Justice for the Tampa 4! Drop the charges now! Protect DEI at USF!
The National Alliance Against Racism & Political Repression stands in solidarity with Tampa Students, against DeSantis attacks on diversity programs/black studies
The National Alliance Against Racism and Political Repression (NAARPR) stands in solidarity with the students and all those demanding an end to racism in public education and protection of diversity programs. We stand fully with those arrested and facing these unjust charges, and demand that these charges are dropped. We stand against this blatant act of political repression and targeting of women and non-binary protesters. We encourage all students and supporters to participate in actions for justice for the Tampa 4. We demand an end to USFPD’s historic repression and brutality towards student protesters.
On March 6, 2023 USF students and supporters attended a protest led by Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) to protest recent attacks on diversity programs by Florida governor Ron DeSantis. The protesters occupied the building with the demand of a meeting with the president or a university official to discuss an end to cuts to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs.
During the occupation of the Patel center, cops escalated by throwing students to the ground, sitting on their backs, necks, and legs, grabbing their hair, and the arrest of four protesters. Despite complying fully with the police, one protester was thrown to the ground and kicked in the head by officers. One of the protesters arrested was put into a chokehold on two separate occasions, shoved against a brick wall, and thrown to the concrete where three officers sat on her. The last protester arrested was also shoved against a wall and thrown to the ground. The names of those arrested are USF students Gia Davila and Jeanie Kida, USF alum Laura Rodriguez, and community member Chrisley Carpio.
We support those impacted and their demands for justice. We support the demands of the students including:
- Drop the Charges on all 4 protestors
- End of academic suspension of students
- Open Statement from the university condemning the attacks on diversity
- Commitment from school to put forth policies to support Black students and staff
We call on all chapters, branches and affiliates and all strands of the people’s movement to stand in solidarity with those affected. NAARPR is a black led mass defense organization consisting of branches and affiliate organizations all over the country.