Title: UT protesters arrested during pro-Palestine rally after state troopers, police intervene
Even students in Texas are having their fill of Israeli genocide! And the police are receiving guidance from Israeli Settler supporting National Conservative Josh Hawley, of the “New Right,” so beloved here, it would seem:
Quote: "Erick Lara, 20, a sophomore studying mechanical engineering, said he was on his way to the gym in the afternoon when he ran into the protest. He said it seemed to transform within minutes from a peaceful rally to one in which he saw people being arrested.
“I didn’t think it would escalate this far,” he said. “And I didn’t think there would be this much police intervention from what’s supposed to be a peaceful protest. Not very peaceful when there’s a bunch of aggressors around, especially on horses.” (That’s police officers, on horses. How long before Abbott sends in the National Guard, if any are left who are not on the border, or deployed overseas in one of the war zones first created under the Bush administration, and maintained ever since?
Call Charles Koch; next these students will be joining BDS, triggering their expulsion from school on that alone!
With John Hagee and the Jeffrey Yass/Kohelet Forum allied Texas Republican Party no doubt having their heads explode over these students actually thinking for themselves, so devoted are Texas Republicans to Israel and their U.S. Representatives, Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis! So devoted are they that they make NeoCons, look like anti-semites, regardless of whether under the definition of Trump/Ben-Gvir/Smotrich/Yoram Hazony, or the historic definition.
So Jeffrey Yass of Kohelet Forum is getting his money’s worth: "Gov. Greg Abbott posted on social media late Wednesday that “arrests being made right now & will continue until the crowd disperses. These protesters belong in jail. Antisemitism will not be tolerated in Texas. Period.”
"He went on to say, “Students joining in hate-filled, antisemitic protests at any public college or university in Texas should be expelled.”
Neither Ben-Gvir nor Jeffrey Yass could put it more plainly, as representatives of Texas Conservatives!
Here’s another “anti-semitic” organization criticizing Jeffrey Yass. Where’s Charles Koch when he’s needed most, one could almost hear Yass asking.
UT protesters arrested during pro-Palestine rally after state troopers, police intervene
Hundreds of students at the University of Texas at Austin walked out of class to protest the war in Gaza and demand the university to divest investments from weapon manufacturers.
Police and state troopers try to disperse protesters at the University of Texas during a pro-Palestine rally on Wednesday.(Aarón Torres / The Dallas Morning News)
AUSTIN – Arrests were continuing into early Wednesday evening at the University of Texas after hundreds of students walked out of class to protest the war in Gaza and demand that the university system divest from companies that manufacture machinery used in war.
Dozens of state troopers and police officers in riot gear -- many carrying zip ties and pepper spray -- were on the Austin campus shortly after the pro-Palestine protest began around midday.
More than 20 individuals had been arrested at the state’s flagship public university, most of whom faced charges of trespassing, according to officials from the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Students had locked arms on the South Mall, in front of the UT Tower, chanting as groups of officers advanced toward them during the protest.
Some state troopers carried assault rifles and others were stationed on horses. Periodically, officers were heard ordering students to leave or face arrest.
Students chanted to officers, “Off our campus!”
Gov. Greg Abbott posted on social media late Wednesday that “arrests being made right now & will continue until the crowd disperses. These protesters belong in jail. Antisemitism will not be tolerated in Texas. Period.”
He went on to say, “Students joining in hate-filled, antisemitic protests at any public college or university in Texas should be expelled.”
Austin police officers joined those from the University of Texas and state troopers at the flagship school trying to disperse students during a pro-Palestine protest. Many officers were seen carrying zip ties and pepper spray.(Aarón Torres / The Dallas Morning News)
Student organizers of the UT rally shared on social media that they planned to walk out of class, “reclaiming our space as we demand divestment now.”
Erick Lara, 20, a sophomore studying mechanical engineering, said he was on his way to the gym in the afternoon when he ran into the protest. He said it seemed to transform within minutes from a peaceful rally to one in which he saw people being arrested.
“I didn’t think it would escalate this far,” he said. “And I didn’t think there would be this much police intervention from what’s supposed to be a peaceful protest. Not very peaceful when there’s a bunch of aggressors around, especially on horses.”
