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Community members in Tallahassee are raising serious concerns over what they describe as an abuse of power by city officials following a series of protests surrounding the sale of land believed to contain the graves of formerly enslaved people.
Members of the Tallahassee Community Action Committee (TCAC), alongside other local organizations, first mobilized on January 10, when they marched to the Capital City Country Club to protest its role in the sale of roughly 180 acres of land that had previously been considered public property. According to the group, the land includes the Houston Plantation Cemetery Memorial, a historic burial site believed to hold the remains of hundreds of formerly enslaved individuals.
TCAC President Delilah explained that the initial protest at the country club was cut short almost immediately. “At a rally, we were trespassed by the Capital City Country Club after about a minute of protests,” she said. Despite being forced to leave the property, the group refused to abandon their cause. Instead, they organized a march that stretched more than two miles, ultimately reaching the Houston Plantation Cemetery Memorial site.
During the march, protesters carried placards and chanted demands for the Tallahassee City Commission to reverse the sale and take action to protect the burial grounds. The group claimed that while marching, they were met by white golfers who shouted what they described as racially charged slogans, including “All Lives Matter.” In response, protesters chanted back, “Black Lives Matter,” maintaining their focus on preserving the site and honoring those buried there.
Protesters Take Their Demands to City Hall
Following the march, TCAC announced plans to mobilize again on Wednesday, January 14, during a Tallahassee City Commission meeting held at City Hall. Ahead of the meeting, the group released a video statement from Delilah, urging residents to attend and speak out against the land sale.
“If we don’t act to stop this sale, there’s a high likelihood that with only verbal promises from the city commission to relocate the memorial, the Capital City Country Club will have free reign to deface and play golf over what could be 200 graves of formerly enslaved people,” she warned. “Let’s keep up the fight to respect Black history and not desecrate the graves of hundreds of formerly enslaved people.”
Tensions Grow Instead
However, tensions were very high during the city commission meeting itself. TCAC members claimed that officers attempted to illegally confiscate their protest signs. The signs reportedly read, “Reverse the sale! Shame on Richardson! Respect the dead!”
In video footage from the meeting, Delilah can be heard challenging an officer’s request to remove the sign. “We are allowed to have this sign by the law. We are allowed to bring 8.5 by 11 signs,” she said. “And unless you can show me something that says otherwise, I’ll be here.”
Protesters allege that when they refused to comply and continued to assert their rights, Mayor John Dailey abruptly ended the meeting early. According to the group, the decision was made “in an attempt to silence locals who had come to speak out against the racist golf course sale and the 287(g) agreement.”
As the meeting was brought to a close, protesters began chanting inside City Hall, calling out city leadership by name. “Shame! Shame! Dailey, Dailey, shame on you. Black and brown lives matter too,” they repeated. When they were no longer allowed to continue inside, the group moved outside City Hall and carried on with their rally, making it clear they would not back down. Chanting echoed through the area as protesters called out, “What do we do? Stand up, fight back,” followed by, “Show me what democracy looks like. This is what democracy looks like.”
Netizens Rally Behind Protesters
On TikTok, viewers have been very supportive of their cause. One commenter wrote, “You’re making progress love! Don’t stop!💕” Another said, “This is so disturbing. Thank you for protesting and marching.” A third stated, “Abuse of power is running rampant.”
