University of Florida says it is ‘not a daycare’ after arrests

TThe University of Florida has declared that it is “not a daycare” in response to the arrests of anti-genocide protesters on campus. Nine students were arrested Monday night by the University of Florida Police Department and the Florida Highway Patrol after students set up camp in the university plaza last Wednesday in an act of solidarity with Gazans and other student protesters in the US.

Charges against the students ranged from failure to comply with a lawful order, to resisting without violence, to trespassing after warning. A student was also charged with assaulting a police officer after allegedly spitting on one. Praça das Américas has a history of being used as a place of demonstrations and rallies which dates back to the fight against segregation in the 1970s. Since then, it has often been used to draw attention to other social justice issues and functions as a “free speech zone”. according to the university library website.

“For many days, we have patiently told protesters — many of whom are outside agitators — that they are capable of exercising their right to freedom of speech and assembly,” Steve Orlando, a spokesman for the University of Florida, said in a statement. “For days, the UPD reiterated the rules with patience and consistency. Today, individuals who refused to comply were arrested after UPD provided multiple warnings and multiple opportunities to comply.”

The university’s Division of Student Life shared a list of prohibited items and activities, which includes: no sleeping, no amplified sound, no unmanned signage, no building structures – meaning no chairs, tables, benches, etc. are not allowed -, no camping, no pillows, no tents, no sleeping bags, etc., according to a flyer shared with TIME. Failure to comply with these stipulations could lead to a three-year trespass warning, meaning they are not allowed on University of Florida property, and suspension from the school. Employees may face dismissal.

“The arrests that took place yesterday [Monday] highlight how our organization has become a political flashpoint for our governor and other elected officials to make an example of our students who have the audacity to call for a permanent ceasefire,” Cameron Driggers, a freshman student organizer with the University Divestment Coalition of Florida, says TIME. “It is increasingly egregious that such a trivial and peaceful protest was treated in this way.”

Driggers says interactions with police reached a point of high tension on Monday, but adds that students were confused by the ever-changing rules made by police officers and administration. “Many of these things are actually not even written in the letter, but [have] It was kind of spontaneously added by police officers. Communication with them has been vague and often contradictory. So on any given day, it’s a different set of rules that we need to follow if we don’t want to be violently arrested,” says Driggers. He says about 30 to 40 soldiers came to remove chairs from the camp on Monday night. At least three students who were arrested were sitting on chairs, by Tampa Bay Times.

Even so, the students remained firm in their actions. Driggers says organizers have established night and day shifts at the camp. And during the day, regular programming includes interfaith prayers between Jewish and Muslim students and discussions about the history between Israel and Palestine.

Driggers is the executive director of the Florida Youth Action Fund, which is currently working to raise funds to pay bail for students who have been arrested.

The protests come as students balance end-of-semester assignments and tests, with the last day of final exams set for May 3.

“I think this is another example that highlights how passionate people are about this issue,” says Driggers. “This is a movement of students who are marginalized and so many of us depend on financial aid, merit-based scholarships, to pay for housing, to access U.S. health care, to get food, everything. that the university maintains. over our heads to easily enforce compliance.”