A candlelight vigil in support of Israel on the University of Florida’s campus ended abruptly Monday night after a security scare sent hundreds of students running. Police, already present at the event to run security, moved in quickly, but spooked students trampled each other and dropped belongings in their rush to escape.
The stampede sent 20 students to the hospital, where they were treated for minor injuries, according to UF spokeswoman Cynthia Roldan.
The panic started when one person in a crowd of about 1,200 fainted, according to Rabbi Berl Goldman, one of the event organizers. When others saw her fall to the ground and someone dropped a backpack, Goldman said it had the look and sound of an attack.
According to a UF Police Department (UFPD) release, the incident started at 8:55 p.m. when an attendant fainted. This led to other people asking for someone to call 911, which was misunderstood in the crowd and led people to disperse in panic. Alachua County Sheriff’s Office deputies and Gainesville Police Department officers also assisted with the incident.
“We have no reason to believe that there was malicious intent behind this incident,” said UFPD Chief Linda Stump-Kurnick in a press release. “It was an accident that was misinterpreted by the crowd that led to panic.”
In a crowd where emotions were already high in outrage and sadness for deadly Hamas attacks in Israel over the weekend, Turlington Plaza emptied quickly. As they ran, people pushed each other and tripped, resulting in many scraped knees and minor injuries, although Rabbi Goldman was not immediately aware of any serious injuries.
A video posted to YouTube showed a man praying when the panic began. Screams can be heard as people started to run and the screen goes black.
The candlelight vigil, which was hosted by Chabad UF and other area Jewish community groups to stand in support of Israel, remember the victims of terror, and pray for peace, started at 8:30 p.m.
“Tonight’s vigil was an opportunity for our community to condemn Hamas’ terrorism and stand by our Jewish Gators,” said UF President Ben Sasse in a statement. “I’m grateful for each and every Gator who came to show their support. I’m grateful for Rabbi Jonah and Rabbi Berl for their leadership.”
Hamas militants, backed by Iran, carried out a surprise attack in Israel on Saturday, leading Israel to declare war and threatening to open a wider conflict in the Middle East. The combined death toll topped 1,500 on Monday, according to the Associated Press, including at least 11 Americans.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated.
First, I’d like to recognize that I believe this vigil started as a beautiful idea and hope everyone recovers and is well. And to the people of Israel, my hope and prayers for your continued strength and well-being. For your loss, may their memory be for a blessing.
It’s sad that so many kids aren’t trained, any longer, to be aware, to evaluate and analyze their surroundings at an early age. The immediate knee-jerk response to stimulus can very often be much more dangerous than most real dangers.
Humans haven’t survived this long by acting this way – like prey animals. Is there enough time to regain our place on the ladder of evolution?
The ‘fight or flight’ response has given way to fear and flight.
We appear to have abdicated our position as an apex predator.
A stampede??? Was Coach Prime there with the U of Colorado football team???
Thanks, Glory, for great coverage of this unfortunate event.