On April 29, 2024, Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) police and riot police from the Richmond police department arrested 13 people, including 6 students, at a pro-Palestine encampment on VCU’s Monroe Park campus.

A group of students and community members gathered to protest outside of the James Branch Cabell Library during the morning of April 27. They declared a “liberated zone for Gaza,” and set up food, toiletry, and medical stations, along with laying out pro-Palestine and abolitionist literature. Throughout the day, they held rallies, carried signs saying “Free Palestine” and “Ceasefire Now,” wrote pro-Palestine and anti-war messages in chalk, made art, played instruments, and did school work. In the early evening, the group set up tents, announcing that they would stay until their demands – that VCU disclose its investments, divest from companies and partnerships that partner with Israeli institutions, defend pro-Palestinian speech and activism, and declare support for a ceasefire in Gaza – were met.

After consulting with VCU’s president and vice president for administration throughout the day, VCU’s police chief John Venuti requested support from the Richmond Police Department. Police began to arrive on campus around 8:30 pm and several warnings to disperse, stating that the protest violated university policies. VCU sent out a community-wide alert warning of a violent protest. Police then advanced on the protesters, who had put on masks and created a line around the encampment. VCU police later confirmed that it had used pepper spray against protesters. Other reports indicated that police forced protesters to the ground, dragged them off the lawn, and used zip ties to restrain them. One reporter interviewed a protester who had a visible black eye. Students threw water bottles and other objects at the officers and resisted arrest from behind barricades.

All 13 protesters who were arrested were charged with unlawful assembly. Richmond, VA’s City Code, under whose jurisdiction VCU falls, states that people cannot “camp, lay or sleep on, near or about any public lands or structures belonging to or under control of the city after 11 p.m” without special permission. The university also stated that the protest had violated VCU’s Reservation and Use of Space Policy, which requires pre-approval for extracurricular events attended by more than 150 people, and announced that the six students who were arrested would go through the university’s process for reviewing and disciplining student conduct.

Scholars at Risk is concerned about the forcible arrests of apparently peaceful student protesters by police. 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:
https://www.vpm.org/news/2024-04-30/vcu-richmond-cabell-library-palestine-gaza-israel-protests-arrests
https://www.wric.com/news/local-news/richmond/police-breaking-up-pro-palestinian-protest-on-vcu-campus-arrests-being-made/
https://commonwealthtimes.org/2024/05/02/who-do-you-serve-police-raze-pro-palestine-encampment-at-vcu-students-outraged/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2024/04/30/vcu-student-protest-arrests-israel-gaza/
https://richmond.com/news/local/education/vcu-protest-arrest-gaza-israel-palestinian-rpd-vsp/article_9e70dad2-070f-11ef-8c6d-b367f3581bd8.html
https://www.wric.com/news/local-news/richmond/12-of-13-pro-palestinian-protesters-arrested-at-vcu-arraigned-next-hearings-scheduled/
https://richmond.com/news/local/crime-courts/campus-protests-court-arraigned-trial-vcu/article_781b3044-0971-11ef-a143-07afec74b5fd.html
https://news.vcu.edu/article/2024/04/campus-disruption-statement
https://news.vcu.edu/article/2024/04/vcu-campus-update#:~:text=VCU%20upholds%20and%20protects%20free,with%20policies%20throughout%20the%20day.
https://ucw-vcu.medium.com/the-work-of-education-is-to-help-students-build-a-better-world-327d2e1c9df4