Numerous professors in the United States have spoken out in support of student-led protests demanding an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory, boycott from Israeli companies, and an ending of violence in Gaza.
Some of the academics detained at the pro-Palestine marches were Emil’ Keme, an English and Indigenous studies professor, and Noelle McAfee, the chair of the philosophy department at Emory University in Georgia.
Because Muslim student Asna Tabassum was unable to deliver her valedictorian address at the University of Southern California due to her vocal support for Palestine, the university has decided to suspend the official graduation ceremonies in response to the protests that are overtaking universities.
“Rather than respond to faculty and student concerns about the cancelling of Asna Tabassum’s valedictorian speech and the arrest of peaceful protesters, USC has unfortunately doubled down on its authoritarian approach and simply cancelled an aspect of graduation that students earned and looked forward to,” the USC associate sociology professor Brittany Friedman said.
Staff and faculty at Columbia University expressed shared support with the university’s expelled, penalized, and imprisoned students on Monday.
“An immediate apology and amnesty for these students and for their disciplinary records to be cleared,” They demanded.
Tensions on campus have led to the decision to hold classes remotely until the end of the semester. Determining the exact number of individuals arrested remains a mystery based on the university’s statement. Protests are taking place at nearby Princeton University, where professors like Max Weiss, who teaches a history course on Palestine and Israel, are leading courses.
Viral footage of Atlanta police forcefully restraining and guiding McAfee emerged on social media. Then McAfee asked the cameraman, “Would you ring up the philosophy department and let them know I’m in jail?”
“People who have spoken out in support of Palestinian human rights immediately painted as Hamas sympathizers, as antisemites, as terrorists … that’s outrageous,” Khawaja, who is also a supervising attorney at the school’s human rights clinic, said.
Different countries including UAE calls for halting escalation on the Israel Palestine conflict.
Released from custody were students who could provide a valid Northeastern ID. They would be subject to disciplinary actions inside the institution rather than legal action. “Those who refused to disclose their affiliation were arrested.”
