On April 29, 2024, the University of Florida (UF) Police Department and Florida Highway Patrol arrested nine individuals, including seven students, who were participating in a peaceful pro-Palestinian protest on campus. The university suspended all seven students who were arrested.
On April 24, the UF Divest Coalition organized the protest to demand that the university divest from companies that profit from Israeli military action. The protest was peaceful, with students holding banners, working on homework, and talking to follow students. Video shows that the protesters set up blankets to sit on, rather than erecting tents and structures, to remain in accordance with university policy banning tents. Around 150 people participated in the demonstration.
The following day, April 25, UF administrators warned the students that they could face suspension and a three-year ban for violating university policies regarding protesting on campus. UF police officers distributed fliers listing prohibited activities and items, some of which differed from the university’s official policy. According to students, after the flyers were circulated, campus police officers applied the new rules inconsistently, with interpretations that seemed to vary.
On April 29, an officer informed a student sitting in a lawn chair near the protest that the new protest rules forbid chairs—a new regulation that conflicted with past practice. The student moved the lawn chair to a new location, and two other students joined, also with lawn chairs. Later that evening, the officer returned with around 20 other officers from campus, local, and state police. The police warned students to disperse and arrested nine people, including seven students on charges of failing to obey police orders to disperse, trespass, battery of a law enforcement officer, and wearing a mask on public property. All were released from jail the following day.
Following their arrests, UF’s dean of students suspended the seven students for disruptive conduct, failure to comply with directive, and violation of university policy; the suspensions ranged from three to four years. Once the students completed their suspensions, they are required to reapply for admission to UF. The suspension decisions did not take into account and were much harsher than the disciplinary recommendations of the Student Conduct Committee, a group of faculty, staff, and students tasked with reviewing the case.
Scholars at Risk is concerned about the arrest and suspension of students and suspension in retaliation for their peaceful expressive activity, conduct that is expressly protected by international human rights instruments including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. State authorities have a responsibility to refrain from restricting the nonviolent exercise of such rights. In addition, while university authorities have a responsibility to prevent disruptions that hinder the functioning of higher education, they must ensure transparency, fairness, and proportionality in disciplinary actions. The punishment of nonviolent student expression has a chilling effect on academic freedom and undermines democratic society generally.
Sources:
https://www.wusf.org/education/2024-05-06/uf-student-journalist-independent-florida-alligator-pro-palestinian-protests-on-campus
https://www.wcjb.com/video/2024/04/24/uf-pro-palestinian-groups-join-students-accross-country-protesting-war-gaza/
https://www.cbs12.com/news/local/university-of-florida-warn-students-face-banishment-over-protest-violations-palestine-hamas-israel-war-uf-gainesville-desantis
https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/news/2024/04/30/protesters-arrested-at-uf-and-usf-the-first-campus-arrests-in-florida/73514857007
https://www.alligator.org/article/2024/04/police-arrest-9-pro-palestine-protestors-on-uf-campus
https://www.firstcoastnews.com/article/news/education/university-of-florida-issues-statement-saying-campus-is-not-a-daycare-after-protestors-were-arrested/77-674cd108-b47d-485d-8693-e149b6f6460b
https://www.wuft.org/fresh-take-florida/2024-07-09/uf-kicks-arrested-pro-palestinian-protesters-out-of-school-for-up-to-4-years
https://www.foxnews.com/media/u-florida-praised-saying-school-not-daycare-agitators-who-break-rules-face-consequences
https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/florida-campus-tensions-increase-amid-pro-palestinian-protests/
https://www.wuft.org/fresh-take-florida/2024-04-30/judge-releases-8-of-9-pro-palestinian-protesters-arrested-at-uf-one-held-on-bond-over-felony-charge
https://www.thefire.org/news/university-florida-suspends-student-three-years-over-peaceful-protest
https://alachuachronicle.com/nine-people-arrested-at-uf-protest
https://www.alligator.org/article/2024/07/uf-academically-suspends-six-pro-palestinian-protestorsc