Tampa students demand free speech on campus – Fight Back! News

Tampa, FL – On Monday, September 17, members of the Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) gathered at the University of South Florida (USF) to hold a flash rally in response to the university’s ongoing attacks on its students’ right to free speech.

As students stopped to listen and join the rally, protesters called for an end to attacks on the student movement – including the Tampa Bay SDS, which was recently banned from organizing and gathering on campus – and an end to Policy 6-028, which was passed behind closed doors and prevents student groups from holding events, setting up tables and handing out flyers. During the rally, students chanted “Ho ho, hey hey, the student movement is here to stay!” and “USF, shame on you! Student voices matter too!”

“USF has shown that it has no problem suppressing student opinion to protect the university's investment,” Allie Enriquez of Tampa Bay SDS said at the rally. “Even before the demonstrations last spring, USF has always had problems with students using their freedom of speech when they disagree with the university's status quo.”

Despite ongoing political repression at USF – including expulsion and suspension of students – Tampa Bay SDS will continue to organize its activities and fight against attempts to restrict students’ right to free speech.

#TampaFL #FL #Student movement #Safety Data Sheet (SDS) #Freedom of speech #Political repression