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New law aimed at punishing Trump protesters being used against UF fans who ran onto field
Four University of Florida fans face first felony trespass charges under a law aimed at protesters, with penalties up to five years and $5,000 fines, officials said.
- On Oct. 4, four fans including UF students Landon Beckham Kingsle Kefford and Danek Everett Blalock Cirafesi were arrested on felony trespass charges after rushing Steve Spurrier-Florida Field.
- The law was signed in May by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis and took effect May 16 to target anti‑Trump protesters and curb crowd chaos at events like the Copa América match at Hard Rock Stadium.
- The law bans entering secured areas at events with more than 5,000 attendees and classifies crossing police lines as felony-level conduct with penalties up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine.
- Two UF students were banned from the stadium for three years, two others received three-year campus bans, police ejected 54 people, and 26 were arrested; Cirafesi and Schmidt pleaded not guilty last week.
- Lawmakers in Tallahassee said they never intended the law to be used against fans, while civil rights advocates warned its broad language allows selective enforcement, and defense lawyer Bennett Hutson predicted no felony records.
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources10
Leaning Left5Leaning Right1Center2Last UpdatedBias Distribution63% Left
Bias Distribution
- 63% of the sources lean Left
63% Left
L 63%
C 25%
12%
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