At Freedom Week event, students debate police brutality

Tyjah Eady debated with members of Young Americans for Freedom on the first day of the club’s annual Freedom Week.

Eady, 22, had an hour-long dialogue with several members of the conservative group during their “Thank a Veteran” event on Turlington Plaza on Monday. The event’s focus was to show support for police officers and veterans by having passersby sign cards, said Austin Carroll, the organization’s recruiting chair.

Carroll, a 19-year-old UF computer science sophomore, said the organization wanted to use one of the cards to thank University Police for their work keeping UF students safe during Richard Spencer’s speech on Oct. 19. The other card was meant for military veterans.

Eady, a UF African American studies senior, declined to sign the card for police officers but did sign a card for veterans. She said African-Americans are systematically oppressed by police, which is why she didn’t sign a card for the officers.

She said having the discussion with others who do not share her views was a good experience.

“I think that’s a problem with Americans. We don’t take the time to hear out the other side,” Eady said.

Before parting ways, Eady gave one of the club members a book titled, “They Can’t Kill Us All,” by Wesley Lowery.

Carroll said he was happy they could engage in civil discussion and he hopes the rest of the week’s events will create an opportunity for dialogue and for people to share their views.

Victor Santos, the Young Americans for Freedom secretary, said about 40 people signed cards. The club has other events planned for the rest of the week, including a speaker discussing abortion and feminism and the creation and destruction of a representation of the Berlin Wall.

Carroll said the main goal of Monday’s event was to show appreciation for service members before Veterans Day.

“The ultimate role of the government is to ensure our rights and our safety, and that’s what police officers and veterans do,” Carroll said.