Dream Defenders is a Miami-based “revolutionary organization” ¹ that seeks to end capitalism in the United States and replace it with a socialist system. ² Dream Defenders supports the critical race theory-influenced concept of social justice and self-identifies its members as abolitionists, feminists, and socialists who are fighting to eradicate policing, prisons, surveillance, and punishment. ³ Dream Defenders’ “Free the Block” campaign supports the end of cash bail and pre-trial detention in Miami-Dade County and Tampa, Florida. ⁴

Dream Defenders is a fiscally sponsored project of the left-of-center Tides Advocacy. ⁵ The organization and its associated Dream Defenders Education Fund have received at least $1,600,000 from the left-of-center Ford Foundation through directed grants to the Tides Center between 2013 and 2022. ⁶

History and Leadership

Dream Defenders was founded in April 2012 by Philip Agnew, Ahmad Abuznaid, and Gabriel Pendas when they organized a march of African American, Hispanic, and Arab youth from Daytona Beach, Florida, to Sanford, Florida. ⁷ In 2013, Dream Defenders activists occupied the Florida State Capitol for 30 days and 31 nights to demand a repeal of Florida’s “stand your ground” self-defense law. ^{8 9 10}

Following these protests, Dream Defenders then-director Philip Agnew became a salaried field organizer for the left-of-center Service Employees International Union (SEIU). ¹¹

Dream Defenders’ name is derived from a reference to Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech and the “DREAMers,” illegal immigrants who were brought to the United States as children. ¹²

As of November 2022, Jonel Edwards, ¹³ Rachel Gilmer, and Nailah Summers are the co-executive directors of Dream Defenders. ¹⁴ Edwards previously worked as a community organizer for the left-of-center Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC). ¹⁵ Gilmer previously worked at the far-left African American Policy Forum and the Urban League of Portland. ¹⁶ Summers previously worked at the United Way of North Central Florida. ¹⁷

Activities and Funding

Dream Defenders is a Miami-based ¹⁸ self-identified “revolutionary organization” ¹⁹ that seeks to end capitalism in the United States and replace it with a socialist alternative. ²⁰

The organization consists of chapters, or “Squadds”, located in Miami, Broward, Orlando, Tallahassee, Goodsville, Hillsborough, and Pensacola, Florida. ²¹ Dream Defenders claims to be an “uprising of rebellious youth” that is the “next generation of revolutionaries.” ²² Dream Defenders supports the critical race theory-influenced concept of social justice and  self-identifies its members as abolitionists, feminists, and socialists who are fighting to eradicate policing, prisons, surveillance, and punishment. ²³

The group has been reported to employ a medley of disruptive protest practices, such as blockading bridges and threatening to incite civil unrest to achieve its objectives. ²⁴

Dream Defenders claims that police started as slave catchers hired by wealthy plantation owners, ²⁵ supports the critical race theory-influenced concept of transformative justice, and has called for “decarceration” and a world without prisons, policing, surveillance, and punishment. ²⁶

The organization’s agenda is set by the “Freedom Papers,” which outline its “liberatory socialist vision for Florida and the world.” ²⁷ The document opposes deportation, prisons, and war while supporting government-operated healthcare, housing, jobs, and movement for all. ²⁸ The papers also call for a “moral reckoning” in the U.S. to end what it identifies as corporate control of Florida ²⁹ and says that the  National Rifle Association, corporations, lawmakers, and lobbyists use the majority of federal budgets to “wage war at home and abroad.” ³⁰

Dream Defenders has also called an end to the current prison and policing system, including the immediate banning of bail and probation. ³¹ Its “Free the Block” campaign supports the end of cash bail and pre-trial detention in Miami-Dade County and Tampa, Florida. ³²

Dream Defenders demands free publicly funded education from pre-kindergarten through college, the end of standardized testing, raises for public school teachers, ³³ and the cancellation of student loans. ³⁴ The organization also claims that the United States has created “highly militarized, totally arbitrary borders” ³⁵ and opposes the construction of a border wall between Mexico and the United States. ³⁶

In 2021, the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Florida, and Community Justice Project filed a lawsuit on behalf of Dream Defenders, the Black Collective, Black Lives Matter Alliance Broward, Chainless Change, and others against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) for Florida H.B. 1, which was designed to influence protest activities in Florida. ³⁷

In 2015, Dream Defenders policy director co-organized a delegation of representatives from Dream Defenders, the far-left Black Lives Matter, and Black Youth Project 100 (BYP 100) to Israel and the Palestinian territories ^{38 39} to experience what the organizers called “occupation, ethnic cleansing, and brutality Israel has levied against Palestinians.” ⁴⁰ Dream Defenders’ co-founders also waived the Palestinian flag at its first march. ⁴¹

