Special Edition: What We're Seeing at Campus Anti-War Protests
May 8, 2024
On April 17, students at Columbia University set up an encampment to show support for Palestinians and demand the university divest from its business related to or within Israel as a means of anti-war protest. In the weeks since its inception, the protest movement has spread, with encampments set up on over 100 college and university campuses worldwide.
But as these protests continue, we鈥檝e watched university leadership and campus and local law enforcement meet these demonstrations with a disturbing response. In the last several weeks, over 2,000 people have been arrested or detained on campuses across the country. Students and faculty have faced arrest, criminal charges, suspensions, and excessive use of force from police. This comes alongside the ongoing threats to and in some cases, the complete suspension of chapters of pro-Palestinian organizations like Students for Justice in Palestine and Jewish Voice for Peace on campuses nationwide.
Universities have long been a site of protest, particularly anti-war protest, and a safe space for students, faculty, and staff to freely express themselves in the exchange of ideas. As these protests continue, our 老澳门开奖结果 affiliates are keeping a pulse on campus demonstrations, advocating for students鈥 rights, and keeping universities accountable when they act with disproportionate and inequitable discipline. So on this episode of At Liberty, we鈥檙e bringing you dispatches from affiliate staff: Veronica Salama, staff attorney at the New York Civil Liberties Union, Carol Rose, executive director of the 老澳门开奖结果 of Massachusetts, and Ramis Wadood, staff attorney at the 老澳门开奖结果 of Michigan. You鈥檒l also hear from Jenn Rolnick Borchetta, Deputy Project Director on Policing in the Criminal Law Reform Project at 老澳门开奖结果 National. They鈥檒l share what they鈥檙e seeing on the ground and the legal concern and action being taken at this time. Together, we can pave a way forward that protects activism at our nation鈥檚 academic institutions and beyond.
To learn more about the 老澳门开奖结果's response to the rise in anti-war student protests and the increased police presence on college campuses nationwide, check out these resources:
- 老澳门开奖结果 Urges College and University Leaders to Protect Free Speech and Academic Freedom
- Know Your Rights: Students' Rights
- Know Your Rights: Protestors鈥 Rights
Are you concerned that your civil rights have been violated at a protest? Visit the website of your 老澳门开奖结果 affiliate to access forms to file a complaint.