4 USF students among 10 arrested at pro-Palestine protest
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Four current students at the University of South Florida were among the 10 people arrested on Tuesday after a pro-Palestine protest on campus, according to the university.
Out of the 10 arrests, four are current students, two are former students, and four have no affiliation with the university, according to a spokesperson. Neither of the former students graduated.
‘Not a day care’: 9 pro-Palestine protesters arrested at UF as demonstrations rage on
Leonardo Jacob Tilell, 23, faces a felony charge of battery on a law enforcement, among other misdemeanors, according to jail records. Emmanuel R. Atmosfera, 21, faces felony charges of resisting an officer with violence and aggravated assault with intent to commit a felony with a weapon, among other misdemeanors.
An affidavit accuses Tilell of throwing a punch at an officer after they had to chase him down. Atmosfera allegedly ran away and tried to hide in the trunk of a car at a parking garage, police said.
Both Tilell and Atmosfera are current students at the university, according to the spokesperson.
The two other current students and two former students are facing misdemeanors including trespassing. WFLA.com is not naming anyone who has not been charged with a felony.
Two of the four non-students arrested are also facing felony charges.
Atah Kheir Othman, 39, was arrested on a charge of possession of a firearm on school property, according to jail records. Jake Isadore Geffon, 23, faces charges of battery on a law enforcement officer and resisting with violence.
Geffon spoke to 8 On Your Side before his arrest Tuesday, saying he believed he was standing up for what was right.
“This is a movement for everybody,” he said. “This is a liberation movement that doesn’t exclude anyone.”
“It doesn’t attack anyone,” Geffon said. “This is a liberation movement; we are here for the people.”
Three of the people arrested stood virtually in front of a judge Wednesday, with Courtney Benson representing them pro-bono.
“I do believe the protesters’ intent was to remain peaceful,” she said. “The officers came in and gave demands allegedly to disperse.”
“I don’t believe that based on the crowd that they heard or were reasonably able to heed to those demands by the officers,” Benson said.
Tuesday’s arrests came as police deployed tear gas after the protest was declared an “unlawful assembly.”
Police find ‘nothing of concern’ after bomb threat reported at USF
“The University of South Florida values the right to free speech and protecting the constitutional right for individuals and groups on campus to express themselves,” a USF spokesperson said in a statement to News Channel 8 on Tuesday. “This includes peaceful protests and demonstrations that occur regularly on USF’s three campuses without incident and are part of the public discourse of a university. However, the expression of free speech must remain peaceful and not violate the law or USF policies. The university has been clear the violence, threats, harassment and disruptions will not be tolerated.”
The university said about 75 to 100 protesters — some students and some non-students — showed up with wood shields, umbrellas and tents. Staff members reportedly told the protesters what their expectations were for maintaining a peaceful event.
Video from Eagle 8 HD showed a group standing together in a circle with arms locked.
“If you’re out here peacefully protesting, why should you need shields and umbrellas?” USF Police Chief Christopher Daniel said.
Gov. Ron DeSantis condemned the protests Wednesday saying Florida will “not allow the inmates to run the asylum.”
“When you go out and try to commandeer property and set up encampments, you are not going to be allowed to do that in this state,” DeSantis said.
In addition to Tuesday’s arrests, three people were arrested on Monday, including one student, a former student, and an employee, who has since been placed on administrative leave, according to the university.
Commencement ceremonies are set to begin at the USF on Thursday.
The full schedule is available here.
Some parents worry the ceremonies could be impacted by the recent protests at the university.
Rosa Mosich’s daughter plans to walk in her graduation ceremony at USF this weekend.
“Definitely worried it will get disrupted or cancelled or maybe students who feel super passionate about the issue decide to demonstrate during commencement, and I wouldn’t say ruin it, but just disrupt it for everyone else who are just trying to enjoy this tremendous accomplishment their student just accomplished,” she said.
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