Student files complaint against Allen West over 'threat'

A student has filed a complaint with the Florida Atlantic University police against former Rep. Allen West (R-FL), claiming a statement he made online was threatening.

"As students, we deserve to feel safe exercising our First Amendment rights to peacefully assemble and express our grievances with the University," Stephanie Rosendorf of the Florida College Democrats wrote in her complaint, which was obtained by Raw Story. "These days you never know if a threat on social media is to be taken lightly, and in this case it certainly should not be. Allen West is making me feel in danger at school."

Rosendorf told Raw Story that she fears some of West's followers might react violently.

"As a student at FAU and a member of the community, I felt shocked and threatened to see Allen West's comments," she said via email. "We as students should be able to exercise our First Amendment right to peacefully assemble without fear of violent retaliation from Allen West or any of his like-minded followers. I urge the University to take extra steps to ensure that Allen West is not allowed on or near our campus."

In a Facebook post, West warned FAU students would face "the side of me that you do not want to see" if they continued to target his wife Angela Graham-West. He said students from Florida Atlantic University had "stalked" his wife and "sent letters to her company headquarters."

"How dare you animals attack my wife and her professional reputation. This is your one and only advisory notice," he concluded.

West's wife is a member of FAU's Board of Trustees. The board has faced student-led protests over a $6 million stadium-naming deal with private prison operator GEO Group. The private prison company has been accused of mistreating and neglecting inmates. GEO Group backed out the deal on April 2.

Angela West told New Times Broward Palm Beach she felt harassed because students came to her office uninvited and also called for her to be fired.

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[Note: Updated with quote from Rosendorf]

[Image via Gage Skidmore, Creative Commons-licensed]