Tampa, FL – On Friday, April 25, collective bargaining began between designated representatives on behalf of the University of South Florida (USF) Board of Trustees and representatives of Graduate Assistants United (GAU). About 20 supporters were present in the audience, including members of GAU, United Faculty of Florida, and Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society.

The session focused on the first three articles of the 2022-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement, which consists of 24 articles. Most discussion was centered around Article 2, where GAU had proposed protections for graduate assistants, specifically regarding appointments, terminations, progressive discipline and ensuring timely submission of paperwork. This proposal arises from past issues where graduate assistants were terminated without explanation and faced delays in payment due to paperwork not being submitted on time.

GAU is the exclusive bargaining agent for graduate assistants, providing benefits and protections to graduate assistants through a contract negotiated publicly by GAU and the USF Board of Trustees. In the past, USF GAU has earned safeguards and guarantees such as minimum stipend increases, cost-of-living raises, subsidized healthcare and grievance protections for its members.

Tessa Barber, USF GAU president and member of the GAU bargaining team said that bargaining, “gives us a level playing field to improve our working conditions, to try and improve our stipends, and make a fair and livable wage. It means that we don't have to just take what's given, that we can fight and we can earn something better.”

Barber continued, “Especially in times that are so volatile, as things are now, like in the political and legislative climate, bargaining means that we can do our best to protect those that come after us, even if the laws change and the conditions change, because the contract still stands.”

GAU hopes to improve the living and working conditions of graduate assistants, and gain more tangible protections for graduate assistants, especially those of vulnerable communities, such as the LGBTQ and international students. They also demand an increase in stipend and protections around free speech from the university.

The next bargaining session will be on May 16 at 1 p.m., where representatives of the USF Board of Trustees will be countering some of the proposals made by GAU.

#TampaFL #FL #Labor #GAU #USF #Contract #SDS

Tampa, FL - On Saturday, July 27, the pro-Palestinian community of Tampa held a rally on 56th and Fowler. Around 50 members of the community were present, including the organizations Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), Tampa Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (TAARPR) and Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO).

The Palestinian community of Tampa has been vocal in their demands for the University of South Florida to disclose their investments and pull any funding that supports Israel in their ongoing attacks on Gaza.

The demands for USF to drop their suspension and expulsions against students Victoria Hinckley and Joseph Charry was also voiced at this protest as the university continues to issue conduct charges hold hearings months after the Gaza encampments.

In addition to conduct charges, USF recently proposed new, more restrictive policies surrounding protest and free speech on campus.

Victoria Hinckley, a member of SDS who was expelled after the encampment said that USF is , “banning statements being read by people who have been banned from campus, banning the use of fliers on campus, and limiting just about every function of student organizations.”

The rally included a march around the block near USF campus, halting traffic and chanting for divestment, a free Palestine, and directing calling out USF faculty members, “Dean McDonald shame on you, student voices matter too!”

McDonald is dean of students at USF and was a major witness to multiple student conduct charges as she was present on all three days of the solidarity encampments.

Simon Rowe, a member of FRSO, also called out faculty members Melissa Graham, dean of student conduct, and President Rhea Law. Rose asked the protesters, “Are you on the side of Melissa Graham, who prosecuted students for the crime of putting up pro-Palestine fliers on campus because one Zionist complained, or Rhea Law, who calls protests violent to justify police brutality and tear gassing?”

The crowd would shout back “No” in response, a sentiment that carried on through the event as people marched with the demands of divestment, conduct charges being dropped, and support for the Palestinian people.

#TampaFL #TampaBaySDS #SDS #StudentIntifada #USF #FRSO #TAARPR

Tampa, FL – On Wednesday, April 30, University of South Florida students and community members embarked on their second day of setting up a solidarity encampment for Gaza at the Martin Luther King Plaza. Their demands are to disclose the university's investments in companies that fund and prop up Israel, divest from them, publicly condemn the genocide happening in Gaza and express support for Palestinian students, and stop all attacks on pro-Palestine student protesters.

Protesters held a rally at 2 p.m. to call for charges to be dropped on the three people arrested on Tuesday, day one of the encampment, which also served as a Nakba Remembrance Day event.

On day one, students had set up two tents before police attacked the protesters and forced students to retreat. At 4:30 p.m., the USF Police Department announced a 5 p.m. curfew in a move which a Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society statement called “arbitrary.” Police were already at the scene and surrounding the protesters. They then brutalized demonstrators, including pressing them face-down to the ground with a knee on their necks and on their backs.

