The Seed to Table store in North Naples. (Photo: author)
June 11, 2020 by David Silverberg.
Updated 2:40 pm with Lee County announcement and new petition numbers.
This weekend is shaping up to be a politically active and potentially polarizing one in Southwest Florida and statewide.
It will also likely be the most complete mass abandonment of coronavirus restraints since the state implemented safety measures in April.
Seed to Table
In Southwest Florida on Saturday two demonstrations have been called at the Seed to Table store in North Naples, at the corner of Immokalee and Livingston roads.
The dueling demonstrations are the result of a Monday, June 8 Facebook post by store owner Alfie Oakes, who, in a 758-word screed called: COVID-19 a “hoax;” denounced “the black lives matter race hoax;” excoriated the “brainwashing arms of the media;” characterized Black Lives Matter protesters as “lemmings” and “lost souls without any direction or sense of purpose;” and labeled George Floyd “a disgraceful career criminal, thief, drug addict, drug dealer and ex-con.”
The response was swift and overwhelming. A petition was launched on Change.org calling on the Lee and Collier County school boards to cut ties with Oakes Farms. As of this writing, 11,814 people had signed it and the count was rising by the minute. Collier County schools cut ties with Oakes Farm and the Benison Center, which distributes free food in Immokalee, where Oakes has been a major benefactor, is also dropping the controversial donor.
This afternoon the School District of Lee County issued a statement: “The School District of Lee County has severed ties with Oakes Farms. The District will soon be working with other suppliers to ensure that fresh fruits and vegetables continue to be provided to our students.”
The group Activist Protection League of SWFL, called for a protest at Seed to Table on Saturday, June 13, from 2 pm to 5 pm. The League is “a collection of Collier and Lee residents that seek to provide infrastructure, training, and guidance to any activist group that requests it,” according to its Facebook page.
Antonio Dumornay
In a Facebook post in response, Oakes announced a demonstration in support of his store one hour before the scheduled protest and warned: “Any agitators are NOT welcome, and will be removed immediately.”
“Please come show your support for [Collier County Sheriff’s Office], the rule of law and ALL lives matter at Seed to Table 4835 immokalee Road at 1 pm this Saturday!” Oakes stated. “We are going to have a peaceful and loving show of support for the great work of our officers during these unprecedented times. We will show the world the silent majority can no longer remain silent!”
The Seed to Table events follow numerous demonstrations in Fort Myers and Naples protesting the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minn., on May 25.
The Alfie Oakes controversy apparently attracted the attention of one of SWFL's congressional candidates, Independent Antonio Dumornay, who tweeted on June 7: “For the first time I am watching minorities react to the George Floyd BLM protests! People getting fired for their prejudice remarks and businesses still remain slow because owners don’t know how to SHUT THE HELL UP.”
Trump events
In an effort to counter the nationwide demonstrations protesting the death of George Floyd, supporters of President Donald Trump are planning a day of activities throughout Florida on Sunday, June 14, which is also Trump’s 74th birthday and Flag Day.
The pro-Trump events are being planned by Trump Team 2020 Florida, a group that feels the Florida Republican Party is insufficiently supportive of Trump.
The group does not list any events for Southwest Florida. Parties are scheduled for Pensacola, Jacksonville, The Villages, Citrus City, Hernando City and Palm Beach. Boat flotillas, known as “Trumptillas,” are scheduled for Tampa, Hernando City, Jacksonville and Pensacola.
There is no central listing for upcoming events protesting the death of George Floyd or supporting Black Lives Matter.