On the 12th of March, protesters supporting Khalil Mahmoud assembled at 50th and Fowler, them marched to the main entrance of University of S Florida (USF). USF infamously sicced the cops on a pro-Palestine encampment in April 2024.
There were protests presumably all over the US for Khalil on March 12. At Columbia where Khalil was a graduate student Jewish students held a large protest denouncing Trump and ICE for the lawless “arrest” of Mahmoud. The protest at USF’s gates was part of this day of action.
USF like Columbia U has an infamous record of violently attacking pro-Palestine protests, and of attempting to have pro-Palestine organizers deported after “suspension” or expulsion. Both universities first sicced the cops on student activists, then sicced ICE on them.
Khalil Mahmoud’s court hearing did not go wel: the judge while not authorizing immediate deportation allowed ICE to continue holding him, more hearings are scheduled. Trump is beating his chest about this case and warning of more “arrests.” One attempt again at Columbia has already been defeated however: ICE agents tried again to enter student housing but were blocked from entering. It is doubtful they will ever get in again short of battering rams and battle.
