2024-04-27 15:24:53
As Pro-Palestinian student protests intensify on university campuses around the country, regarding 40 Florida State University students set up camp on Landis Green early Thursday morning.
But the Occupy Landis movement was short-lived.
Campus police made the students – members of Tallahassee Students for a Democratic Society — took down a handful of tents that had been pitched on the lawn for a mere five minutes the day before FSU regulation 2.007which prohibits camping on university grounds, according to a university spokesperson.
“As an educational institution, Florida State University welcomes free inquiry, diverse thinking and rigorous debate,” said FSU spokeswoman Amy Farnum-Patronis. “However, these expressions must comply with university regulations and the law.”
FSU protest comes amid a wave of campus protests
A wave of pro-Palestinian encampments and protests has recently spread on college campuses across the country, including Yale University, the University of California at Berkeley, Emerson College, the University of Texas at Austin and Columbia University in New York City — where more than 100 people have been arrested and protesters face a deadline to end the encampment.
Students at the University of Florida also staged an eight-hour occupation of the university’s Plaza of the Americas on Wednesday.
“These college and university administrations are treating protest like it’s a crime,” said Tavyan Dorsey, an FSU student who is vice president of Tallahassee Students for a Democratic Society. “We’re seeing increased police and National Guard presence in places like Columbia and UT-Austin, but in light of that, they keep fighting and they’re not going away. We’re not going to leave either.”
Despite the setback in the camp, FSU students continued to rally in solidarity with Gaza as the latest war between Israel and Hamas continues six months following a Hamas attack that left hundreds dead.
During the protest, student speakers also expressed how FSU did not recognize Arab-American Heritage Month this April or share any statement to show support for Arab and Muslim students at the university.
In addition to the Tallahassee Students for a Democratic Society – which is not affiliated with FSU as a student group – other local organizations at the protest were the Freedom Road Socialist Organizationthe Tallahassee Community Action Committee and the Tallahassee Dissenters, an anti-imperialist youth-led group.
FSU law enforcement remained around to monitor the gathering.
“I have never in my life been seen as a Palestinian the way you all have allowed me to be seen,” said FSU student Jayci Kapri, a member of the Tallahassee Dissenters, as she expressed her gratitude to the group spoke out for their pro. -Palestinian support.
Grass cutting, sprinklers interrupt protesters’ plans
Even as the running engines of lawnmowers on Landis Green drowned out the chanting voices of the protesters and water sprinklers unexpectedly turned on at full force, dampening signs of protest, the students continued to rally. They accused the university of deliberately putting the maintenance jobs in place to discourage their efforts.
A spokesperson for the university said “work on our site takes place throughout the day.”
With the university’s Strozier Library directly across from Landis Green, a frustrated FSU student came out of the building around 10 a.m. and asked the students to move, as their loud chanting and speeches might be heard indoors at a time when many students are studying for finals this semester.
But the student protesters continued.
“We’re building a movement that started with thousands of people protesting and has now escalated to encampments at multiple universities,” said FSU alumna Delilah Pierre, president of the Tallahassee Community Action Committee. “We are fighting for basic humanity and for the oppressed people of the world.”
‘Must make sure it’s safe for everyone’: Barricades keep protesters and counter-protesters apart
By 4:30 p.m., regarding 20 pro-Israel counter-protesters were also on the green, as regarding half a dozen police officers monitored the situation.
“It’s important to show that there are people who disagree with them,” one counter-protester, Maximo Fernandez, told WCTV. “It felt important to do that, and also just to show … the Jews at VSU that I’m there for them, you know, we’re all in this together.”
As the protest grew louder with protesters shouting and chanting at each other, police placed barricades on either side of the sidewalk to keep the two sets of protesters apart.
“Gotta make sure it’s safe for everybody,” an FSU police official said.
The demonstration continued into the evening and regarding 35 people returned on Friday morning to resume the demonstration.
Earlier in the day on Thursday, the students provided participants with coffee and snacks and spread their emptied tents across the area, despite being prevented from erecting them.
“FSU has a long-standing ban on campus camping, for health and safety reasons, and any camps installed on campus will be removed,” FSU Vice President for Legal Affairs and General Counsel Carolyn Egan said in a prepared statement. said.
“With important rights come significant responsibilities, and it is imperative that members of our campus community understand free speech as well as its limits and the consequences for behavior that exceeds these limits.”
Benjamin Taubman, FSView editor, contributed to this story. Contact Tarah Jean at tjean@tallahassee.com or follow her on X: @tarahjean_.
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