Why far-right groups are disrupting US campus protests: ‘When there’s so much attention, they show up’ — Gaza counter-protesters at UCLA took part in anti-LGBTQ+ and anti-vaccine events across southern California, researchers say
———
“Beyond #UCLA, a number of far-right actors, including a violent white supremacist charged in connection with January 6, the founder of the Proud Boys, and a former member of the streetfighting Neo-Fascist Rise Above Movement have stood alongside pro-Israel demonstrators confronting Gaza solidarity encampments at universities across the country…”
Why far-right groups are disrupting US campus protests: ‘When there’s so much attention, they show up’ — Gaza counter-protesters at UCLA took part in anti-LGBTQ+ and anti-vaccine events across southern California, researchers say
———
“Beyond UCLA, a number of far-right actors, including a violent white supremacist charged in connection with January 6, the founder of the Proud Boys, and a former member of the streetfighting Neo-Fascist Rise Above Movement have stood alongside pro-Israel demonstrators confronting Gaza solidarity encampments at universities across the country…”
Berlin university lecturers sign open letter of solidarity with protesting students (The Berliner, 2024-05-10)
———
✊
“More than 300 teachers from #Berlin universities have signed an open letter in solidarity with students protesting the war on Gaza.”
“The letter doesn’t take a stance on the demands of the demonstrators, but instead defends the students’ right to use university property as a site of protest…”
“… The letter, which also includes the signatures of more than 500 staff members from other universities in #Germany and abroad, calls for Berlin universities ‘to refrain from police operations against their own students and from further criminal prosecution.’”
“Unsurprisingly, the letter has been met with criticism from the political establishment…” 🔥
Statement von Lehrenden an Berliner Universitäten (Open Letter als Google form, noch zu unterschreiben)
"Als Lehrende der Berliner Hochschulen verpflichtet uns unser Selbstverständnis dazu, unsere Studierenden auf Augenhöhe zu begleiten, aber auch zu schützen und sie in keinem Fall Polizeigewalt auszuliefern.
“Unabhängig davon, ob wir mit den konkreten Forderungen des Protestcamps einverstanden sind, stellen wir uns vor unsere Studierenden und verteidigen ihr Recht auf friedlichen Protest, das auch die Besetzung von Uni-Gelände einschließt. Die Versammlungs- und Meinungsfreiheit sind grundlegende demokratische Rechte, die auch und gerade an Universitäten zu schützen sind. Angesichts der angekündigten Bombardierung Rafahs und der Verschärfung der humanitären Krise in Gaza sollte die Dringlichkeit des Anliegens der Protestierenden auch für jene nachvollziehbar sein …”
“Several hundred students set up a non-violent anti-war protest camp at #FU#Berlin today. The police cleared the camp within hours — like this. The FU administration at the scene did not negotiate with the protesters. They refused to comment.”
If you can access X, pls watch the short video (a scene attatched as screenshot⬇️ )
(Sorry, from X)
“We demand that the University of #Cambridge: discloses and divests from its financial and professional support for Israel's genocide of Palestinians in Gaza; re-invests in affected academics; and protects all forced migrants and protesting students.”
... from about 00:37:00 to 00:40:00.
Maha Zeidan, the president of the Graduate Student Association of the University of #Toledo (Ohio), gives a solemn and powerful speech to remind the graduates and all others of the responsibility and ability to act for peace.
Students wrap George Washington monument with keffiyeh (a fitting response to the videos of graduating students in Georgia dragged out by police for wearing keffiyehs) @palestine
#Montreal: Student protesters at #McGill encampment determined to stay after judge rejects injunction (CBC, 2024-05-01)
"Students participating in the pro-Palestinian encampment on McGill University's downtown campus drew sighs of relief Wednesday around noon, when news arrived that a Quebec Superior Court judge had rejected an injunction request that would have forced them to leave."
"In Wednesday's ruling, Justice Chantal Masse wrote the plaintiffs failed to show that the protests were causing irreparable harm, nor was there any indication at this point that the protesters intended to block access to exams or McGill's buildings."
"Masse wrote that if she were to approve an injunction to remove protesters, their 'freedom of expression and to gather peacefully would be affected significantly.'"
I'm a #UCLA professor. Why didn't the administration stop last night's egregious violence? : The university should have anticipated Tuesday night’s chaos — but security personnel were nowhere to be found（Opinion by David N. Myers | Forward, 2024-05-01）
"What makes last night all the more inexplicable was that the university had, over the weekend, seen a haunting warning of what could happen."
"... even they were greeted with insulting words from the other [Pro-Israeli] side, as were members of a small contingent of a local chapter of Standing Together who came bearing signs calling for peace and equality for Palestinians and Jews."
"Before Tuesday ... In the face of immense pressure, UCLA Chancellor Gene Block managed to keep the peace."
"... There has also been increasing pressure on the university from outside forces, including the Jewish Federation, to act more forcefully against the demonstrators."
#UCLA clashes: Pro-Palestinian protesters attacked by Israel supporters (AlJazeera, 2024-05-01)
———
😰
“A demonstration against Israel’s war on Gaza at the University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA) turned violent when a vigilante pro-Israel mob attacked a solidarity encampment occupied by peaceful pro-Palestinian protesters.
“Witnesses said the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) only intervened after nearly four hours of the attacks, which started overnight into Wednesday when masked pro-Israel counter-demonstrators, who appeared in their hundreds from outside the university campus, hurled fireworks into the encampment.”
“The attackers, carrying Israeli flags, then tried to tear down the pro-Palestinian camp, assaulting students with pepper spray, sticks, stones and metal fencing. Police stood by, failing to protect students…”
I wholly understand some may feel about the recent #ProPalestineEncampment in universities & colleges as, “So you’ve just noticed there’s occupation & ethnic cleansing in Palestine, after 70 years?”
“Just came back from the #UCLA campus. A few quick thoughts…”
… …
“My conclusion, without claiming to give a holistic picture of the protest movement or even of the situation at UCLA: very peaceful, well organized, and reasonable protest.”
“We are a group of students at the University of #Tokyo who have gathered in solidarity with Palestine to oppose the genocide by the Israeli government. We have started a Palestine Solidarity Encampment and formed an organization to manage its operation.”
Barnard AAUP Members Vote of No Confidence in President Laura Rosenbury
"On Monday, April 22, 2024, the Barnard College members of the American Association of University Professors voted 102-0 that they did not have confidence in President Laura Rosenbury’s ability to serve as President of Barnard College."