TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Gov. Jeb Bush is facing a rapidly growing furor over the death of a 14-year-old boy at a juvenile boot camp, with about 1,500 demonstrators yesterday accusing authorities of a cover-up, and Florida's chief law enforcement officer resigning under fire.

The student protesters, led by the Revs. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, demanded answers regarding the death in January of Martin Lee Anderson, who was punched and kicked by guards in a videotaped scuffle.

"You can't beat a 14-year-old kid to death and expect to just ignore it, expect people to not take notice," said student Mike Mathers.

The protesters assembled on the Capitol steps, chanting "Justice delayed is justice denied" and "If you don't act, we will come back." They demanded the arrest of the guards and the release of the results of a second autopsy.

Martin Anderson was the third young black male to die in state custody in Florida in the past three years. The guards who hit him were black and white.

A first autopsy found that he died from complications of a blood disorder, but the boy's family and others disputed that. His remains were exhumedfor another autopsy. Mr. Bush has appointed a special prosecutor.

Yesterday's protest came a day after Guy Tunnell, commissioner of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, resigned amid criticism over his handling of the case and a joke that the governor called "inappropriate."

The Miami Herald reported that at a meeting of department heads, Mr. Tunnell likened Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., to Osama bin Laden and Mr. Jackson to the outlaw Jesse James.

Mr. Tunnell started the Panama City boot camp when he was Bay County's sheriff. His agency was investigating the death until it was taken off the case by the special prosecutor. During the investigation, Mr. Tunnell had forwarded e-mails to the current sheriff that criticized those who questioned the effectiveness of the boot camp concept.

The governor said he did not ask Mr. Tunnell to step down. He said Mr. Tunnell recognized the problems that the e-mails and his comments had created.

On Thursday, the governor met with Mr. Anderson's parents and their lawyer, a day after about 30 college students began a sit-in at Mr. Bush's office. The sit-in ended that afternoon.

The Legislature is considering a bill named in memory of Mr. Anderson that would get rid of boot camps. Mr. Bush said he would sign the bill and hopes the Legislature passes it.