New Capitol Rules to Prohibit Overnight Protests

Overnight protests will no longer be allowed at the Florida Capitol.

According to the new rules, sleeping overnight in any public areas of the Capitol would be prohibited. Unauthorized people would also not be allowed to stay at the Capitol after normal hours and a permit will be required to prepare food in public areas or hallways of the building.

The new rules come after the Dream Defenders, an organization comprised primarily of college students, camped out at the Capitol after George Zimmerman was acquitted in the death of Trayvon Martin. The Dream Defenders protested the state's Stand Your Ground laws and vowed not to leave the Capitol until the law was repealed.Ultimately, however, the group called it quits and left the Capitol after 30 days of protesting.

The Dream Defenders returned to Tallahassee for the first day of the 2014 legislative session, cheering, chanting and singing in protest of various gun laws and prison abuse issues in Florida.