On April 13, 2024, Washington University (WashU) police officers arrested 12 students who were participating in a peaceful pro-Palestinian protest on campus.
The student group, Resist WashU, organized the protest to demand that the WashU administration divest from companies that profit from Israeli military action. On the morning of April 13, Resist WashU posted on social media asking students, alumni, and community members to join the protest and “shut down the university’s admitted students day.”
Later that morning, students began their demonstration inside the Graham Chapel building. Twelve students took to the stage, unfurled their banners, and began chanting, while approximately 40 protesters stood outside the chapel, also chanting and holding banners. The university police department repeatedly told the protesters to leave the area, warning them that those who did not disperse would be subject to arrest. In total, police arrested 12 students who were inside the building, and issued court summons to the protesters for trespassing, disturbing the peace, and refusing to disperse.
During the evening of April 13, Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Dr. Anna Gonzalesent out a campus wide email announcing that the arrested students would be subject to disciplinary action. The university later suspended three students for violating the university’s Student Conduct Code. The suspended students were prohibited from attending any courses or extracurricular activities and were barred from the WashU campus pending their student conduct hearings.
Scholars at Risk is concerned about the arrest and suspension of students for the peaceful exercise of their rights to freedom of expression and association—conduct that is expressly protected by international human rights instruments including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. While university authorities have an obligation to take all reasonable measures to ensure the safety of students and university personnel and should endeavor to prevent disruptions that inappropriately inhibit the functioning of or access to higher education, they must do so consistent with their responsibility to ensure academic freedom and free expression on campus. The punishment of nonviolent student expression undermines academic freedom and democratic society generally.
Sources:
*SAR identified this incident in data made publicly available by the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED)
https://www.studlife.com/news/2024/04/13/pro-palestine-protest-at-admitted-students-event-results-in-court-summons-for-protesters
https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/local/washington-university-students-arrested-suspended-after-protest-israel-hamas-war/63-b1cb53b4-99c0-4b9b-9ebc-fd0398676329
https://www.stlpr.org/government-politics-issues/2024-04-27/protestors-decry-washington-university-israel-palestine-war-response
https://www.riverfronttimes.com/news/students-demand-wash-u-drop-charges-against-pro-palestine-protestors-42364832
https://www.instagram.com/p/C5w2CWFIINB/?img_index=1
https://www.instagram.com/p/C5tFJbvA3Ld/
https://www.studlife.com/news/2024/04/21/three-students-suspended-after-protesting-at-admissions-event