Dream Defenders is associated with the 501(c)(3) Dream Defenders Education Fund and the Dream Defenders Political Action Committee. ^{42 43}

Funding

Dream Defenders is a fiscally sponsored project of the left-of-center Tides Advocacy organization. Dream Defenders and Dream Defenders Education Fund receive funding from grants to the left-of-center Tides Center and through individual contributions that are processed through the left-of-center ActBlue Civics platform. ^{44 45}

Dream Defenders and Dream Defenders Education Fund have received at least $1,600,000 from the left-of-center Ford Foundation from directed grants to the Tides Center between 2006 and 2022. ⁴⁶

In 2018, the Wellspring Philanthropic Fund contributed $150,000 to the Tides Center to support the tax-exempt activities of Dream Defenders. ⁴⁷ Dream Defenders also received $60,000 from the far-left Code Pink-associated Benjamin Fund in 2017 ⁴⁸ and $220,000 from the left-of-center Surdna Foundation through grants to the Tides Center in 2015. ⁴⁹

1. “Join the Squadd.” Dream Defenders ActBlue Page. Accessed November 25, 2022. https://secure.actblue.com/donate/joindd.
2. “Ideology.” Dream Defenders. Accessed November 28, 2022. https://dreamdefenders.org/ideology/.
3. Lyons, Sierra. “The Freedom Fighters of Florida.” New York Magazine. January 31, 2022. Accessed November 26, 2022. https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2022/01/dream-defenders-racial-justice.html.
4.  Lyons, Sierra. “The Freedom Fighters of Florida.” New York Magazine. January 31, 2022. Accessed November 26, 2022. https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2022/01/dream-defenders-racial-justice.html.
5. “Donate to Dream Defenders.” Dream Defenders ActBlue Profile. Accessed November 26, 2022. https://secure.actblue.com/donate/givetodd.
6. “Grants Database.” Ford Foundation. Accessed November 28, 2022. https://www.fordfoundation.org/work/our-grants/awarded-grants/grants-database/?q=Dream%20defenders&p=1.
7. “Our Story.” Dream Defenders. Accessed November 25, 2022. https://dreamdefenders.org/our-story/.
8. “Our Story.” Dream Defenders. Accessed November 25, 2022. https://dreamdefenders.org/our-story/.
9. Herrera, Chabeli. “Who Are the Dream Defenders?” National Public Radio, WUFT, and PBS. October 15, 2013. Accessed November 26, 2022. https://www.wuft.org/news/2013/10/15/who-are-the-dream-defenders/.
10. McGrory, Kathleen. “At Florida’s Capitol, Dream Defenders are determined to make a difference.” Miami Herald. July 19, 2013. Accessed November 26, 2022. https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article1953406.html.
11. Liston, Barbara. “A new generation fights for civil rights in Florida.” Reuters. August 23, 2013. Accessed November 26, 2022. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-dream-florida/a-new-generation-fights-for-civil-rights-in-florida-idUKBRE97M0TO20130823.
12. McGrory, Kathleen. “At Florida’s Capitol, Dream Defenders are determined to make a difference.” Miami Herald. July 19, 2013. Accessed November 28, 2022. https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article1953406.html.
13. “Jonel Edwards.” LinkedIn Profile. Accessed November 26, 2022. https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonel-edwards-90629321.
14. “Our Staff.” Dream Defenders. Accessed November 26, 2022. https://dreamdefenders.org/our-staff/
15. “Jonel Edwards.” LinkedIn Profile. Accessed November 26, 2022. https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonel-edwards-90629321/.
16. “Rachel Gimer.” LinkedIn Profile. Accessed November 26, 2022. https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-gilmer-79269920/.
17. “Nailah Summers.” LinkedIn Profile. Accessed November 26, 2022. https://www.linkedin.com/in/nailahsummers/.
18. “Dream Defenders.” Idealist. Accessed November 28, 2022. https://www.idealist.org/en/nonprofit/d04d59dee8e946ffa693f020cdcf7105-dream-defenders-miami.
19. “Join the Squadd.” Dream Defenders ActBlue Page. Accessed November 25, 2022. https://secure.actblue.com/donate/joindd.
20. “Ideology.” Dream Defenders. Accessed November 28, 2022. https://dreamdefenders.org/ideology/.
21. “Squadds.” Dream Defenders. Accessed November 26, 2022. https://dreamdefenders.org/squadds/.
22. “Home.” Dream Defenders. Accessed November 26, 2022. https://dreamdefenders.org/.
23.  Lyons, Sierra. “The Freedom Fighters of Florida.” New York Magazine. January 31, 2022. Accessed November 26, 2022. https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2022/01/dream-defenders-racial-justice.html.
