Over 100 students and community members gathered on UF’s Turlington Plaza for “Solidarity Fest” Friday afternoon to support international and immigrant students amid a partnership between the University Police Department and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The student-led event featured an itinerary of tabling from student organizations, group chants against ICE and student-led discussions with personal stories from community members who have been impacted as an immigrant or international student.
UPD first partnered with ICE in April 2025 through a 287(g) agreement, which allows local law enforcement to perform federal immigration enforcement functions, including arresting individuals suspected of being in the country illegally and serving warrants for immigration violations.
The UF Student Senate rejected consideration of a bill Tuesday urging UPD to terminate the agreement. The bill did not reach a floor vote because it didn’t meet the Judiciary Committee’s criteria.
UF’s chapter of the Young Democratic Socialists of America organized Friday’s Solidarity Fest.
Jackson Kalogiros-Pepper, a 19-year-old UF wildlife ecology and conservation sophomore and committee member of UF YDSA, said the goal of the event was to show support and build a “hopeful coalition” for students, rather than serve as a protest.
“It’s just meant to be sort of a safe space, at least for today, for them to come and talk with people that they feel comfortable with,” he said.
Multiple student organizations were invited by UF YDSA to participate.
Ana Ferreira, a 22-year-old UF anthropology and sustainability studies senior, attended as co-president of Sunrise Movement Gainesville, a student organization that fights for climate justice and political change.
Ferreira said the event’s “strength in numbers” could help students find support in isolating circumstances.
“I think the overall positive is that you realize it’s not that lonesome, and it’s a way to make it a little less scary for everyone,” she said.
Other organizations that showed support included Students For Socialism, New Age Radio Club, Thrift Club, Students for Justice in Palestine, Alachua County Democratic Socialists and Chispas.
The event invited attendees to share personal experiences. Among them stood UF Immigrant Law Clinic Director Juan Cabellero, who encouraged students to speak up amid growing nationwide concerns about ICE authority and deployment.
“In this current time, we must recognize that silence is not neutrality,” he said. “It is an abandonment of our principles.”
Caballero also led a moment of silence for the recent deaths of Reneé Nicole Good, Alex Pretti and other individuals killed by federal agents across the nation.
The director’s speech was cut short when around 10 students and members of the UF College Republicans approached the scene, providing counter perspectives regarding ICE and nationwide immigration efforts.
Kaitlin Bennett, a 30-year-old internet personality and conservative gun rights activist, was invited on behalf of the UF College Republicans to attend the event.
Bennett was motivated to stand up for the “victims of illegal immigration,” she said.
She sparked conversations with student supporters of the Solidarity Fest, debating immigration and the growing presence of ICE nationwide.
Students accompanying Bennett carried signs showing images of people killed by undocumented immigrants, along with the phrase, “Murdered. Perpetrator: Illegal Immigrants.” They argued undocumented immigration has been the cause of many deaths across the nation, threatening the safety and security of citizens.
The event dissipated as supporters of the Solidarity Fest transitioned their efforts at 13th Street and University Avenue to join a general strike against ICE and mass deportation efforts.
Molly Freeburg is a contributing writer for The Alligator.
