Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is cracking down on campus protests

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    Ron DeSantis in a suit standing in front of a building

    Governor Ron DeSantis is ordering state police to intervene in campus protests. He claims some demonstrations have become disruptive and participants are turning to vandalism.

    DeSantis condemned the act during a press conference Wednesday at the University of Florida.

    “We’re going to be focusing on academic rigor,” DeSantis said while standing in front of UF’s Library West. “We’re going to be focusing on the pursuit of truth. We will not let the inmates run the asylum in the sunshine state.”

    As of Wednesday, 24 students have been arrested at three different Florida universities while participating in Pro-Palestine protests.

    Last week, nine protesters were arrested on UF’s campus. One of the protesters has been charged with battery after allegedly spitting on an officer. The rest are facing various trespassing and resisting arrest charges.

    The arrests are part of a nationwide crackdown by law enforcement against student protestors.

    Massachusetts Institute of Technology students and supporters gather in an encampment of tents, Tuesday, May 7, 2024, on the MIT campus, in Cambridge, Mass. Students at MIT set up the encampment to protest what they said was MIT's failure to call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and to cut ties to Israel's military. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

    “Too much of higher education has been captured by a lot of nonsense over the course of the last weeks and that won’t happen at the University of Florida,” UF President Ben Sasse said.

    Governor DeSantis has ordered the Florida Highway Patrol to arrest anyone who is harassing students and faculty members, damaging school property, or setting up encampment sites.

    DeSantis also directed colleges and universities in Florida to ensure commencement ceremonies are not canceled or disrupted.

    “FHP will not tolerate antisemitic agitators and will not stand on the sidelines, but instead will take immediate action to ensure public safety from radicalized intimidation and violence,” said Dave Kerner, the Executive Director of FHSMV.