Later that night, USF sent an email to members of Tampa Bay SDS that they would be considered trespassing if they carried forward with the protest. Despite these threats, students persevered and moved forward with the event.

On day 2, students began an encampment at MLK Plaza once again, starting in the morning. The crowd swelled at 2 p.m. for a rally to call for the charges on Simon Rowe and the others arrested to be dropped.

Students then linked arms and formed a human barricade around a cluster of students who began to build tents in solidarity with the people of Gaza. Within 30 minutes, the human chain grew from 30 students to over 80, fiercely chanting and shielding the tents from police.

Over 100 riot police poured in within a few hours, carrying shields and wearing gas masks. They were joined by over 50 cops from other agencies. Campus police, state troopers, federal agents, sheriff's office police, and more were all present.

Community members gathered around the student human chain and brought them umbrellas and homemade wooden shields in anticipation of rubber bullets and tear gas.

At 5 p.m., the university and police gave a final dispersal warning. Student organizers let the crowd know that they could leave if they wanted to, and if they wanted to stay, they had to be prepared for arrests. Despite knowing that the police would attack, students stayed in the human chain to defend six tents, while the other protesters stayed gathered around them in a show of support.

At 5 p.m., the riot cops attacked the protesters, shot rubber bullets into the crowd, sprayed the crowd with tear gas and set off flares. They ran over people with their bicycles. They ripped the yarmulke off a Jewish protester's head. Administrators' voices rang overhead as they announced that they would use “chemical munitions” and that the police would use “force that could result in injury” as tear gas covered the lawn.

The tear gas canisters fired off by police then set the MLK Plaza on fire.

Ten people in total were arrested, including a photographer journalist. One protester needed to be hospitalized.

According to SDS member Joseph Charry, “Police used illegal tactics like choking people, attacking people with disabilities, arresting people who were already dispersing, and they even set off fires, endangering students.”

Despite the police terror, students and members of the community were not deterred. Statements of support and money to help with bail flooded in. People stayed late into the night at Orient Road Jail to demand the release of all protesters.

Organizers called for protests and a continued effort to build a solidarity encampment for the very next day.

By the next afternoon, all ten protesters were released.

Saba Indawala of Tampa Bay SDS said, “The student intifada and the people out there who support Palestine demand the university quit being complicit in the genocide and divest from Israel. SDS demands that USF divest now and disclose all information about investiture to the student body. We’re demanding that USF release a statement in support of Palestinian and Arab students, and lastly, stop all attacks on the student movement, especially the one for Palestine. Students and the community have been so brave against the university and administration. We need to continue to be resilient and to fight for our demands.”

#TampaFL #TampaBaySDS #SDS #USF #FreePalestine

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement from Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society (SDS).

On Monday, April 29, Tampa Bay SDS held an event at the University of South Florida (USF) to remember the Nakba which was met with admin and campus police trying to shut down the protest in an attempt to limit our free speech. At the conclusion of this protest, Tampa Bay SDS announced our immediate plan to set up a Gaza solidarity encampment at USF. Upon setting up our initial tents and tarps USF admin sent in USFPD to brutalize students and arrest protestors. We absolutely condemn the three arrests made by USFPD. Those arrested were Simon Rowe, who is a USF alumni and community member, one fellow student, and one USF staff member.

We condemn the actions of USF admin and Dean McDonald in their efforts to suppress our right to free speech and our right to protest. We received repeated threats of trespass and arrests for our Nakba Remembrance protest as well as continued threats from admin as we asserted our right to protest. Admin trying to silence our protests and encampments only show that they are scared of student power and continue to support the genocide of Palestinians. Shame on Dean McDonald and all of USF admin for this blatant attack on free speech and shame on them for calling in cops to brutalize students!

We condemn USFPD for exerting brutal force against student protestors and arresting 3 of them. Using brutal force against students including kneeling on a student’s neck is nothing short of deadly. This is part of a recurring pattern as we’ve seen the same USFPD officers that incited deadly violence on students on March 6 of 2024 to what we were put through today with the same deadly force in response to a student protest. Shame on USFPD for using deadly force on students!

We call on all students and faculty to show out for the encampment Tuesday April 30, at 10 am at MLK Plaza.

