Pair charged with defacing security bollards outside old Capitol with 'Save Gaza' message

Two people accused of defacing public property at the State Capitol Complex during a protest over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict were charged this week, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

A 23-year-old of Dothan, Alabama, and a 20-year-old of Tallahassee were each charged with one count of misdemeanor criminal mischief. (The USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida does not name those charged with minor crimes except in rare instances.)

On Saturday, March 2, days before the end of the annual legislative session, they "wrote 'Save Gaza' in red paint on the bollards" facing the intersection of Monroe Street and Apalachee Parkway in front of the old Capitol, FDLE said.

Bollards are the short, sturdy posts used to create a protective perimeter; the message was created by painting one letter per bollard. The message was cleaned off by the next day.

Both defendants have bonded out of jail and have arraignment dates set in late April and early May, respectively, Leon County court records show.