Dozens of people gathered across the street from the Federal Building in downtown Tampa on Friday afternoon to rally against the allegations that the National Security Agency is using the Internet and other technology to spy on U.S. citizens. The building houses Sen. Bill Nelson's local district office. According to organizers Sen. Nelson voted for the establishment of the Prism program. It was revealed last week that Prism, code name for a program surreptitiously collecting information via the Internet worldwide, was being used by the NSA. Participants from several organizations including Occupy Tampa, Veterans for Peace and St. Pete for Peace showed up for the demonstration.
Police presence was obvious, primarily on bicycles and in cars driving by the protest. There were a few interactions between the demonstrators and the Tampa Police Department primarily about blocking the sidewalk, staying off the street, and writing on the buildings and sidewalk with chalk. There were no arrests. Cameras on and security officers from the federal building were also ever present.
At one point the demonstrators walked around the block including the sidewalk in front of the Tampa Federal Building holding signs and chanting their protest.
The demonstration ended peacefully at around 5:30 p.m.