Students are in danger: Anti-Palestinian protests in Los Angeles and Washington are on the heels of their criminalization of higher education students
Over the weekend, nearly 300 more people were arrested as anti-Palestinian protesters showed up at schools across the country.
On Sunday, pro-Palestinian protesters and pro-Israeli protesters clashed at the University of California, Los Angeles, leading to what university leaders described as “physical altercations”.
Twelve protesters — including nine students — were arrested at the University of Mary Washington after refusing to vacate an encampment on its Fredericksburg, Va., campus. University President Troy Paino said in a statement that health and safety concerns had emerged on Saturday after protestors invited the off-campus public to join the encampment.
The school warned of “heavy police activity around the Graduate Life Center” in a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter) starting just after 10 p.m. ET, and announced around 3:30 a.m. that the incident “had stabilized.” Social media footage shows protesters chanting at police as they lead people into multiple white vans.
After a tense weekend, the last day of class at George Washington University is Monday and protests are still going on.
Students started setting up an outdoor camp on University Yard on Thursday and then launched a second one on H Street after the school put up barricades to restrict access.
The GW Hatchet reports that the protesters flooded the lawn with tents after they knocked down the barricades just before midnight on Sunday.
Nearly 300 faculty members at Yale University, where 48 protesters were arrested last week, signed a letter condemning what they called “the criminalization of Yale students engaged in recent acts of peaceful protest.” They wanted the university to refrain from taking further action against them and wanted charges against them to be dropped.
Officials at the University of Florida, where students began protesting on Wednesday, said Friday that demonstrators could face suspension and a three-year ban from campus if they violate specific protest rules, reports member station WUFT.
Barnard College officials announced Friday that it will allow most of the 53 students who were arrested and suspended after protesting at Columbia University to return to campus. The New York Times reports that suspended students who reached agreements with the college have their access to residence halls, dining facilities and classrooms restored, while others are still working to reach agreements.
On Sunday, Jay Bernhardt, the president of Emerson College in Boston — where more than 100 protesters were arrested at an encampment early Thursday morning — said the college will not bring disciplinary charges against protesters, and will “encourage the district attorney not to pursue charges related to encampment violations.”
He said that it is taking steps to support students who were arrested, as well as those who are required to stay local for court appearances after the closing of their dorms.
“The College has done its best to keep all community members safe every day during these challenging times, but we recognize that we must do more,” he added.
Students Aren’t Designed to Protest on Campuses: Law Enforcement and Nonviolent Protests at the UT- Austin and Cal Poly Humboldt Universities
Arrests of protesters at the UT- Austin last week have been dropped after a judge found insufficient evidence to proceed.
Some schools threaten to impose punishment on students who don’t leave their camps if they don’t comply with directives.
They are prohibited from using bullhorns or speakers to amplify their voices, possessing weapons and protesting inside campus buildings — but also face more vague prohibitions like “no disruption,” according to a list circulated late Thursday.
At Cal Poly Humboldt, officials closed campus to the public on Saturday, several days after student protesters first occupied two academic and administrative buildings. They had given the protesters until Friday to leave with no immediate arrest, but said they would still face consequences.
“This does not, however, eliminate University conduct-related sanctions or legal implications,” officials said in a release. “In addition, voluntarily departing in this way will be considered as a mitigating factor in University conduct processes and may reduce the severity of sanctions imposed.”
Work and classes will be out of the classroom through the end of the semester, which will keep the campus closed until May 10. There are a variety of scenarios that officials are planning for.
She said the people who break rules will be disciplined and that it included rules around the time, place and manner of protesting.
At the University of Pennsylvania, officials say a campus statue was vandalized with antisemitic graffiti and are calling on demonstrators — from Penn and other area schools — to disband.
A group of Penn faculty and Philadelphia-area elected officials signed a letter last week urging university leaders to “respect students’ rights to engage in nonviolent protest” by refraining from calling in law enforcement to make arrests and from filing disciplinary and criminal charges against peaceful protesters at the encampment.
“Threatening students with sanctions of this kind is not something that should be used to respond to peaceful protest in Yale,” they said.
Faculty members at California, Georgia and Texas passed symbolic votes of no confidence in their leaders, in a further sign of discontent, according to the Associated Press.
Protesters at Columbia University have begun occupying a campus building: A statement from the school and a plea for a change in government policy
Protesters at Columbia University started occupying buildings on Tuesday morning, after they were asked to clear out of a camp in support of Palestinians the day before.
Protesters climbed into the windows of John Jay Hall, while students went into Hamilton Hall to relocate furniture to a balcony according to the radio station.
University officials were not available for comment. Though its public safety department was actively responding. People were urged to avoid going to the campus if they could.
Columbia set several deadlines to reach an agreement with protesters about the campsite, which the school said violates school policies and is a threat to campus safety.
The Columbia president said that the academic leaders and student organizers worked in good faith to reach common ground in the discussions. We wish that they had reached a different outcome because we thank them for their hard work.
Demonstrators are protesting in support of Palestinians amid the war between Israel and Hamas, and they are calling for Columbia to sever its investments and business dealings with Israeli companies.
Columbia said Monday it would not do that, but it did say the school’s Advisory Committee for Socially Responsible Investing will start reviewing new proposals from students. It is also pledging to make a list of its investments available to students, as well as provide resources toward health and education in Gaza.
However, the parties did agree that protests will be paused until after reading day, exams and commencement, as Shafik urged the Columbia community to consider that the class of 2024 did not get to have their high school commencement ceremonies in person due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Students will have to submit an application at least two days before a protest, which will be held in designated areas.
The Columbia encampment and students protesting racism against black people have been suspended at the Columbia High School for Black Studies for two weeks and a half
But she added the encampment has caused an “unwelcoming environment” and “hostile environment” for Jewish students, and violates Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which outlaws discrimination at schools that receive federal funding.
She said that calls for violence are reprehensible. “I know that many of our Jewish students, and other students as well, have found the atmosphere intolerable in recent weeks. Many have left campus, and that is a tragedy. To those students and their families, I want to say to you clearly: You are a valued part of the Columbia community. This is your campus as well.
Shafik said she is committed to keeping community members safe and shielding them from harassment and discrimination, while allowing them to speak, which means respecting other’s rights as well.
The protesters did not agree to completely dismantle the camp on Monday, while the school did not agree to stop doing business with Israeli companies. The school started to suspend students.
Some people left the encampment around 1 a.m. Tuesday and moved into Hamilton Hall, an academic building, began moving furniture around and refused to leave until Columbia agreed to divest from Israel.
Columbia students occupied Hamilton Hall on April 30, 1968, to protest racism against Black people. More than 150 people were injured and 700 people were arrested.