‘It is a matter of will’: DeSantis calls on universities to enforce code of conduct during protests

The University of Florida and Florida State University warned students who were protesting the Israel-Hamas war with on-campus encampments this week that they could face consequences.

On Thursday, in Tallahassee, FSU students set up “Occupy Landis” to protest the actions in Gaza of the Israeli military after the attack by Hamas on Oct. 7. On Wednesday, in Gainesville, there was a similar protest at the Plaza of the Americas.

“Yes, it is a matter of will,” Gov. Ron DeSantis wrote on X Friday about a call for universities to enforce the code of conduct.

Both of Florida’s public universities prohibit camping on campus. Videos of the way on-campus law enforcement confronted protesters at universities across the country went viral Friday. Counter-protesters also responded.

The Tallahassee Democrat reported some of the organizations represented at the FSU protest included the Freedom Road Socialist Organization, and the Tallahassee Dissenters, an “anti-imperialist” group.

The UF Fresh Take Florida reported on WUFT that UF administrators planned to fire employees and suspend or ban students for three years if they violated rules during the protest.

The Massachusetts State Police reported arresting over 100 protesters on Saturday at Northeastern University in Boston. There was a similar scene on Friday at The University of Pennsylvania. The encampment at Columbia University was still up.

Related links: UF code of conduct | FSU code of conduct

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