One of the anti-Israel protesters arrested on Tuesday at the University
of South Florida in Tampa has been identified by police as a 39-year-
old man who is also charged with carrying a firearm on school property
as authorities allegedly found a gun in his waistband at the
demonstration.

Atah Othman, 39, was one of 10 protesters charged for their part in the
South Florida anti-Israel protest that police shut down on Tuesday.
Along with the felony charge of possession of a firearm on school
property, Othman was also hit with charges of trespassing, unlawful
assembly, and resisting an officer without violence, Fox 13 reported.
Among the other demonstrators who were arrested were 32-year-old Daniel
Powell and 27-year-old Cameron Pressey.

Two other protesters were also hit with felonies, including Emmanuel
Atmosfera, 25, who was charged with aggravated assault with intent to
commit a felony with a weapon. Leonardo Tilelli, 23, was charged with
two felonies: battery on a law enforcement officer and resisting an
officer with violence, according to Fox 13.

PICTURED: 10 protesters identified after being arrested during
protest at the University of South Florida
pic.twitter.com/lqbIEXbOCJ

� Breaking911 (@Breaking911) May 1, 2024

The Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) organized the
anti-Israel protest, which attracted between 75-100 protesters � some
of whom were not students. The university gave the group until 5 p.m.
on Tuesday to clear their encampment off school property. When police
moved in to clear the protesters out, they said some demonstrators
lined up holding umbrellas and wooden shields, NBC 6 reported.

Police then reportedly used tear gas to disperse the anti-Israel
protesters before arresting 10 of them. The Hillsborough County
Sheriff�s Office (HCSO) said on Tuesday, �After repeatedly ignoring
several dispersal commands while assisting the University of South
Florida Police Department with an unsanctioned protest, #teamHCSO used
tactical skills to evacuate agitators.�

After repeatedly ignoring several dispersal commands while
assisting the University of South Florida Police Department
with an unsanctioned protest, #teamHCSO used tactical skills
to evacuate agitators. pic.twitter.com/C0o9x33DB3

� HCSO (@HCSOSheriff) May 1, 2024

Across the state, the University of Florida shut down an anti-Israel
protest earlier this week and reportedly arrested nine demonstrators.

�This is not complicated: The University of Florida is not a daycare,
and we do not treat protesters like children � they knew the rules,
they broke the rules, and they�ll face the consequences,� the
university said.

Anti-Israel protests have popped up at universities across the nation,
including at UCLA and Columbia, where agitators have become more
aggressive. On Tuesday, a group of protesters took over Hamilton Hall
at Columbia for hours before NYPD officers stormed the building and
arrested dozens of people.

In a Wednesday press conference, New York City Democratic Mayor Eric
Adams said the Columbia protest was being co-opted by people who
appeared to be trained.

�There were individuals on the campus who should not have been there.
They were people who are professionals and we saw evidence of
training,� Adams said. �I know that there are those who are attempting
to say, �Well, the majority of people may have been students.� You
don�t have to be the majority to influence and co-op an operation. That
is what this is about.�

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LKet's go Brandon!