The chant "No More Cuts," rang through downtown Tallahassee as about 1,000 students, parents, teachers and administrators representing 67 of Florida's counties gathered in front of the State Capitol to protest budget cuts in public education on Wednesday.
About 10 UF students went to participate. "Our goal was to get the legislature's attention," said UF graduate student Kali Davis, who is enrolled in UF's College of Education.
The rally, organized by the Florida Parents and Teachers Association, featured eight state legislators and several superintendents, a poem performed by students on the steps of the Capitol followed with a number by the local Rickards High School marching band.
"Education is the corner stone of democracy," said Sen. Alex Villalobus, R-Miami, who spoke at the event. "There is one major priority, and it's not building roads or helping baseball teams. It's our schools."
Several students also spoke to the crowd. Two middle school students shared their fears of losing their school's athletic teams and fine arts programs such as band, chorus and art.
The majority of the crowd toted signs and wore shirts that read, "Make Schools a Priority," and "Education Cuts don't Heal."
Others sought different angles to bring attention to the cause.
One woman dressed as historical French monarch Marie Antoinette and held a sign reading, "Tallahassee Says: Let them Eat Cake."
Daniel Bathea, 11, from Lake Weir Middle School, said he attended the rally with other students and teachers from Summerfield, Fla., because he's worried some of his favorite teachers may be fired.
"Education is important and kids need it for the future," he said, adding he hopes to one day attend UF.
Katie Sanders, 10, from Harbour View Elementary School, agreed.
"Ms. Crowder my favorite teacher may be fired," she said. "And if she's not there next year, and someone needs help like me, well, then who is going to be there to help them?" she asked.
The protest wasn't the only pro-active step taken to help save Florida's schools. Schools from all over the state collected pennies throughout February to show support of a bill sponsored by Dwight Bullard, D-Miami. If passed, the bill would add a penny to the state's sales tax for the next three years.
"Two million pennies were collected," said UF student Kali Davis, adding that UF contributed about 15,000 of them.
Davis said the pennies were going to be left on the steps of the capitol building, but participants were told that was not allowed.
Despite the symbolic setback, Davis said the event was a success.
"There were some legislators out there with us, and others were sitting in their offices worried," she said. "We made a really big impact."
