SAR’s Academic Freedom Monitoring Project investigates and reports attacks on higher education with the aim of raising awareness, generating advocacy, and increasing protection for scholars, students, and academic communities. Starting July 1, 2026, SAR no longer publishes reports for the incidents that it records. SAR continues to monitor and record incidents that will be used in the annual Free to Think report. This page provides a record of incidents reported up to that date. Learn more about the Academic Freedom Monitoring Project.

Date of Incident: May 21, 2024

Attack Types: Killings, Violence, Disappearances | Imprisonment

Institution(s):University of Michigan

Region & Country:Americas | United States of America

New or Ongoing:New Incident

On May 21, 2024, University of Michigan (UM) police used tear gas and batons to disperse students who had set up a peaceful pro-Palestinian encampment on campus. Four individuals were arrested, including three students.

The TAHRIR Coalition, which includes dozens of UM student groups, established the encampment on campus in late April to demand the university divest from corporations associated with Israeli military actions. The university allowed the encampment to continue so long as the students remained in compliance with the law and adhered to university policies.

That changed early on Tuesday morning, when UM President Santa Ono stated that concerns about fire safety had led the university to decide to remove the encampment. After issuing three warnings for protesters to disperse or risk arrest, UM police, clad in riot gear, entered the encampment. Videos posted on X show police using their batons to push students back while a few students threw water bottles at the police; the police then fired chemical irritants at the crowd. The Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office said four people were arrested, including three students for resisting and obstructing police; they were released a few hours later.

Scholars at Risk is concerned about the disproportionate use of force to disperse students peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of expression—conduct that is expressly protected by international human rights instruments and the constitution of the United States. While state authorities have the responsibility to maintain order and prevent disruption, they must refrain from the disproportionate use of force and endangerment of civilians. Such actions, beyond harming the immediate victim, have a chilling effect on academic freedom and undermine democratic society generally.

Sources:
https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2024/05/21/police-clear-um-student-groups-pro-palestinian-encampment/73782960007
https://x.com/TAHRIRumich/status/1792859299615518931
https://www.fox2detroit.com/news/police-clear-pro-palestine-protestors-from-um-diag-encampment
https://www.michigandaily.com/news/news-briefs/breaking-gaza-encampment-removed/
https://michiganadvance.com/2024/05/21/four-arrested-as-u-of-m-sends-in-police-to-remove-pro-palestinian-encampment/