A coalition of congregations will gather in different churches across Florida on Monday evening to demand the expansion of the state's juvenile civil citation program.
Members of Faith and Action for Strength Together (FAST) say not enough children are being granted access to the state's civil citation program, which allows defendants to avoid being arrested.
Instead, they complain that too many children are being arrested for non-serious offenses. Those arrests can follow children well into their adult life, making it difficult to find employment and educational opportunities.
FAST wants to change that.
"I feel that we're carrying out God's work," said Willie McClendon, pastor of Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church in Largo. "I feel that he's well pleased with what we're doing."
In FAST's annual assembly, the organization will push for state legislation that will ensure all children in the state have access to civil citations. FAST held a similar rally earlier this year.
There will be two rallies starting at 7 p.m. Monday on both sides of the day:
• Holy Family Catholic Church, 200 78th Ave. NE, St. Petersburg.
• Corpus Christie Catholic Church 9715 North 56th St., Temple Terrace.
People who have been impacted by being arrested at a young age will share their experiences about how those offenses have affected their lives. Candidates for state office will also be in attendance at the various churches.
FAST is comprised of about 40 congregations that work to hold public officials accountable for certain issues. In the past, the organization has worked on issues of affordable housing and all-day preschool access in Pinellas County.