TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — The Florida chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) will speak in Tampa Thursday to denounce the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and University of South Florida Police Department for tear-gassing protesters at an on-campus demonstration on Tuesday.
CAIR aims to rally the community against what the organization called the “brutal” arrests of ten people. The arrestees included both students and non-students .
Tear gas deployed on USF protesters; 10 arrested
On Tuesday, a large group of students gathered on campus to call on USF to divest from companies like weapons manufacturer Lockheed Martin, who they say supplies U.S.-made weapons to be used in Israel’s bombardment of the Gaza strip.
The “Free Palestine” protesters also called for a cease-fire between the Israeli military and Hamas and an end to the U.S. involvement in the conflict.
Police in riot gear fired tear gas canisters toward protesters after declaring the demonstration an “unlawful assembly.” Officers were also carrying guns that fire rubber bullets. USF police said the protesters’ umbrellas and plywood planks were considered potential weapons.