The undercover Messianic Jewish activist who tried to bait UF Muslim professors into admitting bias against Israel and conservatives has been trespassed from all UF properties for three years by the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office.
The office issued Anthony Damon Wray, 47, of Melbourne, a trespass warning Thursday on behalf of the UF Police Department through a mutual aid request, according to UFPD Cpt. Latrell Simmons.
This came after a previous UFPD case report that said Wray “was not considered a threat” and wouldn’t be trespassed.
Posing as a UF graduate student and father concerned about Islamophobia on campus, Wray met with three UF professors beginning at the end of April. One of the professors told police Wray made antisemitic, anti-UF administration and anti-Florida government comments in what he felt was an attempt to get him to make similar statements. Another professor said she suspected Wray was secretly recording her with Google Glasses.
Wray will be arrested and taken to Alachua County Jail if he returns to campus.
In a June 21 Faculty Senate meeting, UFPD Chief Bart Knowles said police don’t have probable cause to file criminal charges against Wray, but new evidence or testimony could change that.
Iman Zawahry, one of the professors Wray made contact with, said she was relieved that action was taken to protect the faculty, staff and students.
“It lets the people know these actions are unacceptable and have consequences,” Zawahry said.
Wray denied comment.
Brevard County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond for comment.
Contact Grace McClung at gmcclung@alligator.org. Follow her on X @gracenmclung.
Grace McClung is a third-year journalism major and the graduate & professional school reporter for The Alligator. In her free time, Grace can be found running, going to the beach and writing poetry.
