TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – Almost exactly 24 hours after a handful of local protesters were arrested at Florida State University, a group of Tallahassee activists gathered to demand prosecutors drop the charges against them.
Tallahassee Community Action Committee (TCAC) and Tallahassee Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) gathered at Lake Elberta Park in the capital city Wednesday for a brief press conference to support the five people who were arrested at FSU during a protest against the Israel-Hamas War Tuesday afternoon.
The demonstrators, including two FSU students, were handcuffed and removed from FSU’s Landis Green and charged with trespassing after they set up tents while protesting, which FSU officials said violated school policies.
Protesters told WCTV that despite being aware of the potential consequences of laying out tents, the group chose to proceed because they wanted to stand with other protesters in Florida and across the country.
The arrests come amid a wave of arrests at similar anti-war demonstrations across the U.S. that have spurred a series of detainments, including at other schools in the Sunshine State including the University of Florida and the University of South Florida, but also spanning to the The University of California, Los Angeles, the University of Texas and Columbia University.
FSU alumni Tavish Bryan was one of those arrested Tuesday. He said the experience did not discourage or scare him.
“This is part of organizing, and there will be more protests,” he said.
In fact, Bryan said the group remains energized.
“We have no plans of stopping, we have no plans of letting up, we’re not dissuaded at all,” Bryan said.
Everyone arrested Tuesday afternoon was also banned from campus, protesters told WCTV. That’s a problem for the two current FSU students, Seminoles senior Elijah Ruby said.
He told WCTV that he is scheduled to graduate from Florida State this summer, but now that he is banned from campus, he will not be able to walk across the stage.
“I think it’s shameful to arrest and permanently trespass a student for attending a peaceful protest and for the official action of pitching a tent, and I feel really sad that I can’t go to a graduation ceremony with my family,” Ruby said.
Ruby shared that he was forced to miss his French exam after the arrest, meaning he may not pass the class.
Still, protesters say they are determined to meet with Florida State administrators to urge them to break from the state and U.S. stance of supporting Israel in the war. SDS members said they will continue to protest every day that they can until their demands are met.
Several universities across the country have experienced disruptions to campus activities as a result of the protests, with some colleges canceling classes and commencement ceremonies for fear of protests or violence. WCTV reached out to FSU to ask if there will be any changes to the commencement ceremonies planned for Saturday, but the university has not responded.
To stay up to date on all the latest news as it develops, follow WCTV on Facebook and X (Twitter).
Have a news tip or see an error that needs correction? Write us here. Please include the article’s headline in your message.
Keep up with all the biggest headlines on the WCTV News app. Click here to download it now.
Copyright 2024 WCTV. All rights reserved.
