Gainesville, FL – Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) at the University of Florida held a sign holding on Wednesday, November 13, to demand that the U.S. government drop the charges against Rasmea Odeh. Odeh is a Palestinian-American organizer and an international solidarity activist. Despite holding U.S. citizenship for the past 20 years, the Department of Homeland Security, ICE and the FBI arrested her on October 22, and on the allegations of immigration fraud.

Members of SDS and allies chanted, “Drop the charges now!” and “Solidarity is not a Crime” at the major intersection of University and 13th in Gainesville at the height of rush hour. People walking by were supportive and took flyers detailing Odeh’s case and the link to the online petition.

As Robbey Hayes, a lead organizer with SDS, said, “Unfortunately, Odeh’s case is something we’ve seen before and activists in this country continue to feel repression for being organizers.”

UF Students for a Democratic Society will continue to stand in solidarity with Rasmea Odeh and the national campaign to drop the charges and end the targeted repression of Palestinian-American leaders.

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