Nine protesters arrested at pro-Palestinian demonstration on UF campus
Nine protesters were arrested by law enforcement Monday evening as a pro-Palestinian demonstration continued on the Plaza of the Americas at the University of Florida.
The detained protesters were walked over to nearby Peabody Hall. As of 9 p.m., access to that building was blocked off by police.
At least 20 officers were in that area. The officers were from the Gainesville Police Department, the University of Florida Police Department and the Florida Highway Patrol. Protesters were yelling at police during the detainment process.
The road between the Plaza of the Americas and University Auditorium was blocked off by police. The center of the plaza, as of 8 p.m., still held about 75 protesters. Messages written in chalk on the sidewalk say: "It's not a war, it's genocide" and "UF divest now."
As the Sun reported last week, protesters have gathered at the plaza since Wednesday. They have complained that UF has enacted unfair rules and restrictions.
UF told the Sun last week that while peaceful protests are constitutionally protected, "Camping, putting up structures, disrupting academic activity, or threatening others on university property is strictly prohibited." UF also said the rules being enforced have been in place for years.
Monday night, UF spokesman Steve Orlando issued another statement:
"This is not complicated," Orlando said. "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.
"For many days, we have patiently told protesters — many of whom are outside agitators — that they were able to exercise their right to free speech and free assembly," he continued. "And we also told them that clearly prohibited activities would result in a trespassing order from UPD (barring them from all university properties for three years) and an interim suspension from the university.
"For days UPD patiently and consistently reiterated the rules. Today, individuals who refused to comply were arrested after UPD gave multiple warnings and multiple opportunities to comply."
The group of protesters gathered just before 9 p.m. in front of police stationed outside Peabody Hall. Chants included "Let them go" and "UFPD, KKK, IDF they're all the same." At the same time, protesters were seemingly unaware that the nine people detained were chained together and being loaded into an Alachua County Sheriff's Office van parked in front of Criser Hall. The van left campus at about 9:08 p.m.
Alachua County jail records show nine people between the ages of 20 and 26 were booked Monday night between 10:16 and 11:12 p.m. Various charges include failure to obey police, resisting arrest without violence, wearing a hood or mask on public property, trespassing and felony battery.
The battery charge was filed against a student who spit on a University of Florida police officer who was helping an FHP trooper escort another arrestee, according to an arrest report.
On Tuesday, Fresh Take Florida reported that eight of the nine people arrested had been released from jail. The protester charged with battery was being held with bail set at $5,000.
State Rep. Yvonne Hinson, D-Gainesville, posted on Facebook that law enforcement should stand down and allow those involved to exercise their "constitutional right to peaceful assembly and protest."
"... I wholeheartedly condemn the actions taken by law enforcement at the University of Florida, which serve to suppress the free expression of the students, and may chill future peaceful demonstrations. All groups have that same right," she wrote.
USA TODAY reports that Columbia University on Monday started suspending students who failed to comply with an order to clear a “Gaza Solidarity Encampment” on campus. The Austin American-Statesman reports that more than 100 protesters were arrested Monday at the University of Texas.
This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Police detain nine protesters at University of Florida
