The state of Florida was most recently hit with headline-worthy protests as three women – part of a group known as “Queers for Palestine” – blocked exit 67 on Interstate-4 near Disney World holding signs that stated “Free Palestine” and “Lookup Nakba 1948.” The three women were arrested and charged with misdemeanor refusal to obey a police officer, according to Fox News. Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) praised Florida Highway Patrol for setting a possible “world record” for removing the protestors off the busy interstate and described protesting on a highway as “No bueno.”
"Last weekend we had 'Queers for Palestine' think they could take over the intersection going into Disney World. Florida Highway Patrol got them off in I think 11 minutes, so I think that's the world record" said Gov. DeSantis. "So, if you think you can do that and get away with it – Look, there's so much – Look what they're doing at Columbia, all this stuff, that is crazy. But waiting people wait in traffic is no bueno. I don't care what your cause is, you do not cause people to wait in traffic, especially in areas that already have traffic. So I think 11 minutes that FHP Orlando got them out may be the new record.
Gov. DeSantis mentioned that the group might try to block traffic once again in Miami, but ultimately he doesn’t think they will.
"But I'm sure now that that gauntlet's been laid down, I don't think they're going to try it again in Miami, but if they do, I'll bet you Miami PD tries to beat that. So let's see, we'll have a little healthy competition to see who can be out first."
Similarly, Representative Byron Donalds (R-FL) co-singed a letter led by Representative Beth Van Duyne (R-TX) demanding that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) investigate “possible cases of visa fraud committed by colleges and universities,” especially those who are on limited educational visas and have been involved in illegal activities on college campuses such as encampments.
The May 7 letter sent to CBP as well as Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas mentioned Jewish students being targeted at protests and encampments around the country.
“Since the horrific attacks and subsequent violence carried out by Hamas and Iran-backed proxy groups against the State of Israel on October 7, 2023, there has been a dramatic uptick in antisemitic protests, rallies, and demonstrations expressing support for Israel’s enemies and, at times, explicitly calling for violence against Jewish and Israeli Americans,” wrote Rep. Van Duyne with the support of Rep. Donalds and others.
Furthermore, Rep. Van Duyne expanded upon her and her colleagues’ concerns surrounding the legitimacy of citizenship of those breaking the law during the encampments and protests.
“Of particular concern is the unwillingness and at times outright refusal of university officials to enforce school codes of conduct. There have been reports of failures of university administrators to apply consequences for violation of codes of conduct, such as suspension, to foreign students who are in the U.S. on limited educational visas explicitly due to the potential legal ramifications, such as confiscations of lawful status and/or deportation, wrote the Texas lawmaker. “Failure to apply consequences to vias holders directly impacts these students’ eligibility to remain in the U.S. lawfully and doing so for that purpose would constitute visa fraud. The federal government has a responsibility to ensure visa-holding immigrants are adhering to the same laws and codes of conduct to which American citizens are also bound.”
The letter calls for an investigation into the schools of Columbia, MIT, and UT Austin.
Moreover, Rep. Donalds released a statement surrounding his support for the letter.
"Universities have failed to apply consequences to foreign students who are in the United States on limited educational visas. I stand with Rep. Beth Van Duyne in demanding that U.S. Customs and Border Protection investigate any possible cases of visa fraud regarding those involved in recent illegal activity on America's campuses. If you are not a U.S. citizen and you commit crimes in this country, your visa should be revoked."
The pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel sentiments seem to be gaining steam around the country in various forms.
