On the 21st of May, the first of what may be a long string of solidarity protests was held at the courthouse for the USF 13 arrestees. These are the folks violently and brutally arrested by cops in response to the Palestine solidarity encampment at University of South Florida (USF).

One speaker at the rally was one of the Tampa 5 defendents, who held out and refused to negotiate until the government threw in the towel and dropped the charges. Another was one of the USF 13, stating that like the Tampa 5 defendents they were refusing “misdemeanor diversion.” It is the government, the USF administration, and Tampa Mayor Jane Castor who should be facing criminal charges, not these 13 defenders of Palestine! Their Israeli friends ARE facing warrants, thanks to the International Criminal Court.

Note that contrary to a lying statement by Ron DeSantis, the encampment was NOT “removed in minutes” but rather survived the first police attack on April 29. At 5:01PM on April 30 riot cops returned in much greater force in a blizzard of tear gas and even rubber bullets.