Gainesville, FL – Over 200 students, community activists and supporters rallied and marched from the University of Florida campus to the downtown FBI office on March 26, demanding justice for Trayvon Martin. Organizers of the rally brought forward two main demands: Arrest George Zimmerman for the killing of Trayvon Martin and fire the police involved in the case for obstructing justice and covering-up the truth.

Protesters gathered in the blazing sun near Turlington Plaza on the University of Florida campus to begin the event and listen to speakers demanding justice for Trayvon Martin. Several local media stations filmed the activists and aired some of the more outstanding speeches. Speaking about the racism and oppression faced by African-Americans, Chief Steward Jose Soto of Graduate Assistants United said, “We are not one nation as our pledge suggests. We are many nations. We gather here today, just as we rallied for Kofi Adu-Brempong two years ago this month, to demand justice and self-determination for African American people.” Kofi Adu-Brempong is an African Graduate Teaching Assistant shot in the face, inside his own home, by a racist campus cop. Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) organized a campaign that led to the racist cop’s firing and a settlement for Adu-Brempong.

The rally chanted, “Arrest George Zimmerman! Justice for Trayvon!” Next the students marched to the nearby Institute of Black Culture. There, African American and other student speakers emphasized their demands for the killer and the police to be brought to justice in the Trayvon Martin case. The activists and their allies began a mile long march to downtown Gainesville to deliver their demands to the local FBI field office. Gainesville Area SDS member Skye Schmelzer led several chants: “Jail the killer, fire the cops, without Justice, we won't stop!”

Despite the intense hostility and best efforts of local law enforcement, the 200-strong chain of people stormed onto University Avenue, blocking an entire lane of traffic. Cops shouted at the protesters to get back onto the sidewalk, but the angry crowd ignored them. At one point, two police cars tried to block the road by turning sideways in front of the march, but Gainesville Area SDS member Conor Monroe bravely jumped out to keep the road from being closed. The police cars came close to trapping Monroe's leg in between the bumpers of their cars, but the way forward remained just large enough for the crowd to push on through the police cars.

After the mile-long march was over, the crowd arrived at the foot of the FBI Field Office in Gainesville. The main doors into the building were locked, but members of Gainesville Area SDS found a secondary entrance. A ten-person delegation made their way upstairs to the FBI Field Office, which was located inside a Wells Fargo bank. Meanwhile, the crowd chanted, “No justice, no peace, no racist police” outside.

Inside the FBI Field Office, the delegation demanded a meeting with a member of the FBI. FBI officials demanded that the delegation leave the building and claimed that the police were on their way. “The police followed us here as we marched in the streets, and they're standing around outside, what do you mean they're on their way? We want a meeting to present our demands to the FBI,” SDS member Cassia Laham shouted back.

Standing their ground, the activists pressured the FBI officials into taking their list of demands up to their superiors before they were satisfied enough to leave the building. The organizers called upon the crowd to continue the struggle to win justice for Trayvon Martin by joining them in Sanford, Florida on March 31 for a mass demonstration in the town of the Martin’s shooting.

#GainesvilleFL #StudentMovement #InJusticeSystem #AfricanAmerican #KofiAduBrempong #GainesvilleSDS #TrayvonMartin

In response, the Gainesville Area Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) led three protests demanding that the officers involved in this racist shooting be fired. SDS and the Coalition for Justice Against Police Brutality marched on campus and through Gainesville, on separate occasions occupying two University of Florida (UF) administration buildings and the State Attorney’s office to deliver their message of “Justice for Kofi!” Hundreds of students and African-American community members marched and protested to force the police and the UF administration to drop the outrageous criminal charges placed against Adu-Brempong – the victim of the police shooting.