All faculty out to protect students!

Disclose! Divest! We will not stop we will not rest!

#TampaFL #FL #StudentMovement #SDS #AntiWarMovement #International #MiddleEast #Palestine #USF #Statement #TampaBaySDS #Occupy4Gaza

Tampa, FL – On May 14, Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) held a car protest at the University of South Florida (USF) to demand COVID-19 relief funds for undocumented students. USF has offered no financial help for undocumented students during the pandemic and the only COVID-19 aid for students is the CARES Act Fund, for which DACA and undocumented students are ineligible.

Students and SDS members parked near the USF president’s mansion on campus for socially-distanced speeches and chants demanding that USF provide relief for undocumented students. Simon Rowe, a member of SDS stated, “DACA students are more at risk for losing housing or income compared to other students. USF needs to account for the increased risk and lack of federal aid by providing aid to undocumented students using their own funds.” After the speeches were finished, the protest formed a car caravan where students drove near the mansion while honking to further their demand.

This is Tampa Bay SDS’s second action demanding COVID-19 aid for undocumented students, and SDS will continue to make these demands until USF provides funds specifically for undocumented and DACA students.

#TampaFL #ImmigrantRights #StudentsForADemocraticSociety #SDS #ImmigrantsRights #PeoplesStruggles #Florida #USF #TampaBay

Tampa, FL – On February 28, the Tampa Bay chapter of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) held a Black Lives Matter rally at the University of South Florida for the seventh anniversary of Trayvon Martin’s death. In 2012, Trayvon Martin, 17, was shot and killed by George Zimmerman in Sanford, Florida, after returning from a nearby gas station. The trial of Zimmerman became a national phenomenon with him walking free due to Florida’s ‘stand your ground’ law. The shooting is still fresh on Florida’s mind, with many questioning the judicial system that let a man off with murder.

The protest was aimed at the judicial system, the police, and the university’s administration, which is not unfamiliar with political scandal. Just last week, the USF administration came under fire for allowing the white supremacist Patriot Front to post flyers around campus and refused to condemn the group’s presence.

The protest saw many students from all backgrounds attend and stand against racism. The roar of the chants condemning the racist system resonated across campus.

“It’s important to hold these rallies so we don’t allow ourselves and our community to forget the vast corruption in our judicial system. You find that many students have not forgotten about it and are outraged at how this country politically functions,” said Tampa Bay SDS member Mia Montano.

The Tampa Bay SDS chapter continues to fight against racist policies and procedures that they face on their campus. This rally was one of many that SDS nationally put on to speak out against racism on campuses all over the country.

#TampaFL #InJusticeSystem #OppressedNationalities #StudentsForADemocraticSociety #SDS #PeoplesStruggles #AfricanAmerican #RacismInTheCriminalJusticeSystem #UniversityOfSouthFlorida #TrayvonMartin #USF

Tampa, FL – The Tampa Bay chapter of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) held a series of protests and a sit-in at the University of South Florida’s (USF) main student center on February 12, to pressure the administration to increase protections for immigrant and international students. These protests were a continuation of Tampa Bay SDS’s main campaign called, “Immigrants are Here to Stay” in which they demand noncompliance with federal agencies such as ICE, FBI, DHS so that those agencies cannot receive the personal information of documented and undocumented students on campus.

Students held a series of protests inside and outside of the Marshall Student Center (MSC) – starting around 9 a.m., with a group of SDS members protesting outside of the MSC while other members of the crowd went inside to announce their demands in a Board of Trustees meeting.

“In the time of the Trump administration, immigrants are under attack like never before. This means USF has an obligation to its immigrant students to stand against the Trump administration’s attacks and end compliance with these federal agencies on our campus,” declared SDS member Elizabeth Kramer.

While in the Board of Trustees meeting, the students were forcefully detained by on-campus police, resulting in one student being gripped and shoved into a trashcan by an officer. The students were then banned from the MSC for several days.

Students continued to march and chant inside of the MSC until they were threatened by police and USF administration, resulting in a sit-in on the first floor of the MSC. Chants continued intermittently and included, “Up, up with education; down, down with deportation,” and “No justice, no peace! No ICE or police!”

“Today showed us the lengths that USF administration is willing to go in order to ignore and suppress the voice of SDS on campus. They showed us how much they want to resist more progressive policies that would better protect undocumented students,” said SDS member Tajj Mainor.

