Protesters Rally In Bradenton Against State Budget Cuts

With chants of "Where are the jobs?" and signs calling for a recall of Gov. Rick Scott, a few dozen protesters assembled Tuesday afternoon outside Sen. Mike Bennett's office along Cortez Road West to rally against state budget cuts.

The protest, which had attracted about 50 people by 4 p.m. and was scheduled to last until 6, came on the same day state legislators assembled in Tallahassee for the opening of their session.

The rally was one of more than 30 planned in cities all over Florida by Awake The State, a group that called Scott's proposed budget "an all-out assault on Florida workers and their families." Protesters at Tuesday's rally in Bradenton, held outside the Wildwood Professional Plaza at 3653 Cortez Rd. W., said they were concerned with cuts made to public schools and social services and the lack of jobs around the state.

Stay tuned with Bradenton Patch for more from the rally and to hear from the participants.