Gainesville Area SDS is promising to expand their anti-police brutality campaign, as more instances of police brutality and harassment are uncovered in the community. Recent court documents indicate that since 2008, William Scott Richard, a University Police Department officer, repeatedly stalked a young female student at UF. The police dragged their feet in taking action against Richard even after the young woman reported his activities to UPD. This allowed Richard to continue stalking the young woman after the first complaints were filed, until another police agency became involved in the investigation. The UF administration is prone to sweeping the crimes of its officers under the rug, attempting to hide the truth and ignoring the problem with rotten cops.

SDS and the Coalition for Justice Against Police Brutality are gearing up for the fall semester with new actions and calls for justice. Justin Wooten, a member of Students for a Democratic Society, said, “The administration thinks they can play games with the lives of students. We're going to show them that people will no longer tolerate police brutality in Gainesville, or anywhere for that matter. Our protests are our way of bringing power back into the hands of the community, where it belongs.”

Students at the University of Florida and members of the Gainesville community are making great strides in their fight against police brutality, but more actions are required if full justice is to be won against dirty cops. The people of Gainesville will continue to escalate their struggle against racism and oppression until violent cops no longer terrorize the community.

#GainesvilleFL #SDS #PoliceBrutality #KofiAduBrempong

A Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigation showed what students and activists already knew: that some of the police lied about a knife and a pipe, there were conflicting statements between police officers, and Adu-Brempong was shot while sitting on the floor. The investigation found there was no knife and nor pipe. Furthermore Kofi suffers from a case of childhood polio. Kofi could not really defend himself even if he wanted to.

Fernando Figueroa of SDS said, “dropping the charges against Kofi Adu-Brempong is a good step towards justice on the University of Florida campus. SDS and the Coalition for Justice Against Police Brutality are claiming a small victory.” SDS and the Coalition, along with members of Kofi’s family, led protest after protest over four months, finally occupying the office of Bill Cervone, the State’s Attorney, demanding the outrageous charges be dropped. The State’s Attorney offered what is called a conditional deferred prosecution, recognizing that Kofi was the victim of police brutality. State’s Attorney Cervone announced the decision just two days before a scheduled meeting with Gainesville SDS. Students, professors, and African American community members are still waiting for racist police officer Keith Smith to be dismissed from his job. Many would like to see Smith brought up on charges for the crime he committed against a defenseless man in his own apartment. There will most certainly be a civil suit on Kofi’s behalf.

SDS and the Coalition plan to continue their protests and meetings to force the University of Florida administration, the University Police Department, and the state’s attorney to meeting other demands as well. On top of the charges being dropped, SDS and the Coalition are demanding a campus review board overseeing the University Police Department (UPD). Though it is unlikely to prevent police brutality like the shooting of Adu-Brempong, hopes are that a board may provide oversight into the procedure and actions of the police by students, faculty, and other Gainesville area residents—especially African Americans.

On June 15th at the UF Student Senate, and with Adu-Brempong’s family there, a student government resolution calling for a campus review board was passed. Written by members of SDS, it provided the first steps for the review board’s creation. With the foundation laid, the campus review board will be established within a short matter of time. Protests and the campaign for justice are what delivered relief for Kofi Adu-Brempong and his family, and as the past few months have shown, the university administration will yield to the will of the people.

#GainesvilleFL #StudentMovement #PoliceBrutality #KofiAduBrempong

Gainesville, FL – Students and community members joined a third rally, April 20, demanding justice for Kofi Adu-Brempong, the African student shot in the face by university police. Over 120 people showed up at the protest, which started in the Plaza of Americas, on the University of Florida campus, and ended at the State Attorney’s office. This took place after several meetings between the Coalition for Justice Against Police Brutality and the University of Florida administration – including the chief of the university police department, Linda Stump and the president, Bernie Machen.

Despite a 50/50 chance of rain, the protest kicked off with a few speakers from Students for a Democratic Society and Michael Leslie, a black professor at the University of Florida. From there, the protesters marched off of campus and into the streets, taking a lane of traffic while chanting, “Whose streets? Our streets!” Marching to downtown Gainesville, the protesters chanted outside the state attorney’s office and shortly afterwards occupied it. The plan was to present a list of demands to Bill Cervone, the state attorney. However, Cervone had left town earlier.