UT officials sent out a letter earlier that noted that school officials would not tolerate disruptions “like we have seen at other campuses,” a spokesperson for the university’s division of student affairs said in a statement issued early Wednesday. “This is an important time in our semester with students finishing classes and studying for finals, and we will act first and foremost to allow those critical functions to proceed without interruption.”
Lara added that students have been upset with UT President Jay Hartzell for not speaking up about the war in Gaza, which is part of the reason why they’re protesting.
UT officials have not responded to requests for comment.
Hundreds of students walked out of classes at the University of Texas for a pro-Palestine rally on Wednesday. State troopers and university police gave them warnings to disperse or face arrests.(Aarón Torres / The Dallas Morning News)
KXAN news reported that a letter sent to the student organization Palestine Solidarity Committee from UT’s office of the dean of students informed the group on Tuesday that the students were not permitted to hold their event on campus.
“Refusal to comply may result in arrest,” the letter read. It went on to note that the group had “declared intent to violate our policies and rules, and disrupt our campus operations” with Wednesday’s planned rally.
Meanwhile, in North Texas, dozens of students at the University of Texas at Arlington also walked out at that school on Wednesday, gathering in front of the campus library. Social media videos showed students with signs and a banner that read “Stop arming Israel.”
The UTD students had noted they were also protesting against Abbott’s executive order that the governor said was aimed at fighting antisemitism, charging schools with updating their free speech policies.
In the order, issued in early April, Abbott noted that he wants college officials to establish punishments – including expulsion – and to “ensure that groups such as the Palestine Solidarity Committee and Students for Justice in Palestine are disciplined for violating these policies.”
The Texas protests this week come days after students at Columbia University in New York were arrested and charged with trespassing.
Campuses nationwide have had protests since Oct. 7 when Hamas attacked Israel, killing some 1,200 people and taking around 250 people hostage, according to the Israeli government. In the months following, Israel bombed the Gaza strip multiple times, killing over 34,000 people, according to the Ministry of Health in Gaza. The Dallas Morning News cannot independently verify these numbers.
At UT, many students wore keffiyehs – a scarf that has been a symbol of support for Palestinians. Some students began setting up tents on the south mall.
“You don’t scare us,” the student crowd chanted, facing the officers. “We are the people!” “We pay your paychecks.”
Jasmine Santilla, 20, a sophomore studying accounting, said she saw students protesting peacefully when law enforcement showed up.
“They weren’t throwing anything around, not harming anyone,” she said. “And the cops came in and arrested a good amount of people. For what?”
Meanwhile, dozens of students with Israel flags and signs watched from the sidelines, among them freshman Corey Taitel, 19.
“It’s great that [the police] are on our side,” the business major said. “They see the things happening in the Ivy League, and it’s extremely scary. So I feel overall safe.”
Taitel said his mother has been calling him worried for his safety as a Jewish student.
“Today three girls started screaming at me. They told me I need to burn my flag,” he said of the small Israeli flag he had. “I don’t think they should be arrested if they’re just standing there. But everybody that’s been arrested has [done something].”
By the early evening, the south mall was cleared off with a wall of officers prohibiting access.
Organizations and politicians across the country are watching the protests evolve at UT and other campuses.
“This is a deeply alarming and sudden escalation at UT-Austin, seemingly on the basis of the behavior of students on other campuses,” said Kristen Shahverdian, campus free speech program director at PEN America, in a statement Wednesday afternoon.
Law enforcement must prioritize deescalation tactics and constructive dialogue during peaceful demonstrations, Shaimaa Zayan, operations manager of the Council on American-Islamic Relations chapter in Austin, said in a statement.
“Arresting students advocating for peace sends the wrong message and only exacerbates tensions further,” Zayan said.
When asked by a reporter whether the White House has any concern regarding police response during protests, spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said that since events at UT were happening as she spoke, she didn’t know how it was being dealt with on the ground.
“But, look, we’ve been very clear we want to see this be peaceful. We understand it’s deeply concerning,” she said. “It should not be violent.”
Sue Ambrose contributed reporting.
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