Florida University Issues Free Speech Guidelines as Anti-Israel Protests Spread

Rewritten Article: The University of Florida has issued a directive outlining acceptable behavior for students and employees who wish to exercise their right to free speech on campus. This follows the wave of anti-Israel protests that have occurred at colleges across America in recent weeks, with many demonstrations resulting in arrests and reports of antisemitic harassment. The University’s memo clarifies what is permissible during peaceful protesting activities such as expressing viewpoints through speech or holding signs but prohibits amplified sound, protests inside campus buildings, issuing threats, engaging in violence, setting up tents/sleeping bags and disruptive behavior that interferes with normal university operations. Violators of these rules face trespassing for individuals engaged in such activities as well as three-year bans from the University’s campuses for students found guilty while employees could be terminated. The move by Florida’s flagship institution serves as a warning to activists who might want to set up similar encampments, following Columbia University where protesters recently established one that led to its eventual removal after more than 20 days due to health and safety concerns raised over sanitation issues amid the coronavirus pandemic.