rich 1.0 Action Network https://actionnetwork.org <link href='https://actionnetwork.org/css/style-embed-v3.css' rel='stylesheet' type='text/css' /><script src='https://actionnetwork.org/widgets/v6/petition/drop-the-charges-against-the-uf-9?format=js&source=widget'></script><div id='can-petition-area-drop-the-charges-against-the-uf-9' style='width: 100%'><!-- this div is the target for our HTML insertion --></div> UF 9 Drop The Charges Campaign https://actionnetwork.org/groups/uf-9-drop-the-charges-campaign https://actionnetwork.org//images/generic_facebook.jpg Call on the State Attorney's Office and the University of Florida to drop the unjust criminal charges and academic punishment levied against the UF 9. These students and community members were engaged in their First Amendment right to peacefully protest against the US funded genocide in Gaza, when local and state police, at the behest of UF's Administration and Governor Ron DeSantis, arbitrarily arrested 9 individuals based on a new set of unsigned rules designed to suppress the protest. Specifically, this new list of rules, which are broad and inconsistent with UF's official policy, were used to go after protesters for the act of sitting peacefully in folding chairs and playing Uno. This is despite the fact that chairs and hammocks are regularly used in the Plaza of the Americas without incident. As a direct result of this unjust and unconstitutional crackdown, the students and community members now face multiple criminal charges and have been suspended and trespassed from the University of Florida for a minimum of 3 years. Sign the petition to show support for those arrested and to call on the State of Florida and the University of Florida to drop the charges. The right to freedom of speech and expression must be upheld. Other readings: UF Faculty for Justice in Palestine Statement FIRE Letter to University of Florida, July 3, 2024 Retired Faculty of the University of Florida Open Letter to Administration UF Faculty Letter to Administration UF Asian American Student Union Statement UF suspends arrested pro-Palestinian protestors for up to four years Police arrest 9 pro-Palestine protestors on UF campus Ninety UF faculty sign letter calling for lighter penalties for arrested pro-Palestine protesters https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/drop-the-charges-against-the-uf-9