Tampa, Florida – Ten individuals were arrested during a pro-Palestinian rally at the University of South Florida (USF) after the event escalated into chaos and tear gas was deployed. The protesters gathered near Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza on campus, where previous protests had taken place, resulting in the arrests of three individuals the day before. Law enforcement intervened as tensions rose, using tear gas to disperse the crowd and apprehending ten individuals.
USF Police Chief Daniel Nelson revealed the identities of the arrested protesters in a press conference following the rally. The individuals faced various charges, including unlawful assembly, trespassing, resisting officers, and in one case, possession of a firearm on school property. One of the protesters was confirmed to have a gun in their possession at the time of the arrest.
The demonstrators were associated with the student group ‘Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society’ (SDS) and were given a deadline by school officials to vacate the premises. Despite the warning, between 75 and 100 protesters, both students and non-students, showed up with items like wood shields, umbrellas, and tents. SDS had previously been placed on interim suspension for causing disturbances on campus, prohibiting them from holding events.
The university’s policy prohibited the presence of tents on campus without permission, which the protesters violated. Following the arrests, pro-Palestinian supporters gathered outside the Orient Road Jail demanding the release of the detained individuals. The situation remains ongoing, with further updates expected.