– Ten USF protesters, including one who was found with a gun, were arrested on the University of South Florida’s main campus after a pro-Palestinian rally, according to USF’s Police Chief Daniel Nelson.

Dozens of protesters set up near Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza on campus during Tuesday’s event, which was held by the student group “Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society.” However, school officials gave them a 5 p.m. deadline to be cleared off the property

As law enforcement moved in, tear gas could be seen being deployed in the area in an aerial view .

“They threw tear gas canisters. There might have been pepper spray. They had rubber bullets shooting at protesters,” said Victoria Hinkley, a student organizer, said. “Even people on the sidelines were getting arrested. They were getting thrown down on the ground.”

University officials said 75 to 100 protesters, including students and others not associated with USF, showed up with several items, including wood shields, umbrellas and tents. Law enforcement, as well as USF officials, said some participants in-person and on social media said they intended to use some items as weapons and to resist staff members and officers.

USF administration released a statement that said, in part: “The University of South Florida values the right to free speech and protecting the constitutional right for individuals and groups on campus to express themselves.? This includes peaceful?protests and demonstrations that occur regularly on USF’s three campuses without incident and are part of the public discourse of a university.? However, the expression of free speech must remain peaceful and not violate the law or USF policies.??The university has been clear that violence, threats, harassment and disruptions will not be tolerated.”