During the occupation, the angry crowd used megaphones and shouted to bring a representative of the attorney’s office out of the back rooms to answer questions. The dialogue ended with a future meeting with him. Afterwards, the Coalition went outside and continued the protest. Gainesville police, who were waiting outside, sat on the sidelines while protesters yelled, “No justice, no peace, no racist police!” The day ended with several speakers and media interviews. The Coalition’s purpose for the rally was to present Cervone with the promise that if he does not side with the demands of the community then he will not keep his job as state attorney for long.

The Coalition will still continue to fight on behalf of Kofi and against police brutality.

#GainesvilleFL #StudentMovement #OppressedNationalities #PoliceBrutality #RacismInTheCriminalJusticeSystem #KofiAduBrempong

Gainesville, FL – The video of the March 2 shooting of Kofi Adu-Brempong has finally been released to the public. Students of the University of Florida and members of the community have been outraged about the shooting and have held demonstrations demanding justice for Adu-Brempong.

Justin Wooten, a member of Students for a Democratic Society and organizer for the coalition fighting for Kofi, said, “This is a big deal for us. This video shows just how outrageous the police response was. This video shows what happens when you hire racist thugs who want to play cowboy.”

#GainesvilleFL #StudentMovement #PoliceBrutality #RacismInTheCriminalJusticeSystem #KofiAduBrempong

Gainesville, FL – 250 people rallied here, April 6, to support Kofi Adu-Brempong, the University of Florida student who was shot in the face by police. This rally follows two meetings with the University of Florida administration as well as the chief of the University Police Department. Both meetings proved to be a stalling tactic against both the Coalition for Justice Against Police Brutality and Students for a Democratic Society. During the rally, the anger at administration's stalling was expressed many times.

The protest began with a rally in Turlington Plaza with speakers including Kofi Adu-Brempong’s niece, leaders of Students for a Democratic Society, a law professor and community members. From there the angry protesters marched to the administrative building at Tigert Hall. A second rally heard speakers from the United Faculty of Florida and a co-president of the Graduate Assistants United. The students talked to a spokesperson for the administration and presented him with a list of demands. After a few minutes, the anger at the administration's stalling caused the crowd to occupy the building. The occupation finally ended after a future meeting was set between the Coalition for Justice Against Police Brutality and the University of Florida President, Bernie Machen.

Next the people marched in the streets to the university police department, chanting “No justice, no peace, no racist police!” and carrying signs that said “Justice for Kofi!” Then over 100 people signed complaint forms against the police.

The day ended with a rally where people chanted, “Campus cops it's not your place, to shoot a student in the face,” and “Same thing every time, being black is not a crime.” More than one speaker pointed out how Keith Smith, the officer who shot Adu-Brempong, was involved with throwing eggs and harassing Black people in the local community in the recent past. The rally ended that afternoon with the coalition vowing to keep pressuring the University of Florida administration and talk of going after the district attorney.

#GainesvilleFL #StudentMovement #PoliceBrutality #RacismInTheCriminalJusticeSystem #KofiAduBrempong

Gainesville, FL – 250 people rallied here, April 6, to support Kofi Adu-Brempong, the University of Florida student who was shot in the face by police. This rally follows two meetings with the University of Florida administration as well as the chief of the University Police Department. Both meetings proved to be a stalling tactic against both the Coalition for Justice Against Police Brutality and Students for a Democratic Society. During the rally, the anger at administration's stalling was expressed many times.

