9 UF protesters arrested after days of pro-Palestinian demonstrations
Police and state troopers arrested nine protesters Monday evening in Gainesville on the sixth day of pro-Palestinian demonstrations at the University of Florida, just hours after three were arrested in a similar event at the University of South Florida in Tampa.
The charges ranged from failure to obey a lawful command and resisting without violence to trespass after warning, UF spokesperson Cynthia Roldan said. One protester was charged with battery on a law enforcement officer after spitting on an officer, she said.
Videos shared on Instagram showed what appeared to be state troopers making some arrests. Three of the individuals arrested had been sitting in chairs, which officers had told the group on previous days and earlier in the evening were not allowed.
The nine protestors made first appearances in court Tuesday morning. Alachua County court records listed two of the protestors as still in custody.
A group called Faculty for Justice in Palestine planned a “Hands off our students” rally at 5 p.m. Tuesday in support of the arrested protesters.
As with other campus protests around Florida and the nation in recent days, the UF group is primarily demanding that the university sever financial ties with corporations tied to Israel’s war effort in Gaza, and that those investments be made public.
The Gainesville protests have been organized by an umbrella group called the UF Divest Coalition. They have taken place on the large campus green known as the Plaza of the Americas.
A spokesperson for the coalition said the group disputes the allegation that one of the protesters spat on an officer.
Aron Ali-McClory, who stated he was not speaking on behalf of the group, said he witnessed the arrests.
“People are here protesting for divestment from an Israeli genocide, and disclosure of endowment spending, so that we know what needs to be divested,” Ali-McClory said. “That’s why people are out here protesting. And so the fact that things have escalated so far to these violent arrests is absurd.”
Steve Orlando, another UF spokesperson, said in a statement that the protesters were given fair warning.
“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,” he said. “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.”
Orlando said the protesters also were told that “clearly prohibited activities” would result in interim suspensions and banishment from campus for three years.
“For days (the University Police Department) patiently and consistently reiterated the rules,” Orlando said. “Today, individuals who refused to comply were arrested after (police) gave multiple warnings and multiple opportunities to comply.”
Meera Sitharam, chairperson of the UF faculty union, said she did not agree with all of the positions taken by the national Faculty for Justice in Palestine group, but supported parts of it and planned to attend its rally in Gainesville.
She said she was especially enraged that protesters were arrested for sitting in chairs and that the university’s statement said some of those arrested were “outside agitators.”
”It’s absolutely crazy,” Sitharam said, contending that UF is not consistently enforcing free speech rules and no one asks intoxicated tailgaters to leave.
”People routinely use hammocks,” she said. “The same rules are not being applied.”
This is a developing story and may be updated.
Times Staff Writer Justin Garcia contributed to this report. Divya Kumar covers higher education for the Tampa Bay Times, working in partnership with Open Campus.
