Pro-Palestinian protests at the University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) began on April 24, 2024, organized by the Palestinian Solidarity Committee in response to the ongoing Israel-Hamas War. The protests have included sit-ins, marches, and encampments on campus, calling for the university to divest from companies linked to Israel's actions in Gaza. The demonstrations escalated when university officials, with support from local and state law enforcement, intervened to disperse protestors, leading to multiple arrests and sparking criticism over the suppression of free speech on campus. Despite arrests and clashes with police, the protests have continued, drawing significant attention and raising debates about civil liberties and the role of university administration in managing campus protests.
The different protests' varying demands include severing financial ties with Israel, transparency over financial ties, an end to partnerships with Israeli institutions,[11] and amnesty for protesters.[12] Universities have suspended and expelled student protesters, in some cases evicting them from campus housing.[3][13][14] Some universities have relied on police to forcibly disband encampments and end occupations of buildings,[15] others made agreements with protesters for encampments to be dismantled,[16] and a number of universities have cut ties with Israeli institutions, or companies involved with Israel and its occupied territories.[a] The occupations have also resulted in the closure of Columbia University,[23]Cal Poly Humboldt,[24] and the University of Amsterdam;[25]rolling strikes by academic workers on campuses in California;[26] and the cancellation of a few university graduation ceremonies in the U.S., with protests occurring at various ceremonies.[27][28][29]
Controversy relating to the pro-Palestine movement began at the University of Texas at Austin soon after the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.[30] The University increased security around Jewish organizations in the West Campus neighborhood, where a mural near the Texas Hillel had been vandalized by graffiti, fueling fears of antisemitic activity.[31]
On October 12, 2023, three pro-Israel protestors attempted to disrupt an educational event at Welch Hall held by the university's chapter of the Palestine Solidarity Committee (PSC), having previously sent a threatening message to the organization's Instagram page.[30] The three men verbally attacked the organizers as "terrorists," with one claiming he would be "killing Arabs" in Israel the next week, and were prevented by a PSC organizer from entering the lecture hall where the event was taking place.[32] The men, one of whom claiming he was a member of the Israel Defense Forces, left after about three minutes.[30][32] An investigation by the University of Texas at Austin Police Department was launched, but did not find that any criminal offense had occurred.[33] The following day, university president Jay Hartzell released a statement decrying "violence" and "vandalism," but did not mention either the incident at Welch Hall nor the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by name.[30] Hartzell's address was criticized by Arab and Muslim students as ignoring their concerns as having "marginalized" Palestinian students.[34] A second statement on October 17 more explicitly condemned both antisemitism and Anti-Arab racism and criticized Hamas.[30]
A walkout of over 1,000 people calling for divestment from weapon manufacturing companies was organized by PSC on November 9, followed by a "takeover" of Speedway, a campus walkway, on November 15.[35][36][37] The Texas Hillel criticized the walkout for coinciding with the anniversary of Kristallnacht, and advised members to avoid the event.[37]
Police tackle and arrest a Fox 7 reporter at the April 24th protest
On April 24, 2024, the Palestinian Solidarity Committee student group at the University of Texas at Austin initiated a walkout and sit-in on the South Mall of the campus to protest the Israel-Hamas War and demand that the university divest from companies profiting from Israel's actions.[38][39]
A protester is tackled by police and arrested at the pro-Palestinian protest on April 24, 2024, at the University of Texas at Austin.
At least 50 troops in riot gear were deployed to disperse protesters, with reports of police on horseback and carrying batons aggressively engaging with the demonstrators.[44] This action led to the arrest of 57 protesters and several more detained, including a photojournalist who was reportedly being caught in a scuffle between law enforcement and students for Fox 7 Austin.[45][46][47][48][49] Fox 7 Austin reposted the viral footage to Twitter, stating their employee was pushed by an officer into another before being thrown to the ground and arrested.[50][51] Another Texas journalist was knocked down and seen bleeding before being handed off to emergency medical staff by police. The officers ended up leaving after a few hours and about 300 demonstrators moved back to sit and chant near the clock tower.[52]
A group of pro-Israel counterprotesters demonstrate at the fringe of the much larger pro-Palestinian protest on April 24, 2024.
