Members from Tampa Bay’s Florida Indigenous Rights and Environmental Equality (FIREE) are planning to protest construction on a historic site in Alachua County on Thursday, Dec. 3.
They will meet up with Central Florida American Indian Movement members and supporters in Alachua County to demonstrate against plans for a Dollar General to be built upon the “Battle of Micanopy” site, where Seminole Native Americans battled the U.S. Army in 1836. The army suffered one death, while several Natives died. The exact number is unknown.
The historical recognition of the site was placed by the Micanopy Trust for Historical Forts and Battlefields and multiple other groups. Micanopy suggested other sites for the Dollar General to be placed that don’t encroach on the historic site, but the city and activists say Alachua County wants to move forward with the construction.
"The state did not find the site eligible to be listed on the historic register," Missy Daniels, Alachua County Growth and Development Director, told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay. "The proposed development, as far as staff analysis goes, meets the county's code and comprehensive plan."
Daniels says Alachua County is recommending approval to the Development Review Committee. The staff analysis of the suggested construction can be found here.
In an email to CL, FIREE member Sheridan Murphy wrote, "There is substantial potential for objects of cultural patrimony under the meaning of the Native American Graves Protection Act (NAGPRA) from being uncovered/disturbed by the development. FIREE has called for Alachua County to conduct a Phase II survey."
Robert Rosa, who comes from Taíno people and has been a Native rights activist for 30 years, thinks this construction would be just the beginning of the desecration of this site.
“With EPA laws thrown out the window under the Trump and DeSantis administration, builders are looking to construct anywhere, even on sacred sites,” Rosa told CL. “It’s hurtful, and situations like this happened all across Florida in the past.”
Rosa told a story about the time he went to visit the Timucuan burial grounds beneath the privately owned “Fountain of Youth” in St. Augustine. He showed his tribe identification, hoping to get in for free or at a discount to visit the grounds. The park denied him.
Members of FIREE will be traveling from Tampa Bay to join with Rosa and other activists in Alachua County on Thursday, December 3rd. They ask all who support their cause to attend.
The first event will be at 9 a.m. at the Alachua County Growth Management office, John. R. “Jack” Durrance Auditorium, Room 209, 12 SE 1st St. Gainesville, FL, 32601. Afterwards, they will hold a demonstration from 1 p.m.-4 p.m. at Native American Heritage Preserve Park, located at SE Tuscawilla Rd. in Micanopy.
UPDATED: 12/2/20 5:30 p.m. Updated with comment from Missy Daniels, Alachua County Growth and Development Director and Sheridan Murphy, a coordinator for Florida Indigenous Rights and Environmental Equality.
Support local journalism in these crazy days. Our small but mighty team is working tirelessly to bring you up to the minute news on how Coronavirus is affecting Tampa and surrounding areas. Please consider making a one time or monthly donation to help support our staff. Every little bit helps.
Subscribe to our newsletter and follow @cl_tampabay on Twitter.
