Tuesday, August 22, 2017
By RICARDO WELLS
Tribune Staff Reporter
rwells@tribunemedia.net
WE Rise, a new group established “to do something,” has scheduled its first protest for Saturday, September 2, aiming to highlight what it sees as the government’s lack of progress in areas of national importance.
Detractors have labelled the new group as nothing more than the Progressive Liberal Party’s (PLP) attempt to rally its base in opposition to the government. While the PLP has not publicly endorsed the group, PLP Senator and former Fox Hill MP Fred Mitchell was pictured meeting with members of the group at PLP headquarters last week.
However, in a statement released to the press on Monday, the group insisted it didn’t belong to any political organisation, but rather is composed of “Bahamians who simply want to ensure that our government acts in the interest of all Bahamians.”
The group appears to be trying to emulate We March Bahamas, another protest group that gained prominence after more than 1,000 protesters marched from Arawak Cay to Rawson Square in November 2016 to demonstrate over the Christie administration’s performance.
The leader of that movement, Ranard Henfield, parlayed his success with the organisation into a Senate appointment by the Minnis administration earlier this year.
“As 100 days since this current administration assumed office has come and passed us by, we have yet to see progress, or hear of concrete plans for the way forward, as it relates to tackling unemployment and crime, which are rising steadily, and threatening the way of life that we have come to enjoy,” We Rise’s statement noted.
“Hence, we invite the government to sit and hear our concerns; and to also act responsibly in the governance of our sovereign nation.
“We are inviting Bahamians, who wish to see our country and people move forward, upward, onward, together, to join us Saturday, September 2 ,as We Rise takes the streets across every island of the Bahamas, and voices our collective concerns about the current state of our nation.
“We ask for the public to stay tuned for further details, as we work effortlessly to organise this revolutionary event.
“We will rise and march against the injustices, against wrongful terminations, against violent crime, and for democracy, freedom and the rights of every Bahamian.”
The statement concluded: “We must all rise; not only for ourselves, but for future generations.
“The time is now to put on the full armour of God, and get ready to protest peacefully.”
We Rise is being spearheaded by Alex Dorsett and Coderro Emanuel Armbrister.
Comments
PastorTroy says...
I was really interested until I saw the 'guy' in the middle of the photo in the suit our tax dollars paid for. This so-call group sounds like just copycat PLP distraction from the REAL issues going on now. Dr. Minnis be encouraged sir to continue to expose the rank, rotten stench of the past administration (PLP). We Rise? No, Yall raise to the occasion and stop being used to justify the PLP raping our country for the past five years!
“The time is now to put on the full armour of God, and get ready to protest peacefully.” SERIOUSLY? SERIOUSLY???????
Posted 22 August 2017, 4 p.m. Suggest removal
Emac says...
Amen!
Posted 23 August 2017, 10:02 a.m. Suggest removal
Sickened says...
Jokes! We Rise - lord have mercy. Mitchell involved - doomed from the start. I laughin' so hard.
Posted 22 August 2017, 4:27 p.m. Suggest removal
Sickened says...
I like the PLP yellow on the black shirt though - it really stands out! More jokes!
Posted 22 August 2017, 4:28 p.m. Suggest removal
themessenger says...
Fred always looking for a raise, he gonna have plenty trouble finding one to re erect his punctured & deflated political aspirations..............
Posted 22 August 2017, 4:33 p.m. Suggest removal
Naughtydread says...
Its people like Fred Mitchell who set the bar so low in this country. This ass hat cannot even think of an original name, we rise!? ....... Really!? When will this sad mad hang up the towel.
Posted 22 August 2017, 4:45 p.m. Suggest removal
SP says...
**P**illage **L**oot **P**lunder march in support of corruption
Posted 22 August 2017, 4:58 p.m. Suggest removal
realfreethinker says...
What a bunch of clowns. Haven't they realize Bahamians aren't checking. We spoke quite clearly May 10th. The government was elected for 5 years so fook y'all and fook y'all 100 days. We will not be deterred or distracted by the plp kleptos and their minions
Posted 22 August 2017, 5:45 p.m. Suggest removal
tell_it_like_it_is says...
Isn't it a bit early for this? (Even if they weren't associated with the PLP.) The FNM was in power for about 3 months. What y'all protesting already?
Posted 22 August 2017, 6:03 p.m. Suggest removal
baldbeardedbahamian says...
Fred Mitchell is at that age when may be having a difficult time getting a wee rise.
Posted 22 August 2017, 6:11 p.m. Suggest removal
sheeprunner12 says...
Let them march!!!!!!! ................... What issues will they protest???? The so-called issues stated in the story can only make a sensible person laugh right now ............... smh
That is why we voted the PLP (We Rise) out!!!!!!!!!
Posted 22 August 2017, 8:59 p.m. Suggest removal
Apostle says...
March on guys. With Fred in the middle you are already doomed. Youll just like Fred: dot get the message that the Bahamian people rejected him.
Posted 22 August 2017, 9:29 p.m. Suggest removal
ThisIsOurs says...
This tshirt reminds me of the party logos. Can anyone in politics have an original thought? Fingers and fists... We are in for a very long five years
Posted 22 August 2017, 10:12 p.m. Suggest removal
ohdrap4 says...
The front of the t-shirt says: "WE RISE"
The back of the T-shirt says: "BECAUSE SHEET FLOATS"
Posted 23 August 2017, 7:32 a.m. Suggest removal
DWW says...
thanks for the morning chuckle
Posted 23 August 2017, 7:50 a.m. Suggest removal
Sickened says...
I still laughing about this from yesterday.
Posted 23 August 2017, 9 a.m. Suggest removal
sealice says...
Who's gonna protest all these morons that make a National Agenda "not doing enough fast enough" when all they really care about are their personal issues.... isn't this what got the PLP out last time? An then i look at the picture and see wight sed fweddy smack dab in the middle and the PLP stink is all of a sudden explained...... If you need to rise go buy some blue pills.....
Posted 23 August 2017, 12:48 p.m. Suggest removal
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