Milk Party rally promotes rights of children

Milk Party event is set for Sept. 6

One rally next week will be a little different from typical political rallies — milk and cookies will be served.

Families, community leaders and local organizations will come together Sept. 6 at Pensacola High School to promote children's rights.

It will be the first of a 15-stop chain of nonpartisan Milk Party rallies Children's Movement of Florida will conduct across the state.

Martin Merzer, the group's communications director, said the series of rallies has been in the works for nearly two years.

The goal is to educate political, business and civic leaders about the need to improve the way Florida's children are cared for, Merzer said.

"What we want them to do is make sure children are Florida's highest priority when our leaders are dividing up existing revenues," he said. "This is not about new or higher taxes, but giving kids a bigger piece of the pie, which they desperately need."

During the rally, there will be entertainment, including a comedian, free 2 percent milk and healthy cookies, and speeches by children's advocates and movement leaders.

Audra Carter, Children's Movement of Florida regional director, said the Milk Party rallies will help give children a voice in a world where they are easily forgotten.

She hopes at least 1,000 people attend next Monday's rally.

"Our community is one of the best in the world," Carter said. "This rally is a way for us to come together and redefine how we deal with the youth in our community. That's a first for Pensacola."

Carter's involvement in the group was inspired by her own daughter, Aja, 16, who is in the International Baccalaureate program at PHS.

"I realized early on who she was going to become is about how involved I was in her life," Carter said. "I see a difference in her life because I was her first and most important teacher. I just want to give kids the opportunity to have that."

Local volunteer coordinator Camillia Benson is in charge of recruiting students ages 12 and older to help out at the rally. About 70 have signed up so far, she said.

"This is a great opportunity for them to see how much people care about them," said Benson, who has two teenage sons of her own. "When the leaders in the community see them taking part, they'll be more inclined to see the importance of supporting our youth."

Read the full article here.