ORLANDO, Fla. (WFLA) — Eight people were arrested during a heated confrontation with police following a pro-Palestine rally on Saturday in Orlando, the Orlando Police Department said.
In a video posted to X, formerly known as Twitter, the police department said the demonstration concluded at about 5:15 p.m., after which some demonstrators migrated to a nearby Publix.
Police said they were called to the Publix at about 5:30 p.m., where they found demonstrators arguing with someone with “opposing views.”
In the video, an officer on a bicycle can be seen forcefully pushing a female demonstrator to the ground during an attempt to “keep the parties separate and prevent a physical altercation.” The woman appears to hit her head hard into a nearby tree, at which point other demonstrators rush toward her and the officer.
“The following Body Worn Camera footage shows the level of agitation of the demonstrators and their willingness to physically attack officers while in the process of making arrests and keeping the peace,” the Orlando Police Department wrote.