39-Year-Old University of South Florida Protester Allegedly Caught With Gun Released on Bail

Atah Othman allegedly had a gun in his waistband

Atah Othman
Police say Atah Othman had a gun in his waistband when he was arrested at a pro-Palestinian protest at the University of South Florida. Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office

A 39-year-old Florida man is out on bail and facing weapons charges after being arrested at a protest on the campus of the University of South Florida on Tuesday.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office says Atah Othman was arrested as they broke up a pro-Palestinian rally. Othman allegedly had a gun in his waistband at the time of his arrest. He was arrested for trespassing, unlawful assembly and resisting arrest along with the felony posession of weapon on school property charge.

Othman was one of 10 protesters arrested by USF Police. He was bailed out early on Wednesday, according to jail records.

Campus Police Chief Daniel Nelson said dozens of protesters were on campus for a rally in the same spot where three people were arrested a day earlier, WTVT-reported.

A student ground had organized the rally but it ignored a 5 p.m. deadline to clear the school grounds. Police moved and used tear gas to clear the grounds.

Protests have spread across U.S. college campuses calling on the schools to divest from companies that support the war in Gaza.

Nearly 300 protesters were arrested at Columbia University on Tuesday evening when the NYPD cleared a building that they had barricaded themselves inside.

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