in Jacksonville, and how we can help protect immigrant rights. Our special guest is local immigration attorney Andrea Reyes, co-founder of the Northeast Florida Immigrant Alliance. We'll also have an update on local efforts to support the ACLU RAISE hotline. RSVP and bring a friend. The meeting is at 7 p.m. at the Adele Grage Community Center in Atlantic Beach.  Great Listen & Reads of the Week🎶Bruce Springsteen releases anti-ICE protest song 'Streets of Minneapolis' 💡Minneapolis' Community-Driven Anti-ICE Organizing Is Showing The Way |
