Students rallied in downtown Tampa on Wednesday afternoon, demanding the State Attorney for Florida's 13th District (SAO13) drop charges against four University of South Florida students arrested last week during a protest outside the office of USF president Rhea Law.
During that protest, video shows USF Police Chief Chris Daniel , without announcing an arrest, initiating contact with a protester by yanking on her arm. More video shows other students—protesting low Black enrollment at the school as well as Gov. Ron DeSantis' attack on courses that touch upon Diversity, Equity, Inclusion—being slammed to the ground and shoved by USF police who've since deferred any inquires about their actions to SAO13.
As previously reported by Creative Loafing Tampa Bay, four protesters now face felony battery on a law enforcement officer and multiple misdemeanors.
A rep for SAO 13 told CL that the office has not yet filed any charges and that the charges are just booking charges from USFPD for now. Moreover, the state attorney has 170 days to gather and consider evidence before deciding if prosecutors want to move forward with official charges.
Outside SAO13's office yesterday, students (who've also called for the resignation of USFPD's Chief) were surveilled by someone holding a camera and wearing a Hillsborough County Clerk of Courts polo. CL has reached out to the clerk about why they were out taking photos of the protest.
Photo by Dave Decker
Students outside the office of the State Attorney for Florida's 13th District in Tampa, Florida on March 15, 2023.
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