On March 6, four protesters from the Tampa Bay chapter of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) were arrested on the University of South Florida Tampa campus, after protesting for increased Black enrollment numbers and against the proposed banning of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
The four, coined “The Tampa 4” by supporters, were charged by USF Police (USFPD) with violence against police officers and resisting arrest, but SDS claims the punishment was the result of police brutality.
At 1:30 p.m., 25 SDS members and supporters marched from the Martin Luther King Plaza to the Patel Center for Global Solutions, where much of the campus’ administration is housed.
The group demanded to speak with university President Rhea Law to discuss the low Black student enrollment and DEI initiatives.
According to a statement by USFPD, police officers requested for protestors to evacuate the premises because “the protest group’s loud chants were disrupting normal activities.”
“Despite the attempts of officers to peacefully deescalate the situation and escort the protestors out of the building, several of the individuals then became aggressive and initiated physical altercations with police,” the statement said.
“One officer was pushed to the ground and suffered minor injuries, while other officers were also shoved by protestors,” the statement said.
Although USFPD’s statement also notes that objects and an unidentified liquid were thrown at officers, there is no mention of this in arrest records obtained by The Crow’s Nest.
Gia Davilla, 21 and a senior at USF, was charged with trespassing in a structure or conveyance, battery of law enforcement officers, disruption of a school campus and resisting an officer without violence to his or her person.
Chrisley Carpio, 31 and a USF admissions employee, was charged with battery of law enforcement officers and resisting an officer without violence to his or her person.
Laura Rodriquez, 23 and a USF alumnus, was charged with battery of law enforcement officers, disruption of a school campus and resisting an officer without violence to his or her person.
Jeanie Williams, 26 and a community member, was charged with assault or battery of law enforcement officers, disruption of a school campus and resisting an officer without violence to his or her person.
According to both Carpio and Davilla, the pair were suspended from the university and all four have been banned from stepping foot on campus grounds.
While arrest records cite the protesters as the initiators of violence, SDS tells a different story.
Mika Williams, a USF student and SDS member, told The Crow’s Nest that the group’s protest was peaceful and did not interfere with campus activities.
“We went inside and there was literally nobody in that building except for a cleaning person and a receptionist at the front desk,” Mika Williams said. “They tried to say that we were disrupting student activities. When we marched through campus, it was during class period. There were honestly barely any students out there –– There were more USFPD.”
Once the group arrived at the Patel Center, a line of police cars was waiting for them, according to Mika Williams.
Holding posters and signs, the group chanted, “We want to speak to Rhea Law,” when the officers entered the building. The police officers headed to a fellow SDS member, Victoria Hinckley, and privately asked her to remove the group from the building, Mika Williams said.
“There was no official disperse order announced, there was no clear order that we all needed to leave the building immediately. He had only said it in the corner to Victoria,” Mika Williams said.
It was at this point where things escalated. According to Mika Williams, Chief of USFPD Chad Daniels, grabbed another member, Lauren Pineiro, by the arm and pulled her. Other protesters rushed in and grabbed Pineiro, attempting to remove the officer’s arm. The police officers then attempted to take control of the situation.
“It just turned into like the most brutal display of police brutality, I think I’ve seen on campus. The level of violence they used was absolutely unnecessary,” Mika Williams said.
Davilla was arrested during the exchange. At USFPD’s request, the group moved outside, where the three other arrests took place.
“I said, ‘if we go outside will you stop arresting people?’ and they said yes. We walked outside and as soon as we f**king did that, a couple of the cops gathered in a corner and started pointing at one of our friends,” Mika Williams said.
Carpio, Rodriquez and Jeanie Williams were then detained with what Mika Williams referred to as “unnecessary brutality.”
“They were putting their faces up against the brick wall. We have honestly like scratches, all of our bodies, bruises everywhere. They kicked Chrisley in the head, and they were using way too excessive force. Like three officers on top of small, tiny little women is absolutely unnecessary,” she said.
Following the arrests, the four were driven to Orient Road Jail. The national chapter of SDS paid for their bail later that night, but all four protesters now face felony charges.
Footage of the incident made rounds on social media, with a video of Patlov being pulled gaining nearly 3 million views on TikTok.
In response, SDS called for the immediate removal of charges against the four protesters, as well as the firing of Daniels.
“Chris Daniels was definitely in it for his own personal politics. I feel like he was applying a lot into the reactions. Because when he was screaming back at us, he was saying things like, ‘This is what you f**king deserve,’” Mika Williams said.
USFPD supports their original statement and will not comment further on the incident.
another jackboot violent response by untrained ex military ego inflated personel…..using violence on children………..
The students want it their way –they willnot abide to what the USF_PD informs them and they gett pushy–They ned to be arrested for inciting a disturbance
Clearly, the concept of ‘the right to peaceful free speech in a democratic society’ is not one you understand. Or maybe you prefer that the US becomes a state ruled by the police.
They’re mistake was entering the administration building and disrupting. They can peacefully protest outside all they want but they do not have the right to go inside the buildings and cause disruption.
No. Non-disruptive protests make not the slightest difference. The basic method of a protest is to disrupt.
Ken. Calls them children. They are at a university. Most of the “children “ are 18 and above. There are a lot of ex military in the Tampa area. These are the people that make sure morons have the right to have free speech. Unfortunately, they cannot help them think. We are a society that has rules and laws for the betterment of all.
Those ‘rules and laws’ were written by the corporate elite in its own interests. It seems that you prefer only such an elite – which owns the media and has used the Supreme Court to make wealth a prerequisite for free speech – should be heard. The rest of us you label as ‘morons’.
I’m ashamed USF responded the way they did, but unfortunately not surprised. The school acting with political motives shows their lack of integrity. As a student with my own experiences, I’m inclined to believe the students rather than the officers. Even if the students crossed the line by entering a building, it is not right to treat humans with such disregard. I want to throw up knowing I give this school my money.
My daughter transferred from USF to FSU and I’m so thankful she did. She too is a member of SDS at FSU and they were allowed to meet with the Provost regarding HB 999. FSU didn’t call the police on the students. FSU administration handled the matter like professionals and allowed the student’s voices to be heard. Such a shame how USF Administration and especially the police handled this matter. I hope the students are reinstated and allowed to continue / finish their education.