The protest began with a rally in Turlington Plaza with speakers including Kofi Adu-Brempong’s niece, leaders of Students for a Democratic Society, a law professor and community members. From there the angry protesters marched to the administrative building at Tigert Hall. A second rally heard speakers from the United Faculty of Florida and a co-president of the Graduate Assistants United. The students talked to a spokesperson for the administration and presented him with a list of demands. After a few minutes, the anger at the administration's stalling caused the crowd to occupy the building. The occupation finally ended after a future meeting was set between the Coalition for Justice Against Police Brutality and the University of Florida President, Bernie Machen.

Next the people marched in the streets to the university police department, chanting “No justice, no peace, no racist police!” and carrying signs that said “Justice for Kofi!” Then over 100 people signed complaint forms against the police.

The day ended with a rally where people chanted, “Campus cops it's not your place, to shoot a student in the face,” and “Same thing every time, being black is not a crime.” More than one speaker pointed out how Keith Smith, the officer who shot Adu-Brempong, was involved with throwing eggs and harassing Black people in the local community in the recent past. The rally ended that afternoon with the coalition vowing to keep pressuring the University of Florida administration and talk of going after the district attorney.

#GainesvilleFL #StudentMovement #PoliceBrutality #RacismInTheCriminalJusticeSystem #KofiAduBrempong

Gainesville, FL – Over 400 angry protesters – a coalition of students, local residents and university professors – rallied and marched to protest the racist police shooting of Kofi Adu-Brempong.

Adu-Brempong is an international graduate student from Ghana who was shot in the face by a University of Florida policeman. After receiving a call from a neighbor concerned that Adu-Brempong was screaming, due to stress over his studies and his immigration status, campus police stormed his apartment, tased him three times and then shot him in the face with an assault rifle.

Adu-Brempong is hospitalized in critical condition, having lost his tongue and jaw. Incredibly, the police action took less than 30 seconds. Having suffered a case of childhood polio, Adu-Brempong was unable to walk without a cane. To add to the outrage, the University of Florida police charged him with a felony for ‘resisting arrest with violence.’

Gainesville Area Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) led the campus action. Beginning with a rally and speakers at Turlington Plaza, the mass of protesters marched through campus to the Board of Trustees in the Emerson Hall Alumni Building. The Board of Trustees governs the entire university. Since the building was closed to the public, the protesters pulled the doors open, pushed past security and took over the building.

They presented the board with a list of demands, including dropping all charges against Kofi Adu-Brempong. The other important demand is the firing of Keith Smith, the officer who shot Kofi in the face. In 2008, Keith Smith was given a verbal warning by the Gainesville city police department where he previously worked. Smith and three other police officers were throwing eggs and harassing African Americans in the local community. The university police ignored this warning and hired Keith Smith.

As the students settled in, waiting to see how the Board of Trustees would respond, tension rose inside the boardroom. After a half hour, a trustee came out to speak to the protesters. Following his lead, the students proceeded to give speeches about stopping police brutality and continuing the fight for Adu-Brempong. An hour later, the protesters decided the demands of the coalition were clearly received by the board and left the building.

Then the protesters marched to the Tigert Hall Administration Building for another rally, targeting University President Bernie Machen. Unfortunately President Machen was “out of town.” The students chanted, “Justice for Kofi!” and “No justice, no peace! No racist police!”

Fernando Figueroa, of Gainesville SDS spoke: “We will not let up until we gain justice for Kofi. We are taking a stand against police brutality and racism on our campus and throughout the country.” Figueroa continued, “It is astounding to see so few reporters covering the point blank shooting of an African man in the face here. This is the same campus where you could not walk ten feet without bumping into a reporter or TV crew following a white student’s famous ‘Don’t tase me bro!’ incident.”

Late in the afternoon, the student protesters attended a student government meeting to demand a resolution calling for a grand jury investigation of the racist cop. With some persuasion, the resolution passed. With protests heating up in Gainesville, the Coalition for Justice Against Police Brutality vows to continue the fight for Kofi Adu-Brempong.

#GainesvilleFL #StudentsForADemocraticSociety #PoliceBrutality #KofiAduBrempong #KeithSmith