Tampa Bay SDS did not obtain a meeting with the president or higher-level officials of the university, but will continue to wage their “Immigrants are Here to Stay” campaign to defend immigrant students on campus, while the university continues to side with the Trump administration.

#TampaFL #ImmigrantRights #PeoplesStruggles #TampaSDS #USF

Tampa, FL – On October 4, over 20 students protested at the University of South Florida against the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh for a seat on the U.S. Supreme Court. Students denounced the Trump administration for the mishandling of the accusations against Kavanaugh, their rushed FBI investigation, and Trump’s mocking and blatant disrespect for Christine Blasey Ford, one of the survivors. Protesters were also disgusted by the blatant rape apologism demonstrated by prominent Senate Republicans, such as Lindsey Graham.

Students held signs that read, “#IBelieveHer,” “Me Too” and “Stand with survivors” to link this event to the movement against sexual violence and the fight to hold rich, powerful men like Kavanaugh accountable for their crimes against women. They chanted, “Lock him up!” to show that he should be held accountable on charges of sexual assault on top of being denied a seat on the most powerful court in the U.S.

Kavanaugh’s appointment comes on the heels of Trump’s July interview with Fox News where he announced his intent to undermine Roe v. Wade and make abortion a “states’ issue,” or in other words, weaken federal protections for the right to a safe, legal abortion.

“If Kavanaugh is appointed, the Supreme Court will be the most conservative it’s been in in decades, and some justices have all but committed to try to dismantle Roe v. Wade,” declared SDS member Christine Lacy.

SDSers also connected this to other cases of sexual violence from campus life, where administrators covered the cases up or refused to take action. Pi Kappa Phi at USF was suspended in 2016 after they raped a 16-year-old girl who later sued the university. Despite a temporary suspension that year, that fraternity continues to operate at USF to this day.

“Sexual assault is not only a problem in the U.S. government, but also on our own campus,” said SDS member Taylor Cook.

“Every 98 seconds, an American – especially women – is sexually assaulted. How can we expect to live in this country with dignity when we can’t even trust the government to maintain our safety? This is wrong and will not be accepted from anyone!” said another SDS member.

“Kavanaugh certainly isn’t the only heinous example of sexual assault lauded in our society by those that rule it,” said SDS member, Liz Kramer. “In 2016 a taped message from Donald Trump, one of the primary sources of support for Kavanaugh, came out in which he claimed he could do whatever he wanted to women and that all you have to do is ‘grab her by the p*****.’ SDS firmly opposes this economically and sexually exploitative system that allows women to be paid less than men, allows one in four women to be sexually assaulted, and props up sexist men to make laws that govern our bodies!”

#TampaFL #StudentMovement #InJusticeSystem #SDS #US #PeoplesStruggles #USF #DonaldTrump #Kavanaugh

Tampa, FL – On Sept. 26 over fifty students and faculty gathered to protest racist, sexist, LGBT hate mongering journalist Milo Yiannopoulos. The protest rallied in front of the Marshall Student Center at the University of South Florida (USF) where Milo was speaking.

Milo Yiannopoulos is a self-described “alt-right” journalist and known supporter of Donald Trump. His career is based on hate speech towards people of color, women, and LGBTQIA+ people.

Noah Peretz of Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) said, “Allowing Milo to speak on our campus shows administrators do not care about the wellbeing and happiness of students. Instead, their loyalty lies with right-wing bigots”.

“Students standing up against Milo represent the fact, that he is not someone that we, the students, want to associate ourselves with. He is someone who does not represent the views of the majority of the students that attend USF”, said audience member Yoana Dominguez.

Though disturbing, Milo Yiannopoulos’ presence on campus was not surprising to many, as USF administrations have historically ignored the demands of progressive students on campus. Over the last year, Tampa Bay SDS has waged a “Change the Name” campaign targeting the C.W. Bill Young Building.

Young was a Republican politician and LGBT hating politician who persecuted LGBTQIA+ and communists in a “pink and red scare” of the McCarthyist era targeting students and faculty across the Florida University system. The USF administration continues a policy of LGBT-phobia on campus by rejecting the demand to Change the Name, and also by allowing the hate-monger, Milo Yiannopoulos, to speak on campus.