Following the arrests, a Travis County attorney stated, "It is not the role of the criminal justice system... to assist our governor in efforts to suppress nonviolent and peaceful demonstrations."[53] Charges were dismissed against 46 protesters the next day, leading to their subsequent release.[54][55][56] The remaining 11 protesters had their charges dropped on April 26, 2024.[57]
Police arrest a protester present at the April 24, 2024, pro-Palestinian protest on the South Lawn of the University of Texas at Austin.
The deployment of police forces and the arrests prompted criticism and raised concerns about free speech on campus, which had been praised by Abbott and the university in prior years.[58] Texas Governor Greg Abbott stated that the UT Austin protesters "belong in jail",[59] leading the Council on American-Islamic Relations to respond, "The First Amendment applies to the State of Texas, whether Greg Abbott likes it or not."[60]
On April 25, 2024, more than 1,000 students, faculty, and staff protested outside of the Main Building calling for President Hartzell's resignation, along with the local chapter of the American Association of University Professors circulating a petition for a official motion of no-confidence against him.[61][62] Within 72 hours, more than 500 professors and instructors, around 13% of all faculty, had already signed the petition, including several department chairs, such as Diana Marculescu, and a dean for the College of Liberal Arts.[63] On April 29, 2024, at 8:30 a.m. Central Daylight Time, the letter was formally delivered to President Hartzell, with 539 signatures, with the form remaining open for further signatures.[64] An separate group of 165 faculty, including Steve Vladeck, also signed an open letter condemning President Hartzell's actions for quelling free speech and endangering the campus community.[65][66]
A group of pro-Palestinian protesters assemble into a makeshift encampment on the South Law of the University of Texas at Austin on April 29, 2024.An older pro-Palestinian protester holds a sign with a Blue Lives Matter flag and the words "this is not the American flag" in front of a line of Texas State Troopers at a pro-Palestinian protest on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin on April 29, 2024.
On April 29, 2024, a surprise protest occurred where protestors set up tents on campus and refused to leave when confronted by UTPD. Subsequently, APD and Texas DPS officers arrived at the scene and surrounded the encampment, leading to its dismantling, and the arrest of several protestors. Several protestors then moved to confront the police to block their departure and further, leading to the usage of pepper spray and stun grenades by law enforcement.[67] Additionally, several protestors had to receive medical attention due to the sweltering heat.[68] In total, 79 protestors were arrested, with 78 criminal trespassing charges, one "obstructing a highway" charge, and one "interference of public duties" charge filed.[69] This escalation drew further condemnation, above all for the usage of riot-dispersing tactics.[70]Travis County Attorney Delia Garza further stated that the way that the university handled the protests put a strain on the local criminal justice system, specifically reprimanding the sending of protestors to jail for low-level charges.[71]
A protester, held by his arms and legs, is dragged out of a pro-Palestinian "encampment" on the South Lawn of the University of Texas at Austin on April 29, 2024.
A University of Texas at Austin student, Ammer Qaddumi, has filed a federal lawsuit against the university, President Jay Hartzell, and Provost Sharon Wood, alleging violations of his First Amendment rights after he was arrested during a protest against Israel’s actions in Gaza. Qaddumi, a senior at UT Austin, claims the university retaliated by threatening suspension and restricting his speech prior to the demonstration. The university has defended its actions, citing rule violations by the protesters, while Qaddumi's lawyer argues that the arrests and subsequent disciplinary actions, including Qaddumi's threatened three-semester suspension, were unjust and suppressed free speech.[72]
^"US college protests: Who are the student groups and others involved". Reuters. April 30, 2024. Retrieved April 30, 2024. Among the lead student groups in the coalition are the Columbia chapters of Jewish Voice for Peace and Students for Justice in Palestine. The two decades-old anti-Zionism advocacy groups that protest Israel's military occupation have chapters across the country that have been key to protests on other campuses.
^Treisman, Rachel (May 1, 2024). "How some faculty members are defending student protesters, in actions and in words". NPR. Archived from the original on May 2, 2024. Retrieved May 2, 2024. It's one of several schools around the country where professors are getting arrested at demonstrations, circulating letters in support of arrested protesters and holding no-confidence votes in their administrations.