TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — In honor of International Women's Day, women from across Florida took their voices to the front steps of the State Capitol to advocate for Women's Rights.
The group is pushing back against Senate Bill 168, which would require state and local governments to support the enforcement of federal immigration laws. For Basma Alawe, a former refugee from Iraq, lending her voice is important.
Alawe came to the United States in 2010. She and others here want to make sure that immigrant and refugee women have a chance.
"We know that when women succeed, families succeed," said Charo Valero, who works with Florida Latina Advocacy Network. "So we just want to be intentional about centering women because they tend to be left out of conversations."
WTXL reached out to State Senator Joe Gruters who sponsors Senate Bill 168. He says this group doesn't seem to understand what his legislation is all about. Gruters says his focus is on removing criminals from the state of Florida once they get out of jail.
State Senator Gruters says his legislation will go to a second reading on Tuesday.