The event ended with students chanting, “Administration welcomes hate; racist Milo out of our state” and “M-I-L-O! G-T-F-O!” A large number of students expressed their support for SDS and their desire to commit themselves to the fight for LGBT rights and equality on campus.

#TampaFl #StudentsForADemocraticSociety #SDS #PeoplesStruggles #USF #MiloYiannopoulos

Tampa, FL – Over a dozen students from Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) held signs and chanted on March 22 to mark the 13th anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq. In 2003, the U.S. launched an illegal invasion of Iraq in order to destabilize the region and secure its own interests. Meanwhile, the people of Iraq continue to suffer from U.S. intervention. Since 1991, the U.S. has been responsible for the death of an estimated 1 million Iraqis due to sanctions and invasions.

Students stood at the corner of a busy intersection at the University of South Florida (USF) holding signs and chanting “Out of Palestine! Out of Iraq! What do we do? Stand up, fight back!”

Police tried to stop SDS from chanting but the students stood firmly and continued, “No, no, blood for oil. U.S. off Arab soil!”

“It's important that we remember this anniversary in light of recent revelations of the U.S. military presence in Iraq. U.S. imperialism is always on the move and if we want to stop it we should stay constantly vigilant,” said Gage Lacharite.

In addition, SDS is currently working on a campaign to #ChangeTheName of the CW Bill Young building on campus. Young served on the Johns Committee in the 1960s that persecuted LGBTQIA+ teachers, faculty, students and staff throughout the Florida public university system.

Lacharite stated, “Just as Young’s legacy generates a climate of hate on campus, the U.S. military has a history of cultivating sexism, racism and homophobia among its ranks. Young was an avid supporter of the U.S. military. The USF administration has used this as reasoning for continuing to honor the hateful legacy of Bill Young.”

SDS ended the rally by dedicating themselves to end the presence of Bill Young’s homophobic and militaristic legacy on campus.

#TampaFl #AntiwarMovement #StudentsForADemocraticSociety #SDS #PeoplesStruggles #Iraq #UniversityOfSouthFlorida #USF

Tampa, FL – Over a dozen students at the University of South Florida (USF) gathered outside of Russell M. Cooper Hall on campus, March 30, to condemn recent interventions by the U.S. in Venezuela, Iraq, Syria and Ukraine. The students made speeches and chanted, attracting other students to listen.

James Kramer of Tampa Students for a Democratic Society explained, “Cloaked in the rhetoric of ‘human rights, democracy and freedom,’ the U.S. ruling class supports invasion and the installation of dictators into countries where they have no influence, but vast interests. These intervention efforts by the U.S. cannot be recognized as anything other than criminal.”

“When the U.S. and the rich of Latin America unite to overthrow progressive governments and worker and student organizations in these countries, poverty and disaster are the effects! We must remember that this is another example of the clear determination that the U.S. has to rule over other countries,” said Marisol Marquez of Raíces en Tampa, an immigrant rights group.

George Nassar of the Committee to Stop FBI Repression said, “It's important that we're gathered here today. Were we not here, these criminal threats would go unchecked. If we don't do this, no one will stop the U.S. bombings, sanctions and coups that have claimed hundreds of thousands of lives in the last decade.”

Tampa Students for a Democratic Society stands against U.S. intervention of any sort. SDS pledges to continue to fight for the repeal of the University of South Florida memorandums of understanding with USCENTCOM and USSOUTHCOM military commands.

#TampaFL #Venezuela #SDS #PeoplesStruggles #Iraq #Syria #Ukraine #UniversityOfSouthFlorida #Florida #USF #AntiWar

Gainesville, FL – Two dozen students gathered in Gainesville, July 19, at a Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) day school. Students from the University of Florida, Florida State University, the University of South Florida, and for the first time in SDS’s history, from the University of North Florida in Jacksonville attended. Months of planning the day school on SDS National Working Committee phone calls paid off nicely.

The purpose of the day school was two fold. First, the students honed their skills by attending workshops on a variety of topics central to organizing. Students learned how to make a flyer, how to host protests and demos and how to recruit new students to SDS. Second, the students geared themselves up for a new semester at their respective universities this fall by sharpening their political ideas and campaign plans.

The workshops also included learning how to do outreach and agitation among students to build for campaigns, and what the difference was between working in coalitions and broader united front work. The day school ended with dinner and a social that night.

