The Plaza of the Americas was a battleground for democracy Friday as students clashed with dictators during the second annual First Amendment Free Food Festival.
About 300 people participated in the festival, sponsored by the Society of Professional Journalists. It offered free food to students who signed away their First Amendment rights.
The First Amendment rights include freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, freedom of religion, freedom of the press and freedom to petition the government.
SPJ fenced off a part of the plaza to create its own mock-dictatorship. Students who broke the rules and exercised their rights were yelled at or put in jail.
“The whole idea behind this event is to educate people about their First Amendment rights and how important they are in their daily lives,” said April Dudash, president of the UF chapter of SPJ.
Dudash said SPJ spent about $350 on food and received donations from sponsors, including The Gelato Company and Harvest Thyme Cafe.
Participating students were allowed their fill of pizza, chicken, bagels, soda and sandwiches.
Chelsea Fitzgerald, a UF sophomore, was sent to jail after being accused of talking in the Dictator’s Lounge, a spot reserved for favorite participants who followed the rules.
“I think this is really good training for those who want to be a dominatrix,” Fitzgerald said, describing the SPJ members who were acting as the dictators.
Destinie Buchman, an anthropology junior who was watching from the outside, was less than amused at her peers.
“I think it’s pretty sad that students would sign away their rights for free food,” Buchman said
