Pro-Palestine protest organizers gathered on the lawn outside the James Branch Cabell Library at Virginia Commonwealth University on Thursday afternoon and called for university President Michael Rao’s resignation or removal on the heels of Monday’s violent showdown between police and demonstrators.
The clashes, which came after protesters set up an encampment on the lawn outside the library, resulted in 13 arrests and numerous reported injuries to both police and protesters.
Sereen Haddad, 19, told a crowd of dozens on Thursday that VCU police had “brutalized” the students, battering them with shields and deploying chemical agents despite what she called the peaceful nature of their demonstration.
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“Without any warning ... VCU chose to send buses of police with riot gear on, carrying guns and chemicals,” a visibly bruised Haddad said. “At one point, I feared that I would not make it out of there alive.”
Haddad, who was limping and wearing a sling, said she had been hospitalized Monday night with sprains to both her knee and shoulder after narrowly evading arrest multiple times. She said she was still dealing with symptoms of head trauma three days later.
She said university officials are “twist(ing) the narrative” to blame the protesters for the violence. Before the arrival of law enforcement, Haddad said the protesters were dancing, creating art and setting up tents and did not pose a threat to anyone.
“(VCU) utilized false claims of violent assembly to set the precedent for heavy police escalation,” Haddad said. “As the liberated zone moved into an encampment, administrat(ors) no longer sought out students to provide information about code of conduct violations.”
Instead, she said, they decided to “call upon a militarized police force against college students.”
In response, the crowd chanted “shame!”
13 demonstrators arrested
Selma Ait-Bella, a junior at VCU, said she had been a student ambassador for Rao’s office, but would be withdrawing from the position.
“I can no longer align myself with an administration that is complicit to genocide, and willing to brutalize students like myself who oppose apartheid and demand divestment,” Ait-Bella said.
Ait-Bella condemned Rao for posting a picture on Instagram that shows him shaking her hand after a meeting during which she said she “did not feel listened to.”
“You do not get to do this and send police forces to brutalize me and my comrades,” she said. “Shame on you, Michael Rao!”
Several of the 13 demonstrators arrested Monday night are scheduled to appear in court Friday morning to be arraigned, according to court records. Haddad encouraged members of the crowd to attend the hearings to show support and solidarity.
The protesters’ demands remain the same, Haddad said. She called on the university to disclose any investments in Israel or companies that support Israel, to divest from those companies and to issue a statement pledging to protect pro-Palestine speech on campus.
Asked if she thought the movement’s momentum would fade when the spring semester ends and students head home for summer break, Haddad said she anticipated no change.
“I do not expect anything to slow down,” Haddad said. “Everybody that is part of this movement is strong-willed and consistent, because (they) understand the urgency of this movement.”
Police ‘working to balance free expression and public safety’
VCU police spokesperson Corey Byers Standlick said the department’s mission to protect free speech while maintaining a safe environment “does not change over the summer months.” Richmond police spokesperson James Mercante responded similarly.
“There are many examples of groups expressing their First Amendment rights throughout the years, not just during traditional school sessions,” Mercante said. “(Richmond police) has a long history of working to balance free expression and public safety.”
Mercante pointed out that seven of the 13 people arrested Monday night — over half — were not VCU students: a fact that could indicate the protests will continue even after graduation.
“Making assumptions about a connection between demonstrations and the student population might not be instructive,” he said, adding that the department “encourages the public to continue to exercise their rights to free expression in a safe and lawful manner.”
Multiple students told The Times-Dispatch that VCU employees this week have been distributing flyers on campus that include the school’s policies on planning and hosting campus events. The flyers, obtained by The Times-Dispatch, state that students are required to seek permission before organizing an event with 50 or more people in attendance.
In a previous statement, VCU officials said advance notice was necessary for events with 150 or more people. The flyer indicates that the policy was revised on Tuesday, but it was not immediately clear who revised it or why.
Asked about students’ calls for Rao to resign, VCU spokesperson Michael Porter did not respond. Regarding comments from students that police disregarded the safety of demonstrators, Porter referred back to a statement the school issued Tuesday.
In those remarks, the university said its staff and police had asked demonstrators throughout the day to comply with school policy. After the tents went up, officers gave four mass warnings to individuals who chose not to leave the encampment, the statement said.
“Individuals who chose not to leave threw objects and used chemical spray on officers,” VCU said Tuesday. “Officers used pepper spray to disperse the crowd. VCU police report that officers did not use other chemical agents, such as tear gas.”
Porter did not respond to questions about who at the university approved the policy changes regarding the size of a mass event, what process the rule changes went through or whether the university altered any other policies this week.
“VCU is committed to upholding and protecting free speech — we support avenues for peaceful expressions, and there have been peaceful rallies for months,” Porter said. “VCU policy does not allow encampments and individuals were told that repeatedly throughout the day on Monday.
“The change was made with safety in mind.”
Letter from 17 VCU faculty
In an open letter to Rao, 17 VCU faculty members urged Rao and VCU administrators to “publicly support (the) right to peacefully protest and engage in free speech.”
“These are OUR students, integral members of OUR community,” they wrote in the letter. “We insist that you not call the police or campus security to intervene in peaceful demonstrations, restrict access to campus spaces, or curtail free speech.”
The professors also urged Rao to refrain from disciplining students who participate in peaceful demonstrations.
Demonstrators on Wednesday night marched from Abner Clay Park in Jackson Ward to the VCU police station. Some of the protesters held signs calling for a cease-fire in Gaza. No arrests were reported in connection with the event.
Protesters planned to meet again Thursday night outside VCU’s McGlothin Medical Education Center at North 12th and East Marshall streets for a training, during which medics will teach attendees how to “respond to tear gas and pepper spray as well as other possible scenarios,” according to coordinators for Students for Justice in Palestine and American Muslims for Palestine.