Protest

In secretive hearings, the University of Florida set aside recommendations to lightly punish some of the college students arrested after pro-Palestinian protests on campus and kicked them all out of school for three to four years.The decisions by the new dean of students, Chris Summerlin, overruled what were effectively sentencing recommendations by the juries, known as hearing bodies, who heard testimony and watched police video of the protests and arrests during the disciplinary cases.

Police have arrested nearly 2,200 people during pro-Palestinian protests at college campuses across the United States in recent weeks, sometimes using riot gear, tactical vehicles and flash-bang devices to clear tent encampments and occupied buildings. One officer accidentally discharged his gun inside a Columbia University administration building while clearing out protesters camped inside, authorities said.

Free speech advocates say new rules limiting demonstrations at the state capitol threaten the First Amendment rights of Floridians.

Florida Gulf Coast University students rally against proposed legislation they say are attempts to move Florida universities and colleges to the political right.

A couple dozen of protesters walked from the Veteran's Pavilion in the middle of the FGCU campus to Alico Arena Sunday afternoon to share their opposition to the rally in favor of Gov. Ron DeSantis.

About 200 people converged outside the old Lee County Courthouse in downtown Fort Myers to protest the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision earlier that morning, overturning the landmark Roe v. Wade decision. Until Friday’s ruling in the case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, Roe v. Wade had established the constitutional right to an abortion.

Activists and Demonstrators from Southwest Florida Return from Cuban Freedom Rally in Washington D.C.

Fueled by solidarity for the people of Cuba, approximately 1,000 people marched in Downtown Fort Myers Tuesday.

A 62-page lawsuit filed in federal court in Tallahassee on behalf of groups such as the Dream Defenders and the Florida State Conference of the NAACP contends that the law (HB 1), which DeSantis signed on April 19, will have a “chilling” effect on protected speech and violates equal-protection and due-process rights.

A single Republican, Sen. Jeff Brandes of St. Petersburg, crossed party lines and joining Democrats in voting against the bill.