24. Newby, Jake. “Pensacola protests: Dream Defenders block traffic on Pensacola Bay Bridge, confront mayor.” Pensacola News Journal. June 6, 2020. Accessed November 28, 2022. https://www.pnj.com/story/news/2020/06/06/pensacola-dream-defenders-block-traffic-three-mile-bridge-protest/3164123001/.
25. “Freedom From Prisons and Police.” Dream Defenders. Accessed November 26, 2022. https://dreamdefenders.org/freedom-papers/freedom-from-prisons-and-police/.
26. “Ideology.” Dream Defenders. Accessed November 28, 2022. https://dreamdefenders.org/ideology/.
27. “Ideology.” Dream Defenders. Accessed November 26, 2022. https://dreamdefenders.org/ideology/.
28. “Our Story.” Dream Defenders. Accessed November 25, 2022. https://dreamdefenders.org/our-story/.
29. “Freedom To Be.” Dream Defenders. Accessed November 25, 2022. https://dreamdefenders.org/freedom-papers/freedom-to-be/.
30. ”Freedom From War, Violence & Environmental Destruction.” Dream Defenders. Accessed November 26, 2022. https://dreamdefenders.org/freedom-papers/freedom-from-war-violence-and-environmental-destruction/.
31. “Freedom From Prisons and Police.” Dream Defenders. Accessed November 26, 2022. https://dreamdefenders.org/freedom-papers/freedom-from-prisons-and-police/.
32. Lyons, Sierra. “The Freedom Fighters of Florida.” New York Magazine. January 31, 2022. Accessed November 26, 2022. https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2022/01/dream-defenders-racial-justice.html.
33. “Freedom of Mind.” Dream Defenders. Accessed November 26, 2022. https://dreamdefenders.org/freedom-papers/freedom-of-mind/.
34. “Tweet.” Dream Defenders Twitter. Posted November 22, 2022. Accessed November 26, 2022. https://twitter.com/Dreamdefenders/status/1595172142676643859?cxt=HHwWpsC4_ZanmKMsAAAA.
35. “Freedom of Movement.” Dream Defenders. Accessed November 26, 2022. https://dreamdefenders.org/freedom-papers/freedom-of-movement/.
36. “Ideology.” Dream Defenders. Accessed November 26, 2022. https://dreamdefenders.org/ideology/
37. “Dream Defenders v. Desantis.” ACLU Florida. May 11, 2021. Accessed November 26, 2022. https://www.aclufl.org/en/cases/dream-defenders-v-desantis.
38. “Ideology.” Dream Defenders. Accessed November 26, 2022. https://dreamdefenders.org/ideology/.
39. Sommer, Allison Kaplan. “Meet The Dream Defenders, Black Americans Who Embrace The Palestinian Struggle.” Forward. December 27, 2018. Accessed November 26, 2022. https://forward.com/news/416704/meet-the-dream-defenders-black-american-activists-who-embrace-the/.
40. ^[1] #TeamEBONY. “Dream Defenders, Black Lives Matter & Ferguson Reps Take Historic Trip to Palestine.” Ebony Magazine. January 9, 2015. Accessed November 26, 2022. https://www.ebony.com/dream-defenders-black-lives-matter-ferguson-reps-take-historic-trip-to-palestine/.
41. Sommer, Allison Kaplan. “Meet The Dream Defenders, Black Americans Who Embrace The Palestinian Struggle.” Forward. December 27, 2018. Accessed November 26, 2022. https://forward.com/news/416704/meet-the-dream-defenders-black-american-activists-who-embrace-the/.
42. “Join the Squadd.” Dream Defenders ActBlue Page. Accessed November 25, 2022. https://secure.actblue.com/donate/joindd.
43. “Tides Advocacy.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2018. Schedule I. Accessed November 26, 2022. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/943153687/201912829349300916/IRS990ScheduleI.
44.  “Donate to Dream Defenders.” Dream Defenders ActBlue Profile. Accessed November 26, 2022. https://secure.actblue.com/donate/givetodd.
45. “Join the Squadd.” Dream Defenders ActBlue Page. Accessed November 25, 2022. https://secure.actblue.com/donate/joindd.
46. “Grants Database.” Ford Foundation. Accessed November 28, 2022. https://www.fordfoundation.org/work/our-grants/awarded-grants/grants-database/?q=Dream%20defenders&p=1
47. “Wellspring Philanthropic Fund Inc.” Return of Private Foundation. (Form 990-PF). 2017. Part XV. Accessed November 26, 2022. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/223692921/201932879349100313/IRS990PF.
48. “Benjamin Fund Inc.” Return of Private Foundation. (Form 990-PF). 2017. Part XV. Accessed November 26, 2022. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/841618483/201811319349102041/full.
49. “Surdna Foundation Inc.” Return of Private Foundation. (Form 990-PF). 2015. Part XV. Accessed November 26, 2022. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/136108163/201730879349100308/full.