Arrests of protesters on Florida university campuses increased this week, after tensions ratcheted up at the University of Florida and the University of South Florida during demonstrations about the war between Israel and Hamas.
The arrests Monday of a dozen people at the two Florida universities came as pro-Palestinian campus protests draw attention across the country, with clashes between demonstrators and university administrations — and law enforcement — intensifying.
The University of Florida confirmed that nine protesters were arrested Monday, though a department spokesman as of Tuesday morning did not know how many of the arrested people were students. The school Monday night issued a strongly worded statement following the arrests.
“This is not complicated: The University of Florida is not a daycare, and we do not treat protesters like children — they knew the rules, they broke the rules, and they’ll face the consequences,” university spokesman Steve Orlando said in the statement.
The statement said “many” protesters on the campus were “outside agitators” and that university police had reiterated rules to demonstrators.
The university said protesters who engage in “clearly prohibited activities” would receive trespassing orders from police that would bar them from university property for three years and “interim” suspensions from UF.
A memo distributed last week and widely shared on social media listed activities allowed during protests and actions that are prohibited. “Speech,” “expressing viewpoints” and “holding signs in hands” were listed as allowable activities.
Prohibited actions included using amplified sound, demonstrating inside buildings, camping, building structures, creating disruptions, making threats and committing violence.
During a press event Tuesday morning in Naples, Gov. Ron DeSantis touted Florida universities’ responses to the protests.
“The University of Florida, Florida State, our universities have been very strong in saying, ‘You can say what you want, but you don’t have the right to commandeer territory, you don’t have the right to harass students or faculty or any of that. And if you do violate (the) code of conduct, we’re going to show you the door. You will be expelled,’” DeSantis said.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida in a statement last week about pro-Palestinian protests on campuses condemned a DeSantis call for expulsions of student protesters.
“Gov. DeSantis’ response – that students should be expelled for peacefully protesting – is contrary to our First Amendment principles of free speech and expression. There is nothing more American than protest. No student should face expulsion from their university or this country for exercising their rights,” Howard Simon, the ACLU of Florida’s executive director, said.
Meanwhile, the University of South Florida reported three arrests after a protest Monday held by an organization that the school said had previously been suspended. One student, one USF employee and one person not affiliated with the university were arrested.
USF officials said in a statement that the arrests came after tents were set up on campus without university approval. The group Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society held a protest starting at noon Monday outside of the library on USF’s main Tampa campus, though the group had been placed on “interim suspension last week after causing a disruption on campus.”
“Suspended student organizations are not permitted to host events and activities, which the group was made aware of several times prior to today’s protest, including another reminder this (Monday) morning,” the USF statement said.
The school said that protesters “resisted” actions by university staff to take down tents.
“Before removing tents, university staff again tried to advise protestors that they could not use tents. Participants refused to comply with directions from staff members,” the USF statement said.
The Florida chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations issued a statement Tuesday criticizing the campus arrests.
“Arresting a particular group of students for their stance in a peaceful protest is blatant authoritarian censorship and targeting. USF officials have failed in their duty to protect our children and uphold freedom of expression and the First Amendment,” Imam Abdullah Jaber, executive director of the Florida chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said.
Both schools have regulations about rules that demonstrators must follow.
“Demonstrations may be held anywhere on the campus, so long as they do not disrupt the normal operation of the university or infringe on the rights of other members of the university community, except that no demonstrations are permitted inside university buildings,” a UF regulation said.
Also, demonstrations are not allowed to interfere with vehicular or pedestrian traffic, block entrances or exits to buildings, interfere with “educational activities inside or outside any building,” damage property or “harass passersby or otherwise disrupt” normal activities.
A page on the USF website said the school can manage the “time, place and manner” of demonstrations on campus.
“As a limited public forum, the university can manage time, place, and manner, which most often occurs when there is a significant disruption including, but not limited to, disrupting classes, operations, and/or scheduled events,” the website said.
–Ryan Dailey, News Service of Florida
Hippy says
So apparently Howard Simon, the ACLU and Imam Abdullah Jaber, executive director of the Florida chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, can’t read or are possibly lying (that would be a first) or cannot understand the written word. The Gov and school officials have clearly stated what is allow.
“This is not complicated: The University of Florida is not a daycare, and we do not treat protesters like children — they knew the rules, they broke the rules, and they’ll face the consequences,” university spokesman Steve Orlando said in the statement.
Play stupid games and win stupid prizes.
Joe D says
I can’t believe I’m saying this, but GENERALLY, I’m going to sort of agree with Governor Ron DeSantis on the college protest issue
I agree that PEACEFUL protest, not impeding normal school activities are totally okay. However TENTS do NOT belong there, and loudspeakers interfering with normal
Campus activities should not be allowed either.
Unfortunately this past weekend, the COLUMBIA college protest turned into an angry and unruly mob, who broke windows, and occupied a college building, barricading themselves inside. So NOW their cause however VALID it might have been, is now going to be associated with trespassing THUGS and liable for charges of breaking and entering, and vandalism!
This is not PEACEFUL free speech protesting…this is now approaching the level of a RIOT…and it’s gradually escalating in violence…giving the potential for serious injuries or WORSE. These “protest” activities are NOT helping their CAUSE!
I’m hoping that SOME level of SANITY is demonstrated (no pun intended) by BOTH sides, to PEACEFULLY come to a SAFE resolution to these situations…unfortunately, I’m not convinced EITHER side is going to resolve this any time soon.
Carol says
Arrest them all and whoever is here on student visas, send them back.
ASF says
It appears that, so far, De Santis–who I generally do not agree with politically–has kept the protests under better control in Forida than the mobs and messes we are witnessing in other states on college and university campuses.
I wonder if the Democrats are aware of how badly this is effecting their narrative with mainstream American voters.
Brandon Cross says
This is not complicated: The University of Florida is not a daycare, and we do not treat protesters like children — they knew the rules, they broke the rules, and they’ll face the consequences,”
Pretty much sums it up?
endangered species says
you are allowed to voice your opinion over in the corner of this field between 630 and 645 only, otherwise it is an unlawful gathering. …Oh and no signs or yelling or disruption of any kind. We know your protest will go unnoticed and do nothing thats why we make these rules.
Joe D says
But what you are stating was NOT the rules…
.. you need to actually READ the Florida campus protest guidelines: No tents or shelters, no loudspeakers, no occupying buildings, no damaging property, hand held protest signs only….sounds pretty REASONABLE to me…
And up until now I’ve NEVER AGREED with Governor Ron. But on THIS issue, (so far) I’m on board.
endangered species says
isnt the idea of a protest to disrupt the norm for change? We should teach them that protesting hasnt actually worked for ANY-thing in decades except to punish the actual protestors with criminal records. They will need a whole lot of money to change anything here as money is all that matters. Oh right ESG investing is banned in FL. Discourage them from speaking out against bad policies, you know like a dictator would do.
Either way we know what the result of the protest will be. Absolutely nothing will change, and you only jeopardize your own future by speaking out.
so stand quietly outside in the heat in a designated location for a designated time and hold up your index cards for change. Then maybe the government will read your index card and quit using our bombs to murder children. haha Good luck!
JimboXYZ says
Wonder how many of those being arrested or expelled are the typical of entitled, substandard college students for their grades anyway. The one’s looking to promote their careers as faux leaders. They need to focus on their studies rather than wasting their time camping out like they’re homeless.