2024 University of Texas at Austin pro-Palestinian campus protests

For 2024 pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses, see 2024 pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses. For a list of pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses in the United States, see List of pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses in the United States in 2024.
2024 University of Texas at Austin pro-Palestinian campus protests
Part of pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses and Israel-Hamas war protests in the United States.
Clockwise from top:
  • Police take a defensive formation with multiple protesters zip-tied at the April 24th protest.
  • Police units separating observers from protestors on the main lawn of the University of Texas at Austin. The Texas State Capitol can be seen in the distance.
  • Riot police on the main lawn. The UT Tower can be seen in the background.
DateApril 24, 2024 (2024-04-24) – Present
Location
University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, United States

30°16′59″N 97°43′55″W / 30.283°N 97.732°W / 30.283; -97.732
Methods
Lead figures

Palestine Solidarity Committee organizers

Casualties and losses
  • 57 arrests
None

Pro-Palestinian protests at the University of Texas at Austin began on April 24, 2024, organized by the Palestinian Solidarity Committee in response to the ongoing Israel-Hamas War. The protests have included sit-ins, marches, and encampments on campus, calling for the university to divest from companies linked to Israel's actions in Gaza. The demonstrations escalated when university officials, with support from local and state law enforcement, intervened to disperse protestors, leading to multiple arrests and sparking criticism over the suppression of free speech on campus. Despite arrests and clashes with police, the protests have continued, drawing significant attention and raising debates about civil liberties and the role of university administration in managing campus protests.

Background

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These paragraphs are an excerpt from 2024 pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses.[edit]

Pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses started in 2023 and escalated in April 2024, spreading in the United States and other countries, as part of wider Israel–Hamas war protests. The escalation began after mass arrests at the Columbia University campus occupation, led by anti-Zionist groups, in which protesters demanded the university's disinvestment from Israel over its alleged genocide of Palestinians.[1] In the U.S. over 3,100 protesters have been arrested,[2] including faculty members and professors,[3][4] on over 60 campuses.[5] On May 7, protests spread across Europe with mass arrests in the Netherlands.[6][7] By May 12, twenty encampments had been established in the United Kingdom, and across universities in Australia and Canada.[8][9] The protests largely ended as universities closed for the summer.[10]

The different protests' varying demands include severing financial ties with Israel, transparency over financial ties, an end to partnerships with Israeli institutions,[11] and amnesty for protesters.[12] Universities have suspended and expelled student protesters, in some cases evicting them from campus housing.[3][13][14] Some universities have relied on police to forcibly disband encampments and end occupations of buildings,[15] others made agreements with protesters for encampments to be dismantled,[16] and a number of universities have cut ties with Israeli institutions, or companies involved with Israel and its occupied territories.[a] The occupations have also resulted in the closure of Columbia University,[23] Cal Poly Humboldt,[24] and the University of Amsterdam;[25] rolling strikes by academic workers on campuses in California;[26] and the cancellation of a few university graduation ceremonies in the U.S., with protests occurring at various ceremonies.[27][28][29]

April 24: Sit-in

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Police tackle and arrest a Fox 7 reporter at the April 24th protest

On April 24, 2024, the Palestinian Solidarity Committee student group at the University of Texas at Austin initiated a walkout and sit-in on the South Mall of the campus to protest the Israel-Hamas War and demand that the university divest from companies profiting from Israel's actions.[30][31]

In response to the protest and an "occupation" of the university, the university, under the explicit direction of President Hartzell, requested the assistance of the Austin Police Department (APD) and the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), in coordination with Governor of Texas Greg Abbott, to quell the demonstrations.[32][33][34][35]

At least 50 troops in riot gear were deployed to disperse protesters, with reports of police on horseback and carrying batons aggressively engaging with the demonstrators.[36] This action led to the arrest of 57 protesters and several more detained, including a photojournalist who was reportedly being caught in a scuffle between law enforcement and students for Fox 7 Austin.[37][38][39][40][41] Fox 7 Austin reposted the viral footage to Twitter, stating their employee was pushed by an officer into another before being thrown to the ground and arrested.[42][43] Another Texas journalist was knocked down and seen bleeding before being handed off to emergency medical staff by police. The officers ended up leaving after a few hours and about 300 demonstrators moved back to sit and chant near the clock tower.[44]

Following the arrests, a Travis County attorney stated, "It is not the role of the criminal justice system... to assist our governor in efforts to suppress nonviolent and peaceful demonstrations."[45] Charges were dismissed against 46 protesters the next day, leading to their subsequent release.[46][47][48] The remaining 11 protesters had their charges dropped on April 26, 2024.[49]

