Protests

The organizers announced that although USF officials did not meet their demands, they are encouraging members to end the protest due to health concerns. The group also said it will continue its efforts.

An undisclosed number of the original hunger strikers at USF remain after some of them were hospitalized last week. New members also joined last week.

To draw attention to the global strike for Palestinians in Gaza, multiple campus organizations came together to hold a walk-out and “die-in.”

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has taken steps that effectively eliminate mandated water breaks for construction workers. In response, protesters came to Washington, D.C., to press for federal protections.

Law enforcement arrested more than a dozen protestors throughout this session.

A three-judge panel with the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is considering the constitutionality of a 2021 state law that enhanced penalties and created new crimes in protests that turn violent.

The proposed rule could be used “to censor viewpoints in support of LGBTQ+ youth and families,” Kara Gross, legislative director for the ACLU of Florida, said in a statement condemning the plan.

Protesters criticized the group's support of new state laws to limit instruction on racism and gender identity in schools. They also spoke out about Florida's 15-week abortion ban.

About 500 people marched Friday afternoon around Straub Park in downtown St. Petersburg.

It's punishable by 60 days in jail and fines up to $500.

It comes amid rising cases of harassment among elected leaders, including one in which a group used foul language and coughed in the face of a Broward County school board member.

They range from Florida's law cracking down on protests to whether sports betting will be allowed in the state.