SDSers went home fired up to build the student movement and fight back against injustice on their campuses and in the community this fall. Morale was high; especially after Florida SDS chapters worked together this past spring to win a campaign for undocumented students to receive in-state tuition rates while attending college – the Tuition Equity campaign. Organizers plan to build on this and other successes.

Tampa Bay SDS organizer Jessica Schwartz said, “All the Florida chapters share similar concerns over transferal of leadership to younger organizers. The purpose of this is to help empower them to take leadership in SDS.”

Jacksonville SDS Organizer C.O. Scanlan said, “For someone just beginning his active involvement in an organization, the day school was incredibly encouraging. It put in clear, concrete terms the steps I need to take in providing the student struggle with another point of focus.”

Tallahassee SDS Organizer Zachary Schultz said, “The day school was an excellent opportunity to share our experiences organizing, and build unity around the methods which will lead the next generation of student activists to victory: militancy and organization.”

The main on- the-ground organizer of the day school, Michela Martinazzi from Gainesville SDS, said, “As many of the veteran SDSers graduate and move on to other struggles, it’s important that that newer organizers keep the same militant line and methods of organizing. I think today proved that all generations of SDS are organizing on the same page.”

To contact National SDS to talk about how to host a student organizer training or start an SDS chapter by visiting http://www.newsds.org/contact.

#GainesvilleFL #StudentsForADemocraticSociety #SDS #UniversityOfSouthFlorida #FloridaStateUniversity #USF #UF #UniversityOfFlorid #FSU #Activism

Tampa, FL – Activists from the Tampa Bay area organized a protest on June 27 in response to a U.S. intervention in Iraq. It was an emergency action in response to President Obama’s sending military advisors to Iraq, and the flying of U.S. drones over Baghdad.

Speakers addressed an array of issues, from President Obama’s continuation of U.S. wars,to the oppression of nations by imperialism, as well as anti-war activists facing political repression by the FBI—for speaking out against US wars.

“The US has no interest in the wellbeing of the Iraqi people, and the millions of dead Iraqis from the past 94 years of US and British domination are a testament to that,” said Gage Lacharite from Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society.

Jesse Nevel of the Uhuru Solidarity Movement facilitated the rally and stated, “Up with Iraqi liberation. Down with war and occupation” and described the US government’s foreign policy as “parasitic”, connecting current US imperialism to the history of enslaving and murdering African people.

Jessica Schwartz from Stop FBI – Tampa Bay talked about the U.S. government persecution of Arab Americans and Muslims for their political activity, as well as the Antiwar 23 who were raided by the FBI in 2010. “People fighting against the system and opposing U.S. wars, occupations, and military interventions like the one in Iraq are attacked by the US government, which prides itself on so-called ‘freedom of speech’”.

Marisol Marquez from Raices en Tampa linked the US meddling in the Middle East with the history of oppression in the US. “With its history of seizing Mexican land, committing genocide against Native Americans and enslaving Africans, how can this country possibly know what another country needs? Invading another country was not okay back then, and it sure as hell is not okay now.”

Jared Hamil from the Freedom Road Socialist Organization explained about the current situation in Iraq: “Sometimes there are many forces and groups at play. It can be confusing. And we ask ourselves where do we stand. We must always stand on the side of the people, not with those who attempt to build the US Empire. History shows that those two are never on the same side. We must stand with those who oppose imperialism, with those who fight imperialism”.

Organizations included in the protest were St. Pete for Peace, Freedom Road Socialist Organization, the Uhuru Solidarity Movement, Stop FBI Repression – Tampa Bay, Raices en Tampa, Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society, and Tampa Dream Defenders.

#TampaFL #AntiwarMovement #Obama #StudentsForADemocraticSociety #SDS #Iraq #Imperialism #Bush #DreamDefenders #Intervention #RaicesEnTampa #USF #War #2001 #ISIS #MiddleEast

Jared Hamil of the Committee to Stop FBI Repression in Tampa Bay said, “It is great news and people are saying this should have happened years ago. The government never had a case. It was just political repression and the stifling of free speech. It is big news here in Tampa.”

Professor Al-Arian is a Palestinian American civil rights and Palestine solidarity activist arrested and put on trial for aiding the Palestinian resistance organization Islamic Jihad in 2003. At the time of his arrest U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft held a press conference announcing the professors arrest to the nation. In the U.S. war on terror, Sami Al-Arian was the big test case.

