TAMPA, Fla. — The Florida chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Florida) plans to address the situation between law enforcement and protesters at the University of South Florida that escalated on Tuesday evening.

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CAIR-Florida says they plan to hold a news conference at noon on Thursday to condemn the actions law enforcement and USF took during what they say were peaceful protests.

“The University of South Florida in its claim to protect students met peaceful protests with tear gas and police brutality at MLK Plaza," AIR-Florida Executive Director, Imam Abdullah Jaber said in a statement.

"History is clear: when a movement to stand for the oppressed such as this ignites the hearts and minds of our young across our nation, it is the right side. So this is a betrayal of everything USF and law enforcement should represent. Where is the so-called safe space for students? This is not education protection, it's violence and intimidation from USF and law enforcement.” 

Police moved in Tuesday evening on pro-Palestinian protesters with what appeared to be tear gas, arresting 10 protesters, one of which university officials say had a handgun in his jeans.  All 10 people bonded out of jail within 24 hours.

Following the protest, USF sent an email to students stating that the university values free speech but the protest escalated to an unsafe level that required law enforcement to intervene.

“However, as the day progressed, police and university staff observed participants expressing their intent to refuse to leave the site and to occupy the space through the weekend, which includes commencement. Police and university staff also observed protesters bringing in wooden shields, umbrellas, and tents. The protesters then locked arms, raised the shields and umbrellas, and communicated their intent to refuse to leave. USF Police determined that these actions were a dangerous escalation and that the protest was no longer peaceful,” the email read in part.

Commencement ceremonies are scheduled to begin Thursday and conclude on Sunday.

The State University system of Florida sent a memo earlier this week making sure universities don’t cancel commencement ceremonies and stating they should not be disrupted by protests or demonstrations.