Protest ends peacefully

Update at 6:38 p.m.

TALLAHASSEE -- The protest has broken up. The streets are clear. Student organizers have asked to meet this week with federal authorities who are investigating a possible civil rights violation.

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TALLAHASSEE -- Student protesters have marched a quarter-mile to the intersection of Monroe Street (U.S. 27) and Tennessee Street (U.S. 90). Police presence has increased, and the protesters have been told that if they continue to block traffic, they will be arrested.

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TALLAHASSEE -- About 200 students marched to the steps of the state Capitol this afternoon to protest the verdict in the boot camp case. By late afternoon, they were blocking traffic on a major road.

A circle of about 50 people were holding hands in the middle of the intersection of Apalachee Parkway and Monroe Street near the Capitol. At 6 p.m., they began marching toward Tennessee Street.

The students, who appeared to be mainly from Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, arrived earlier at the Capitol, chanting "This is what democracy looks like. No justice, no peace" as they gathered around a fountain.

Many wore makeshift T-shirts with white paper taped to black shirts with the words: "You've got to be kidding me. Not guilty?"

Frederick Simmons, a FAMU senior from Hernando, said he got a "sick feeling" in his gut when he first heard about the verdict on the television as he was preparing for a legal class. Simmons was among a group of about 250 students from Florida A&M, Florida State University and Tallahassee Community College who marched from FAMU to the steps of the Capitol.

"I had to pause and I had to change to a different channel to see if it was true, I just couldn't believe it," said Simmons who immediately joined the peaceful march.

House minority leader Dan Gelber was speaking to the students about 4 p.m.

About 5 p.m., the group decided to march toward Monroe Street, a major thoroughfare, to block traffic at rush hour, which authorities had warned them against. A bus carrying sheriff's deputies in riot gear was nearby.

--Jennifer Liberto, Times staff writer