Proceeds from ‘Stand up for the First Amendment’ happening in Tampa, Florida on May 3, 2025 will benefit Creative Loafing Tampa Bay’s nascent Tampa Bay Journalism Project, community radio station WMNF, La Gaceta, Florida Sentinel Bulletin, and PBS affiliate WEDU. Credit: Photo by Dave Decker

Shuffle has never been shy to express its freedom of speech. Just look at past President’s Days when the Tampa Heights bar celebrates by offering to add 20% to the bill of anyone who comes in wearing a MAGA hat. Now the venue has teamed up with a Tampa man to host a Saturday live event in support of the First Amendment.

“This idea came from wanting to do something, anything. To not feel powerless against the assault on our rights and institutions,” Joe Ragukas, a Tampa citizen, told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay.

His homegrown, grassroots, event finds the talent donating their time and includes solo concerts from Marc Ganancias and Henry Locke, plus comedy from Amanda Hoffman.

Tampa City Councilwoman Lynn Hurtak and Luis Salazar, President of the Hillsborough County LGBTQ Democratic Caucus, will also speak, along with historian Manny Leto who will discuss the history of the press in Tampa.

The Sunset Sundays DJs—which include past Creative Loafing Tampa Bay contributor Stephanie Powers, and guest cover artist Chris Preston—will spin in between sets.
Ragukas will split the proceeds with alternative press organizations including CL’s nascent Tampa Bay Journalism Project, community radio station WMNF, La Gaceta, Florida Sentinel Bulletin, and PBS affiliate WEDU.

The First Amendment says: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

Prior to the election in 2016, Donald Trump said that he would never kill a reporter, but added that, “I do hate them.”

The Supreme Court—which has over the last century offered a plurality opinion—has also acknowledged “the critical role played by the press in American society” and recognized “that laws targeting the press, or treating different subsets of media outlets differently, may sometimes violate the First Amendment.”

The ACLU simply states the freedom of the press is “critical to a democracy in which the government is accountable to the people.”

“A free media functions as a watchdog that can investigate and report on government wrongdoing. It is also a vibrant marketplace of ideas, a vehicle for ordinary citizens to express themselves and gain exposure to a wide range of information and opinions,” the group added.

Ragukas, a lifelong Tampeño who majored in history at Florida State University, said he wants to deliver proceeds to local outlets to draw attention to the work they’re doing.

“I also want people to know that they are not alone and that we are stronger when we stand together,” he added. “Courage is contagious, and we can still fight for what is right!”

Readers are invited to submit their own events to Creative Loafing Tampa Bay’s things to do calendar.

UPDATED 04/29/25 05:44 p.m. Updated to correct the spelling of Marc Ganancias.

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