Florida rural letter carriers will rally Friday, Oct. 16, in Gainesville to call for stronger protections against robberies and assaults and urge Congress to pass the Protect Our Letter Carriers Act (H.R. 1065).
According to a press release, the rally, organized by the Florida Rural Letter Carriers’ Association, will start at 5 p.m. outside the Hilton University of Florida Conference Center (1714 SW 34th St.).
The rally follows reports of threats and attacks against rural carriers in Florida. Organizers say violence against postal workers threatens not only their safety but also the secure delivery of medications, checks, ballots and other essential mail.
The proposed legislation would fund more secure postal equipment, designate dedicated federal prosecutors for postal crimes and strengthen sentencing guidelines.
The rally will follow the association’s fall booster meeting and feature rural carrier Christine Traynor, who was held at gunpoint while delivering mail in the Ocala-Gainesville area. Other speakers include association President William Braddick, Vice President Dorothy Kelly and Seth Harp, a candidate for Florida’s 3rd Congressional District. U.S. Rep. Kat Cammack was invited to attend.
Organizers said a 2025 crime spree in Gainesville and Ocala included attacks on carriers along their routes, including an incident in which a carrier’s postal keys were violently ripped from their belt.
Nationally, robbery cases involving postal employees increased approximately 600%, according to a May 2024 report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office.
The association is urging Congress to pass the legislation to modernize mail security infrastructure, prioritize prosecution of crimes against carriers and strengthen penalties for offenders.