Universities across the country have taken a hard stance against pro-Palestine demonstrations, arresting protesters by the hundreds for refusing to leave campus.
Last week, more than 90 protesters were arrested for trespassing at USC. On Monday, police at the University of Texas started arresting protesters, and Columbia University is now threatening to expel students who don’t disperse.
Zach Greenberg with the civil liberties group Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression told KNX News he’s concerned about the heavy-handed response.
“We're seeing snipers on roofs of buildings, we're seeing police officers coming out in force,” he said. “We're seeing expulsions, and the most harsh response we've seen to campus protests in my lifetime, let alone the last couple of decades.”
Greenberg says it's not tricky to ensure students’ physical safety while respecting the constitutional right to protest. The pro-Palestine encampments have largely been peaceful, with the overwhelming majority of protesters accused only of trespassing or violating school policies.
Greenberg said his organization will be monitoring how the schools treat the students who participate in these protests, especially if they’re arrested.
“In most situations, being arrested will trigger student disciplinary proceedings in the university, and even just being accused or being arrested in these proceedings will be in the student's record,” he said. “So it's important universities provide students with due process, the right to contest these determinations and defend themselves before facing punishment.”
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He says it's an extreme move to expel a student for protesting unless they committed violence or severe misconduct.
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