USF student protesters detained at pro-Palestinian campus rally

Campus police at the University of South Florida in Tampa have detained multiple protesters during a pro-Palestinian demonstration that began shortly after noon Monday.

Officers took the action after protesters began to erect at least one tent near MLK Plaza in solidarity with students across the nation who are making demands related to Israel and its war against Hamas in Gaza.

Tents are allowed under certain conditions on campus, but university officials earlier warned the students in a written notice that they had not received the required permission in advance.

About 80 demonstrators were at the scene. A person wearing a jacket labeled “ACLU legal observer” was also present and recording the incident. The event was organized by the group Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

Divya Kumar covers higher education for the Tampa Bay Times, working in partnership with Open Campus.