On May 10, 2024, University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) police, along with officers from the Philadelphia Police Department, forcibly arrested a group of protesters who had set up a peaceful pro-Palestinian encampment on campus. Police arrested 33 individuals, including at least nine students.
A group of students established the encampment on campus in late April to demand the university divest from corporations associated with Israeli military actions, condemn the “scholasticide” of Palestinian scholars and universities, and reinstate Penn Students Against the Occupation of Palestine, a student group that was banned from campus on April 20 for reportedly failing to comply with university policy.
The university allowed the encampment to continue for the next few weeks.
On May 9, the Pennsylvania Governor called for the encampment to be disbanded and for the university to “restore order” and “safety” on the campus. That same day, the university placed six students on a “mandatory temporary [leave] of absence” for participating in the encampment.
The following morning, around 6:00 am, nearly 100 UPenn and Philadelphia police officers, clad in riot gear, encircled the camp and began issuing dispersal warnings. Officers gave the protesters two minutes to leave or risk arrest. Shortly thereafter, police began arresting the individuals who refused to disperse. A few students reported being pushed to the ground and forcibly arrested by officers; one student claimed they were kneed in the face by an officer, and two protesters were reportedly taken to the hospital.
The arrested individuals were released later that day. A spokesperson for the District Attorney’s Office said none of the individuals that were taken into custody were charged with crimes or misdemeanors. Rather, they were given civil violation notices.
Penn opened disciplinary cases on at least twelve students, including the six students placed on a “leave of absence” on May 9. On June 27, four students received disciplinary letters outlining their suspensions, ranging from a semester to a year.
Scholars at Risk is concerned about the arrests of peaceful student protesters by police. SAR is further concerned about a university taking disciplinary actions against students for their non-violent expression. 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.thedp.com/article/2024/05/penn-palestine-gaza-protests-arrests
https://aaup-penn.org/response-to-penn-administrations-threat-to-shut-down-protest/
https://www.thedp.com/article/2024/05/penn-discipline-encampment-nine-negotiations-krasner-krajewski
https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/philadelphia-police-move-in-to-disband-pro-palestinian-encampment-on-penns-campus/3854917/?os=avDavDXHup&ref=app
https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/students-banned-palestinian-encampment-university-of-pennsylvania/3854633/
https://www.thedp.com/article/2024/07/penn-student-palestine-activism-suspensions