Students for a Democratic Society protests USF over free speech. Photo by Leah Burdick.
Emotions were high as 13 demonstrators gathered across from USF’s Palm Drive, protesting the University of South Florida over free speech. Demonstrators were calling for the university to allow Students for a Democratic Society back on campus and reverse the expulsion of Victoria Hinckley.
Demonstrators held signs about defending free speech on campus and chanted that protesting is not a crime.
Allie Enriquez is a SDS member and said USF accused the group of being a threat to campus after the Spring 2024 encampments.
“The fact that USF exposed our group following the encampments and then following the banishment, basically anytime that SDS tried to be on campus, USF was quick to jump on members and hand out conduct charges,” Enriquez said. “They said even if you came underneath a different name we all know who you guys are. So not even being able to organize underneath a different name was possible. Since then we’ve been fighting to be back on campus to be able to express our First Amendment rights.”
Enriquez said administrators told the group they could have their encampment in the campus free speech zone at MLK Jr. Plaza.
“Furthermore, violating our right to free speech by telling us that we couldn’t even have free speech in the free speech zone,” she said.
Demonstrator Briana Beebe is a SDS member. She said the university selectively enforces its free speech policies.
“We can’t flyer. We were not allowed to table, but to have like a catholic women, thats not affiliated with USF, kind of harassing students in some ways verbally then to just be protected by USF. But we’re fighting for student rights, we’re out here on the ground trying so hard to advocate for quality and safety, and it’s just clear that it’s not their priority,” Beebe said. “So we are out here to stand against that and hope that we can make a difference because it would be great to be at a school where it feels a little bit safer and more accepting,” Beebe said.
Beebe said the school expelled Hinckley because she was seen as a threat. She said Hinckley is very involved with SDS.
“She was specifically targeted for her involvement int he encampments and her organizing of it. I mean that was a student movement that was encompassing all of America,” Beebe said.
She also said another student, who was on a student visa, was suspended after the encampment and is in Colombia, unable to return to campus.
As protesters chanted, members handed out flyers and some students stopped to listen.
SDS sued USF in 2025 saying the university violated the Campus Free Expression Act and the First Amendment.