39-Year-Old Agitator Arrested During South Florida Anti-Israel Demonstration, Charged With Carrying Firearm On School Property

One of the anti-Israel protesters arrested on Tuesday at the University 
of South Florida in Tampa has been identified by police as a 39-year-
old man who is also charged with carrying a firearm on school property 
as authorities allegedly found a gun in his waistband at the 
demonstration.

Atah Othman, 39, was one of 10 protesters charged for their part in the 
South Florida anti-Israel protest that police shut down on Tuesday. 
Along with the felony charge of possession of a firearm on school 
property, Othman was also hit with charges of trespassing, unlawful 
assembly, and resisting an officer without violence, Fox 13 reported. 
Among the other demonstrators who were arrested were 32-year-old Daniel 
Powell and 27-year-old Cameron Pressey.

Two other protesters were also hit with felonies, including Emmanuel 
Atmosfera, 25, who was charged with aggravated assault with intent to 
commit a felony with a weapon. Leonardo Tilelli, 23, was charged with 
two felonies: battery on a law enforcement officer and resisting an 
officer with violence, according to Fox 13.

	PICTURED: 10 protesters identified after being arrested during 
	protest at the University of South Florida 
	pic.twitter.com/lqbIEXbOCJ

	— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) May 1, 2024

The Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) organized the 
anti-Israel protest, which attracted between 75-100 protesters — some 
of whom were not students. The university gave the group until 5 p.m. 
on Tuesday to clear their encampment off school property. When police 
moved in to clear the protesters out, they said some demonstrators 
lined up holding umbrellas and wooden shields, NBC 6 reported.

Police then reportedly used tear gas to disperse the anti-Israel 
protesters before arresting 10 of them. The Hillsborough County 
Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) said on Tuesday, “After repeatedly ignoring 
several dispersal commands while assisting the University of South 
Florida Police Department with an unsanctioned protest, #teamHCSO used 
tactical skills to evacuate agitators.”

	After repeatedly ignoring several dispersal commands while 
	assisting the University of South Florida Police Department 
	with an unsanctioned protest, #teamHCSO used tactical skills 
	to evacuate agitators. pic.twitter.com/C0o9x33DB3

	— HCSO (@HCSOSheriff) May 1, 2024

Across the state, the University of Florida shut down an anti-Israel 
protest earlier this week and reportedly arrested nine demonstrators.

“This is not complicated: The University of Florida is not a daycare, 
and we do not treat protesters like children — they knew the rules, 
they broke the rules, and they’ll face the consequences,” the 
university said.

Anti-Israel protests have popped up at universities across the nation, 
including at UCLA and Columbia, where agitators have become more 
aggressive. On Tuesday, a group of protesters took over Hamilton Hall 
at Columbia for hours before NYPD officers stormed the building and 
arrested dozens of people.

In a Wednesday press conference, New York City Democratic Mayor Eric 
Adams said the Columbia protest was being co-opted by people who 
appeared to be trained.

“There were individuals on the campus who should not have been there. 
They were people who are professionals and we saw evidence of 
training,” Adams said. “I know that there are those who are attempting 
to say, ‘Well, the majority of people may have been students.’ You 
don’t have to be the majority to influence and co-op an operation. That 
is what this is about.”

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LKet's go Brandon!