The deployment of police forces and the arrests prompted criticism and raised concerns about free speech on campus, which had been praised by Abbott and the university in prior years.[50] Texas Governor Greg Abbott stated that the UT Austin protesters "belong in jail",[51] leading the Council on American-Islamic Relations to respond, "The First Amendment applies to the State of Texas, whether Greg Abbott likes it or not."[52]

April 25: Main Building protest

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On April 25, 2024, more than 1,000 students, faculty, and staff protested outside of the Main Building calling for President Hartzell's resignation, along with the local chapter of the American Association of University Professors circulating a petition for a official motion of no-confidence against him.[53][54] Within 72 hours, more than 500 professors and instructors, around 13% of all faculty, had already signed the petition, including several department chairs, such as Diana Marculescu, and a dean for the College of Liberal Arts.[55] On April 29, 2024, at 8:30 a.m. Central Daylight Time, the letter was formally delivered to President Hartzell, with 539 signatures, with the form remaining open for further signatures.[56] An separate group of 165 faculty, including Steve Vladeck, also signed an open letter condemning President Hartzell's actions for quelling free speech and endangering the campus community.[57][58]

April 29: Gaza Solidarity Encampment

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On April 29, 2024, a surprise protest occurred where protestors set up tents on campus and refused to leave when confronted by UTPD. Subsequently, APD and Texas DPS officers arrived at the scene and surrounded the encampment, leading to its dismantling, and the arrest of several protestors. Several protestors then moved to confront the police to block their departure and further, leading to the usage of pepper spray and stun grenades by law enforcement.[59] Additionally, several protestors had to receive medical attention due to the sweltering heat.[60] In total, 79 protestors were arrested, with 78 criminal trespassing charges, one "obstructing a highway" charge, and one "interference of public duties" charge filed.[61] This escalation drew further condemnation, above all for the usage of riot-dispersing tactics.[62] Travis County Attorney Delia Garza further stated that the way that the university handled the protests put a strain on the local criminal justice system, specifically reprimanding the sending of protestors to jail for low-level charges.[63]

Lawsuit

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A University of Texas at Austin student, Ammer Qaddumi, has filed a federal lawsuit against the university, President Jay Hartzell, and Provost Sharon Wood, alleging violations of his First Amendment rights after he was arrested during a protest against Israel’s actions in Gaza. Qaddumi, a senior at UT Austin, claims the university retaliated by threatening suspension and restricting his speech prior to the demonstration. The university has defended its actions, citing rule violations by the protesters, while Qaddumi's lawyer argues that the arrests and subsequent disciplinary actions, including Qaddumi's threatened three-semester suspension, were unjust and suppressed free speech.[64]

Notes

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  1. ^ Universities that have cut or paused ties with Israeli institutions – or companies involved with Israel and its occupied territories – include Portland State University,[17] Trinity College Dublin,[18] the University of Helsinki,[19] the University of Copenhagen,[20] Ghent University,[21] and the University of Waterloo.[22]

References

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  2. ^ Taft, Isabelle; Lemonides, Alex; Gamio, Lazaro; Betts, Anna (2024-07-21). "Campus Protests Led to More Than 3,100 Arrests, but Many Charges Have Been Dropped". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2024-07-21. Retrieved 2024-07-23.
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  4. ^ Treisman, Rachel (May 1, 2024). "How some faculty members are defending student protesters, in actions and in words". NPR. Archived from the original on May 2, 2024. Retrieved May 2, 2024. It's one of several schools around the country where professors are getting arrested at demonstrations, circulating letters in support of arrested protesters and holding no-confidence votes in their administrations.
  5. ^ Rubin, April; Beheraj, Kavya; Lysik, Tory; Chase, Will (May 3, 2024). "Mapped: Where pro-Palestinian student protesters have been arrested". Axios. Archived from the original on May 5, 2024. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
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  10. ^ "Harris faces an 'uncommitted' quandary of her own". politico.com. Politico. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
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  33. ^ Chandler, Ryan [@RyanChandlerTV] (April 25, 2024). "It was President Hartzell himself who called in DPS to respond to the protests yesterday, UT tells me. "That was President Hartzell. That was President Hartzell. Along with his leadership team and UT System Board of Regents Chairman Kevin Eltife," Comms Director Mike Rosen said" (Tweet). Retrieved April 25, 2024 – via Twitter.
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  64. ^ Quiroz, Gabriela (August 29, 2024). "UT Austin student, protester files lawsuit after her arrest last year". KUT. Retrieved September 2, 2024.
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