Rule-breaking anti-Israel activists at Washington University in St. Louis voiced their complaints about being disciplined by the school, describing the process as “disorganized” and “disorienting.”
According to Student Life, a total of 26 students were suspended for participation in a pair of anti-Israel protests back in April.
On April 13, activists involved with the group Resist WashU disrupted an “admitted students” event at Graham Chapel, demanding the cessation of investments in Boeing (which allegedly support Israel’s “genocide”).
One protester had said the event had to be disrupted — because WashU officials allegedly did not listen to the activists’ demands.
Activist R.J. Lucas, suspended after the April 13 protest, ended up transferring from WashU because its “culture of repression […] really made it a very unsafe space” for him.
Lucas said a “particularly bothersome” incident occurred when campus cops “profiled” another student who looked like him — “they’re just brown and have curly hair like me,” he said — in order to make sure he wasn’t violating his suspension.
Lucas said the incident “confirmed” for him that WashU cops were “over-policing.”
Another (anonymous) student activist disciplined for an April 27 demonstration said WashU put her and others “through hell.”
Yet another, Andrew de las Alas, said he couldn’t believe he was suspended given he had recently received WashU’s Ethic of Service Award.
“I think it’s just so mind-boggling that the values they cultivate in the classroom and on campus [are what] pushed me to hold the University accountable, and they saw that fit to respond with police action,” de las Alas said. He also demanded campus police be held accountable for breaking the ribs of an accompanying protesting professor.
Vice Chancellor for Marketing and Communications Julie Flory told Student Life, however, that the only injuries reported from the April 27 protest were those of campus police — which included “a severe concussion, a broken finger, and a groin injury.”
Other anonymous complaints from disciplined activists included WashU did not “attempt to reconcile with [activists] in any way,” there “was a lot of anxiety for me and for my family,” “I was so stressed,” and police mischaracterization of activists’ actions.
MORE: WashU prof claims he was terminated for ‘anti-Palestinian’ social media post
IMAGE: STUDIO GRAND OUEST/Shutterstock.com
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