TAMPA, Fla. — One of the people arrested last month during the multi-day protests at University of South Florida’s main campus are now discussing charges they’re facing.
USF alum Elizabeth Rowe, who prefers to go by Simon, was arrested during the first day of protests at USF's campus. At their arraignment Tuesday, they entered a not guilty plea for trespassing.
“I was there on the first day of the encampment day one and I was the first arrested,” Rowe said.
Rowe opted to plea instead of choosing the misdemeanor intervention program.
“If you complete that program, you will not come back to court and your charges will be dismissed. If you fail to enroll, fail to complete it you'll end up right back here in front of me,” Judge Jeffrey Rich said.
Other protesters showed up at the hearing. Right now, two other protestors cases are closed. One of them told 10 Tampa Bay they're in the intervention program.
Kelsey Sanchez said she showed up to support and demand USF divest in companies she believes are pro-Israel.
“Some of these students were at the encampment are Palestinian and I think people need to ask them how would you feel if your money was funding your families' death,” Sanchez said.
“There is a level of uncomfortableness. Are you really supporting what happened on October 7th,” said Jonathan Ellis with the Jewish Community Relations Council of Tampa.
Ellis said he supports protesting, but within the rules to ensure everyone's safety.
“While USF is a public campus. There are issues of whose protests these are. Who's behind it and are these really student led protests,” Ellis said.
He said the group is working with USF to achieve this.
“You have to ensure the Jewish students feel safe on campus. You also have to ensure that people have the right to free speech and assembly and other things that are guaranteed in the constitution,” Ellis said.
Rowe's trial is set for July 23rd .
The judge set a June 26th deadline to accept the state's offer to enter a misdemeanor intervention program and avoid trial.