(VitalNews.org) – On Wednesday, a group of 20 students from Brown University were apprehended by Providence law enforcement at a significant protest advocating for a ceasefire in Gaza. The event was spearheaded by Brown U Jews for Ceasefire Now, according to WPRI.
This group of students, vocal in their chants and prayers, staged a sit-in protest within the university’s central administrative building. Their detainment followed several warnings about trespassing issued by the university.
The students were firm in their demand for Brown University’s President, Christina Paxson, to disinvest from companies that profit from the conflict between Israel and Gaza. They argued this move would be a stride towards securing an immediate ceasefire and a long-lasting peace, as stated by the source.
The demonstration started at midday and ran beyond the facility’s operating hours. In response, the university’s law enforcement extended the protest by half an hour. However, the arrival of Providence officers with transport vans signaled the end of the demonstration.
Interestingly, on the previous day, at precisely 5:44 PM, the Providence Police Department arrested twenty Jewish students from Brown University. These students had peacefully occupied University Hall, urging the institution to take a stand towards achieving a ceasefire in Gaza.
In its defense, Brown University stated that the staff had adequately informed the demonstrators of their right to protest within the facility’s operating hours. The university emphasized that the demonstrations were regulated only to avoid disrupting the institution’s regular functions, according to The AP.
Reiterating its stance, Brown University declared, “At Brown, all community members are responsible for abiding by our codes, policies, and protocols related to protests and demonstrations.” This statement is in response to the recent events, as per WPRI.
In a similar demonstration, a group of Gaza sympathizers were taken into custody on Wednesday after causing a disturbance during a House Judiciary Committee hearing. The hearing was focused on free speech within the realm of higher education, a discussion sparked by recent pro-Gaza demonstrations.
During the hearing, six individuals, spanning both the conservative spectrum and those of Jewish affiliations, were called upon to share their experiences and views on antisemitic dialogues prevalent on university campuses. As each witness stepped up to share their opening remarks, the waiting protesters began to rise individually. They hurled insults at the witnesses and Congress members, expressing their solidarity with Gaza before the U.S. Capitol Police intervened and escorted them out, as observed by DCNF.
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