Hundreds of protesters gathered on the campus of The University of Texas at Austin last Wednesday in an unruly anti-Israel demonstration that witnessed “significant participation by outside groups,” as stated by a university release. Nearly 60 individuals were arrested, but criminal charges against forty-six out of fifty-seven protesters have been dropped. The protest was organized by the Palestine Solidarity Committee (PSC), which aims to impede academic activities across the United States’ colleges and universities according to a UT statement that branded it an “outside group.”
The University of Texas at Austin, along with Columbia, Yale, and USC, has witnessed anti-Israel protests in recent days. The protest started after sunset from East Campus around 8 PM. Students wore the trademark red keffiyeh scarves as they marched through campus streets carrying Palestinian flags while chanting slogans against Israel’s policies towards Palestine.
The police, including state troopers in riot gear, attempted to disperse the crowd by forming a barricade at Dean Keeton Street and 24th street around 9 PM as they blocked protesters from moving further down campus streets. The demonstrators tried setting up tents before being stopped by law enforcement officials who arrested nearly sixty individuals in total.
Republican Governor Greg Abbott condemned the protests, calling them “lawless” and “antisemitic.” He urged students participating in hate-filled anti-Semitic rallies at any public college or university to be expelled from their respective institutions immediately.
UT President Jay Hartzell expressed his gratitude towards law enforcement officials for allowing peaceful protests that adhere to the rules while protecting freedom of speech and civil discourse. He added, “Peaceful protests within our rules are acceptable,” but disruptions will not tolerated.” Hartzell praised university staff members, state, and campus police officers who exercised extraordinary restraint in dealing with a challenging situation that has become increasingly common across campuses nationwide.
Levi Salomon, an Orthodox Jewish student at UT Austin, said he witnessed angry protesters chanting “Jew hatred” slogans during the protest. He further stated that anti-Israel protests would only strengthen his resolve to be a proud Jew and that Jews should not feel intimidated or scared in any way while studying on campus as they have the backing of university administration when it comes to ensuring their safety from hate crimes.
Another student, who wished to remain anonymous due to fear of retaliation by protesters, expressed his discomfort with anti-Israel chants and called for a stoppage in spreading antisemitic rhetoric on campus grounds. He also emphasized the importance of having discussions rather than engaging in hateful speech that only causes tension amongst students studying at this reputed academic institution located within Austin, Texas.
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