The U.S. government spent more than ten years spying on Al-Arian and intercepting more than 400,000 phone calls. However the U.S. prosecutors could not get a guilty verdict from jurors on any of the 17 charges.

After spending two years in jail while on trial and faced with another trial and more years away from his family, Al-Arian made a plea deal, agreeing to leave the country and going into political exile. Then things turned ugly and the U.S. prosecutors tried to use their power to punish Al-Arian. Instead of letting professor Al-Arian serve time and leave the country as agreed in negotiations, U.S. prosecutors demanded Al-Arian testify at a federal grand jury in Virginia, which he refused to do based on his agreement with the government. He then was charged with contempt and jailed. Since 2008 he has lived under house arrest.

Hatem Abudayyeh, one of the Antiwar 23 with the Committee to Stop FBI Repression said, “We are extremely pleased that this chapter in the repression of Professor Al-Arian and his family is over. What the U.S. government did to him is a travesty. Palestinians, Arab Americans, and Muslims in this country have been the target of political repression since the 911 attacks. My friends and myself are still part of an unending investigation by Assistant U.S. Attorney Barry Jonas here in Chicago. Just like Al-Arian’s case, there is no crime or wrongdoing and we demand Jonas end the assault on us as well.”

In a related case, the U.S. government is putting a 67-year-old Palestinian woman and survivor of torture on trial in Detroit, September 8. Arab American women’s leader Rasmea Odeh is was physically tortured and sexually assaulted by Israeli military personnel and then convicted and imprisoned in 1969. The U.S. prosecutors are claiming she lied on a 20-year-old immigration application by not detailing her torture and imprisonment by the Israeli occupation. Anti-war activists across the country see this as further political repression by Justice Department officials and are planning a large rally and to pack the Detroit courtroom with supporters.

#TampaFl #TampaFL #DrSamiAlArian #PoliticalPrisoners #Racism #politicalRepression #UniversityOfSouthFlorida #InjusticeSystem #Florida #SamiAlArian #USF #Politics #Professor

Jared Hamil of the Committee to Stop FBI Repression in Tampa Bay said, “It is great news and people are saying this should have happened years ago. The government never had a case. It was just political repression and the stifling of free speech. It is big news here in Tampa.”

Professor Al-Arian is a Palestinian American civil rights and Palestine solidarity activist arrested and put on trial for aiding the Palestinian resistance organization Islamic Jihad in 2003. At the time of his arrest U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft held a press conference announcing the professors arrest to the nation. In the U.S. war on terror, Sami Al-Arian was the big test case.

The U.S. government spent more than ten years spying on Al-Arian and intercepting more than 400,000 phone calls. However the U.S. prosecutors could not get a guilty verdict from jurors on any of the 17 charges.

After spending two years in jail while on trial and faced with another trial and more years away from his family, Al-Arian made a plea deal, agreeing to leave the country and going into political exile. Then things turned ugly and the U.S. prosecutors tried to use their power to punish Al-Arian. Instead of letting professor Al-Arian serve time and leave the country as agreed in negotiations, U.S. prosecutors demanded Al-Arian testify at a federal grand jury in Virginia, which he refused to do based on his agreement with the government. He then was charged with contempt and jailed. Since 2008 he has lived under house arrest.

Hatem Abudayyeh, one of the Antiwar 23 with the Committee to Stop FBI Repression said, “We are extremely pleased that this chapter in the repression of Professor Al-Arian and his family is over. What the U.S. government did to him is a travesty. Palestinians, Arab Americans, and Muslims in this country have been the target of political repression since the 911 attacks. My friends and myself are still part of an unending investigation by Assistant U.S. Attorney Barry Jonas here in Chicago. Just like Al-Arian’s case, there is no crime or wrongdoing and we demand Jonas end the assault on us as well.”

In a related case, the U.S. government is putting a 67-year-old Palestinian woman and survivor of torture on trial in Detroit, September 8. Arab American women’s leader Rasmea Odeh is was physically tortured and sexually assaulted by Israeli military personnel and then convicted and imprisoned in 1969. The U.S. prosecutors are claiming she lied on a 20-year-old immigration application by not detailing her torture and imprisonment by the Israeli occupation. Anti-war activists across the country see this as further political repression by Justice Department officials and are planning a large rally and to pack the Detroit courtroom with supporters.

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