Danette Heredia | Staff Writer
FIU Students for Justice for Palestine organize a final march of the semester to the presidential palace, but are met by police shortly after arriving.
SJP organized a march to celebrate Palestine Prisoners of War Day, which ran along the outskirts of the FIU campus and ended in front of the presidential palace, but was blocked by police and protesters were unable to access the building.
Police were seen chasing protesters on golf carts and guarding the entrance to the presidential palace, but police involvement was minimal compared to past protests.
“I don't think it was done out of kindness or respect, but because of professional coordination. Again, it's that SJP took the initiative and made the coordination.” …this. is a business problem,” says Joncarlo Ospina, FIU’s Young Democratic Socialist of America.
SJP members were also seen talking with FIU police on the sidewalk leading to the presidential palace, but it is unclear what was discussed.
PantherNOW attempted to speak with members, but no comments were received.
SJP's dissatisfaction with the intervention of the FIU Police was announced during a protest near the Presidential Palace, which it claimed was an exaggerated measure being taken by the FIU Police against the student march.
“Look over there. Do you know how many police cars there are? So many cops for the students who are just chanting. The ivory tower shakes when so many people talk. They can't stand it. They have to call the big guys, they have to call the priority response teams,” says SJP co-president Zura Alhitar.
Many cars honked their horns, rolled down their windows and cheered in support of the protesters as the march moved through the outskirts of FIU along major thoroughfares such as 8th Avenue and 107th Street.
Despite all the support, some people recorded demonstrators shouting “Liberate Israel” over the demonstrators' chants.
“I'm glad that people off campus have some idea of what's going on at FIU… FIU students are talking about this and will continue to protest.” Summer Jandali, a student participating in the event, said: