Students angered by the Martin Lee Anderson verdict are sitting in a circle in the middle of Monroe Street in front of the Capitol. Students began the road block at 4:55 p.m. Monroe and Apalachee Parkway are blocked at the Capitol. Police are re-routing traffic. No arrests have been reported.
Florida A&M University President James Ammons urged students to get out of the road.
"In a few minutes, (police officers) are going to begin clearing the streets," he said about 5:10 p.m.
Students responded by saying they would stay put.
Dennis Bustle, director of Capitol Police, said earlier in the day that law enforcement will work to keep roads clear.
"If they become a traffic impediment, we would probably work with (the Tallahassee Police Department) to resolve the issue," Bustle said.
He added that he wants to make sure the students' right of free speech is protected.
I love Ammons, however, he should have joined the students in their protest.
ReplyDeleteThis verdict is unconscionable.
11:11am
ReplyDeleteYou sound crazy!
When Dr. Ammons asked students to get out the street, by and large, FAMU students did. FSU students and other randoms stayed.
While the verdict was not to our liking, two wrongs don't make a right.
I applaud the students for their courage.
ReplyDeleteHowever, there's no way that Dr. Ammons -- the university president -- could have gone along with students jeopardizing their lives for any reason. It's his job to protect FAMU students as best he can. If he doesn't show that then parents will start snatching their students out and the Board of Trustees/Board of Governors will cite him for reckless endangerment of student lives.
Look what Jena has produced!
ReplyDeleteEvery time a multiple repeat criminal/thug/gangsta is prosecuted there will be riots in the street.
This was not a riot. It was a peaceful act of civil disobedience.
ReplyDeleteNice try at stereotyping all blacks as "thugs."
How did you read "all blacks" into the previous comment? Color was not even mentioned - although in this case the criminal (thug) happens to be dark brown.
ReplyDeleteIf a person is a menace to society, what difference does it make what shade of brown their skin is?
Your comments used racially stereotypical innuendoes even though you didn't say it outright.
ReplyDeleteThe implication was that black people don't want justice for criminals because all blacks are criminals (hence, you calling the peaceful demonstrators "rioters").
We don't need anymore of your intolerance on this blog.